• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.259-266
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• 2023

Today, environmental pollution has been found to be one of the causes of various diseases, including brain and nervous system diseases. In particular, neurodegenerative diseases have been found to be caused by hyperactivation of immune system cells such as microglia. Preventive and therapeutic measures are needed to suppress them. Hirudo is known as a traditional herbal medicine, based on its multiple biological activities such as anti-eczema and anti-coagulation. In the present study, the anti-neuroinflammatory potential of hirudo extract was investigated in lipopolysccharide (LPS)-stimulated BV2 microglial cells and in mice. Hirudo extract significantly inhibited LPS-stimulated nitric oxide (NO) production and cytokine (IL-1Ra, KC, MCP-5, and RANTES) expression in a dose-dependent manner without causing cytotoxicity. Pretreatment with hirudo extract suppressed LPS-induced NF-κB p65 nuclear translocation. Moreover, hirudo extract reduced LPS-stimulated microglial acitivation and improved memory impairments. The results demonstrated that hirudo extract exerts anti-neuroinflammation activities, partly through inhibition of the NF-κB signaling pathway. These findings suggest that hirudo extract might have therapeutic potential with respect to neuroinflammation and neurodegenerative diseases.

• BMB Reports
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• v.57 no.5
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• pp.207-215
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• 2024

The gut microbiota, an intricate community of bacteria residing in the gastrointestinal system, assumes a pivotal role in various physiological processes. Beyond its function in food breakdown and nutrient absorption, gut microbiota exerts a profound influence on immune and metabolic modulation by producing diverse gut microbiota-generated metabolites (GMGMs). These small molecules hold potential to impact host health via multiple pathways, which exhibit remarkable diversity, and have gained increasing attention in recent studies. Here, we elucidate the intricate implications and significant impacts of four specific metabolites, Urolithin A (UA), equol, Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), and imidazole propionate, in shaping human health. Meanwhile, we also look into the advanced research on GMGMs, which demonstrate promising curative effects and hold great potential for further clinical therapies. Notably, the emergence of positive outcomes from clinical trials involving GMGMs, typified by UA, emphasizes their promising prospects in the pursuit of improved health and longevity. Collectively, the multifaceted impacts of GMGMs present intriguing avenues for future research and therapeutic interventions.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.399-406
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• 2000

The effect of inlay surface treatment on bonding was investigated when resin inlay was bonded to resin-modified glass-ionomer base with resin cement. For the preparation of glass-ionomer base, resin-modified glass-ionomer cement (Fuji II LC, GC Co., Japan) was filled in class I cavities of 7mm in diameter and 2mm in depth made in plastic molds. Eighty eight resin inlay specimens were made with Charisma$^{(R)}$ (Kulzer, Germany) and then randomly assigned to the four different surface treatment conditions: Group I, $50{\mu}m$ aluminium oxide sandblasting and silane treatment ; Group II, silane treatment alone ; Group III, sandblasting alone, and Group IV (control), no surface treatment. After a dentin bonding agent with primer (One-Step$^{TM}$, Bisco Inc., IL., U.S.A.) was applied to bonding surface of resin inlay and base, resin inlay were cemented to glass-ionomer base with a resin cement (Choice$^{TM}$, Bisco Inc., IL., U.S.A.). Shear bond strengths of each specimens were measured using Instron universal testing machine (4202 Instron, lnstron Co., U.S.A.) and fractured surfaces were examined under the stereoscope. Statistical analysis was done with one-way ANOVA and Dunkan's multiple range test. The results were as follows: 1. Sandblasting and silane treatment provided the greatest bond strength(10.56${\pm}$1.95 MPa), and showed a significantly greater bond strength than sandblasting alone or no treatment (p<0.05). 2. Silane treatment provided a significantly greater bond strength(9.77${\pm}$2.04 MPa) than sandblasting alone or no treatment (p<0.05). However, there was no significant difference in bond strength between sandblasting treatment and silane one (p>0.05). 3. Sandblasting alone provided no significant difference in bond strength from no treatment (p>0.05). 4. Stereoscopic examination of fractured surface showed that sandblasting and silane treatment or silane treatment alone had more cohesive failure mode than adhesive failure mode. 5. In relationship between shear bond strength and failure mode, cohesive failure occurred more frequently as bond strength increased.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2012.08a
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• pp.254-255
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• 2012

Interest in nano-crystalline silicon (nc-Si) thin films has been growing because of their favorable processing conditions for certain electronic devices. In particular, there has been an increase in the use of nc-Si thin films in photovoltaics for large solar cell panels and in thin film transistors for large flat panel displays. One of the most important material properties for these device applications is the macroscopic charge-carrier mobility. Hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) or nc-Si is a basic material in thin film transistors (TFTs). However, a-Si:H based devices have low carrier mobility and bias instability due to their metastable properties. The large number of trap sites and incomplete hydrogen passivation of a-Si:H film produce limited carrier transport. The basic electrical properties, including the carrier mobility and stability, of nc-Si TFTs might be superior to those of a-Si:H thin film. However, typical nc-Si thin films tend to have mobilities similar to a-Si films, although changes in the processing conditions can enhance the mobility. In polycrystalline silicon (poly-Si) thin films, the performance of the devices is strongly influenced by the boundaries between neighboring crystalline grains. These grain boundaries limit the conductance of macroscopic regions comprised of multiple grains. In much of the work on poly-Si thin films, it was shown that the performance of TFTs was largely determined by the number and location of the grain boundaries within the channel. Hence, efforts were made to reduce the total number of grain boundaries by increasing the average grain size. However, even a small number of grain boundaries can significantly reduce the macroscopic charge carrier mobility. The nano-crystalline or polymorphous-Si development for TFT and solar cells have been employed to compensate for disadvantage inherent to a-Si and micro-crystalline silicon (${\mu}$-Si). Recently, a novel process for deposition of nano-crystralline silicon (nc-Si) thin films at room temperature was developed using neutral beam assisted chemical vapor deposition (NBaCVD) with a neutral particle beam (NPB) source, which controls the energy of incident neutral particles in the range of 1~300 eV in order to enhance the atomic activation and crystalline of thin films at room temperature. In previous our experiments, we verified favorable properties of nc-Si thin films for certain electronic devices. During the formation of the nc-Si thin films by the NBaCVD with various process conditions, NPB energy directly controlled by the reflector bias and effectively increased crystal fraction (~80%) by uniformly distributed nc grains with 3~10 nm size. The more resent work on nc-Si thin film transistors (TFT) was done. We identified the performance of nc-Si TFT active channeal layers. The dependence of the performance of nc-Si TFT on the primary process parameters is explored. Raman, FT-IR and transmission electron microscope (TEM) were used to study the microstructures and the crystalline volume fraction of nc-Si films. The electric properties were investigated on Cr/SiO2/nc-Si metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) capacitors.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.37-43
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• 2010

The serine/threonine kinase Akt has been shown to play a role of multiple cellular signaling pathways and act as a transducer of many functions initiated by growth factor receptors that activate phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K). It has been reported that phosphorylated Akt activates eNDS resulting in the production of NO and that NO stimulates soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC), which results in accumulation of cGMP and subsequent activation of the protein kinase G (PKG). It has been also reported that PKG activates PI3K/Akt signaling. Therefore, it is possible that PI3K, Akt, eNOS, sGC, and PKG form a loop to exert enhanced and sustained activation of Akt. However, the existence of this loop in eNOS-expressing cells, such as endothelial cells or astrocytes, has not been reported. Thus, we examined a possibility that Akt phosphorylation might be enhanced via eNOS/sGC/PKG/PI3K pathway in astrocytes in vivo and in vitro. Phosphorylation of Akt was detected in astrocytes after KA treatment and was maintained up to 72 h in mouse hippocampus. 2 weeks after KA treatment, astrocytic Akt phosphorylation was normalized to control. The inhibition of eNOS, sGC, and PKG significantly decreased Akt and eNDS phosphorylation induced by KA in astrocytes. In contrast, the decreased phosphorylation of Akt and eNDS by eNDS inhibition was significantly reversed with PKG activation. The above findings in mouse hippocampus were also observed in primary astrocytes. These data suggest that Akt/eNOS/sGC/PKG/PI3K pathway may constitute a loop, resulting in enhanced and sustained Akt activation in astrocytes.

• Clean Technology
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.134-141
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• 2011

The effects of the compounds and concentrations of nitrogenous electron acceptor, the ratio of electron donor/electron acceptor (C/N), and the complexity of electron donor on the emission of $N_2O$ during wastewater denitrification were quantitatively investigated in this study. The higher ${NO_3}^-$ and ${NO_2}^-$ concentrations, the more $N_2O$ emission was observed. ${NO_2}^-$ has strong effect on $N_2O$ emission as it emitted morc $N_2O$ than ${NO_3}^-$, 50 mg/L of ${NO_2}^-$-N gave the highest conversion (9.3%) and yield (9.8%) of $N_2O$ while ${NO_3}^-$-N (50 mg/L) gave 5.6% conversion and 11.0% yield. Lower C/N ratio decreases nitrogen removal efficiency, but it increases the conversion of $N_2O$ because of the incomplete denitrification by the limited organic carbon. When real domestic wastewater is used as the electron donor of the denitrification, $N_2O$ emission is reduced to 1/10 of the emission when single carbon (acetate) is used. It is thought that multiple carbon source utilizes many denitrification pathways and it seems to be helpful for the reduction of $N_2O$ emission.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.8 no.5
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• pp.161-167
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• 2017

We have fabricated and characterized $32{\times}32$ photonic quantum ring (PQR) laser arrays uniformly operable with $0.98{\mu}A$ per ring at room temperature. The typical threshold current, threshold current density, and threshold voltage are 20 mA, $0.068A/cm^2$, and 1.38 V. The top surface emitting PQR array contains GaAs multiquantum well active regions and exhibits uniform characteristics for a chip of $1.65{\times}1.65mm^2$. The peak power wavelength is $858.8{\pm}0.35nm$, the relative intensity is $0.3{\pm}0.2$, and the linewidth is $0.2{\pm}0.07nm$. We also report the wavelength division multiplexing system experiment using angle-dependent blue shift characteristics of this laser array. This photonic quantum ring laser has angle-dependent multiple-wavelength radial emission characteristics over about 10 nm tuning range generated from array devices. The array exhibits a free space detection as far as 6 m with a function of the distance.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.8 no.6
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• pp.1022-1028
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• 1997

This work was performed to study the characteristics of electrochemical intercalation reactions occurring at the interface between the organic electrolyte and tungsten trioxide thin film (thickness of $4000{\AA}$) prepared by e-beam evaporation method as cathodically coloring oxide with regard to the electrochromism by the intercalating reactions of the lithium cation in the 1M $LiClO_4/PC$ organic solution. The characteristics of electrochemical intercalation reactions were investigated by various DC electrochemical methods such as cathodic Tafel polarization test, multiple and the single sweep cyclic voltammetry and the coulomety titrations method. The surfaces of thin films were observed with the patterns of X ray diffraction after the coloring and bleaching reactions. In comparison with the previous results that $WO_3$ thin film intersely detached from the surface of electrode when the hydrogen cation was intercalated into $WO_3$ thin film in the o.1N $H_2SO_4$ aqueous solution, the intercalation reaction of lithium cation into $WO_3$ thin film in the 1M $LiClO_4/PC$ organic solution was shown that the stable bleaching and coloration was appeared within 1.0V of the applied overpotential. When the overpotential of electrochromic reaction for lithium cation in the 1M $LiClO_4/PC$ organic solution had been applied up to 1.5V, the accumulation phenomenon of lithium in amorphous $WO_3$ thin film layer occurred because the inserted lithium into amorphous $WO_3$ thin layer for coloring process was not fully removed from the thin layer to the electrolyte during bleaching process. It was found that there is a limitation of applied overpotential for coloring process by the reduction of the current densities of bleaching and coloration after few number of coloring and bleaching cycles.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.294-301
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• 2008

This study was carried out to investigate the protective effects and detoxification of oriental herb extracts mixture (Saururus chinensis, Taraxacum platycarpum, Ulmus macrocarpa, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Rhynchosia nulubilis) on TCDD-induced oxidative stress. Thirty five male rats were divided into 5 groups: normal control group received saline; vehicle control group received DMSO and acetone; only TCDD-treated group received multiple intraperitoneal injection of TCDD ($100{\mu}g/kg$) and saline; post-treated group of OHEM (400 mg/kg/day) received oral administration for 5 weeks after TCDD treatment; and pre-treated group of OHEM (400 mg/kg/day) received oral administration for 6 weeks from 1 week before TCDD treatment. The elevated serum activities of alanine transaminase (AST), aspartate transaminase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and atherorganic index due to TCDD were significantly decreased by the treatment of OHEM (p<0.05); the pre-treatment of OHEM was especially effective. Hydropic lesions and cytoplasmic vacuolizations in the liver of TCDD-treated rats were inhibited by the treatment of OHEM. Also, OHEM treatment reduced edemas in small intestine villus of TCDD-treated rats. These results suggest that OHEM from various oriental herb extracts might be a useful protective and detoxification agent against TCDD.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.525-536
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• 2005

여러 연구들을 통해 많은 학자들이 임프란트 안정성(stability)은 표면의 특징에 달려있다고 생각하게 되었다. 표면의 구조, 에너지, 산화물(oxide) 두께와 표면성상(topography)등 임프란트의 표면의 특징은 임프란트와 골조직의 반응에서 중요한 역할을 하는 것이 알려짐에 따라 티타뮨 임프란트의 표면의 처리 방법에 큰 관심을 가지게 되었다. 그 중에서 티타늄 임프란트 표면의 산화피막화(anodization)가 한 방법으로 대두되었다. 이 방법은 전기화학적 방식으로 임프란트 표면에 거칠고(rough)두꺼우며(thick), 기공(pore)을 가지는 산화물 막을 형성하는 것으로 산화물의 두께는 coronal 부분(l-2 ${\mu}m$)으로부터 apical부분(7-10 ${\mu}m$)까지 증가하게 된다. 산화피막의 표면에는 다양한 크기의 수많은 기공이 주로 1-2 ${\mu}m$ 두께로 임프란트의 apical 부분에서 존재하며, 임프란트 표면의 거칠기는 conical 위부분에서 apical 부분까지 계속 증가한다(평균 Ra value=1.2 ${\mu}m$). 또 다른 표면 처리 방법으로는 blasting 후에 etching을 한 SLA 표면이 있다. 이 연구의 목적은 일반적으로 많이 이용되고 있는 anodized 표면과 SLA 표면의 조직학적 반응을 비교 분석하는 것이다. 24개 임프란트를(anodized surfaced implant-12개 , SLA-12개, 8mm ${\times}\;{\Phi}$ 4.3) 6마리 토끼의 오른쪽과 왼쪽 femur에 식립하였다. 12주후에 동물들을 희생하여 EXACT cutting-grinding system을 이용하여 샘플을 절단하고 800, 1200 및 4000 번 연마제(abrasive) paper로 20-50 ${\mu}m$ 까지 grinding하였다. 샘플은 Multiple staining 용액으로 염색하여 SLA 임프란트 군과 비교하였다. 골과 임프란트 사이에 연결을 TDI 프로그램을 이용하여 %로 측정하였다. SLA 임프란트 군 경우에는 골과 임프란트 사이의 연결이 $74{\pm}19%$ 이고, 양극 산화한 임프란트 군 경우에는 $77{\pm}9%$이었다. 양극 산화한 티타늄 임프란트의 골 접촉률이 SLA 표면 임프란트 경우과 통계학적으로 유의한 차이는 보이지 않았다.