• Proceedings of the Korea Crystallographic Association Conference
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• 2003.05a
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• pp.18-18
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• 2003

Thioredoxin (Trx) is a small redox protein that is ubiquitously distributed from achaes to human. In diverse organisms, the protein is involved in various physiological roles by acting as electron donor and regulators of transcription and apoptosis as well as antioxidants. Sequences of Trx within various species are 27～69% identical to that of E. coli and all Trx proteins have the same overall fold, which consists of central five β strands surrounded by four α helices. The N-terminal cysteine in WCGPC motif of Trx is redox sensitive and the motif is highly conserved. Compared with general cysteine, the N-terminal cysteine has low pKa value. The result leads to increased reduction activity of protein. Recently, novel thio.edoxin-related protein (TRP14) was found from rat brain. TRP14 acts as disulfide reductase like Trx1, and its redox potential and pKa are similar to those of Trx1. However, TRP14 takes up electrons from cytosolic thioredoxin reductase (TrxR1), not from the mitochondrial thioredoxin reductase (TrxR2). Biological roles of TES14 were reported to be involved in regulating TNF-α induced signaling pathways in different manner with Trx1. In depletion experiments, depletion of TRP14 increased TNF-α induced phosphorylation and degradation of IκBα more than the depletion Trx1 did. It also facilitated activation of JNK and p38 MAP kinase induced by TNF-α. Unlike Trx1, TRP14 shows neither interaction nor interference with ASK1. Here, we determined three-dimensional crystal structure of TRP14 by MAD method at 1.8Å. The structure reveals that the conserved cis-Pro (Pro90) and active site-W-C-X-X-C motif, which may be involved in substrate recognition similar to Trx1 , are located at the beginning position of strand β4 and helix α2, respectively. The TRP14 structure also shows that surface of TRP14 in the vicinity of the active site, which is surrounded by an extended flexible loop and an additional short a helix, is different from that of Trx1. In addition, the structure exhibits that TRP14 interact with a distinct target proteins compared with Trx1 and the binding may depend mainly on hydrophobic and charge interactions. Consequently, the structure supports biological data that the TRP14 is involved in regulating TNF-α induced signaling pathways in different manner with Trx1.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2008.06a
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• pp.236-236
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• 2008

(Bi,La)$Ti_3O_{12}$(BLT) thin film is one of the most attractive materials for ferroelectric random access memory (FRAM) applications due to its some excellent properties such as high fatigue endurance, low processing temperature, and large remanent polarization [1-2]. The authors firstly investigated and reported the damascene process of chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) for BLT thin film capacitor on behalf of plasma etching process for fabrication of FRAM [3]. CMP process could prepare the BLT capacitors with the superior process efficiency to the plasma etching process without the well-known problems such as plasma damages and sloped sidewall, which was enough to apply to the fabrication of FRAM [2]. BLT-CMP characteristics showed the typical oxide-CMP characteristics which were related in both pressure and velocity according to Preston's equation and Hernandez's power law [2-4]. Good surface roughness was also obtained for the densification of multilevel memory structure by CMP process [3]. The well prepared BLT capacitors fabricated by CMP process should have the sufficient ferroelectric properties for FRAM; therefore, in this study the electrical properties of the BLT capacitor fabricated by CMP process were analyzed with the process parameters. Especially, the effects of CMP pressure, which had mainly affected the removal rate of BLT thin films [2], on the electrical properties were investigated. In order to check the influences of the pressure in eMP process on the ferroelectric properties of BLT thin films, the electrical test of the BLT capacitors was performed. The polarization-voltage (P-V) characteristics show a decreased the remanent polarization (Pr) value when CMP process was performed with the high pressure. The shape of the hysteresis loop is close to typical loop of BLT thin films in case of the specimen after CMP process with the pressures of 4.9 kPa; however, the shape of the hysteresis loop is not saturated due to high leakage current caused by structural and/or chemical damages in case of the specimen after CMP process with the pressures of 29.4 kPa. The leakage current density obtained with positive bias is one order lower than that with negative bias in case of 29.4 kPa, which was one or two order higher than in case of 4.9 kPa. The high pressure condition was not suitable for the damascene process of BLT thin films due to the defects in electrical properties although the better efficiency of process. by higher removal rate of BLT thin films was obtained with the high pressure of 29.4 kPa in the previous study [2].

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.283-299
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• 2017

The leakage of tunnel causes the long-term durability of the structures such as concrete lining to deteriorate. The cause of durability degradation can be various substances contained in groundwater such as chloride, sulphate, water, and gas. In this study, a series of test were carried out to determine the watertightness performance and the resistance to salt water of the spray-applied membrane used as non-structural rock support or as a waterproof material for tunnels. As a result, it was found that the penetration of water could occur in a specimen, and the reason was that the internal pores generated by the mixing of the liquid polymer and the powder material and the internal pores were connected by the water pressure. The tensile strength of the test specimens immersed in distilled water and saline water was found to be reduced to less than half of the tensile strength in normal condition. In addition, The elongation was measured to be higher in distilled water than in salt water. However, this result will require further investigation.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.23-33
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• 2011

In this study, a CFPBS (Cone-type Friction Pendulum Bearing System) was developed which controls the acceleration delivered to the structure to prevent damage and degradation of the critical communication equipment in case of an earthquake. The isolation performance of the CFPBS was evaluated by numerical analysis. The CFPBS was manufactured in the shape of a cone differenced from the existing FPS (Friction Pendulum System), and a pattern was engraved on the friction surface. The natural frequencies of the CFPBS were evaluated from a free-vibration test with the seismic isolator system consisting of four CFPBSs. In order to verify its earthquake-resistant performance, a numerical analysis program was created from the equation of the CFPBS induced from the equations of motion. A simplified theoretical equation of the CFPBS was proposed to manufacture the equipment which could demonstrate the necessary performance. Artificial seismic waves satisfying the maximum earthquake scale of the Korean Building Code-Structural (KBC-2005) were created and verified to review the earthquake-resistant performance of the CFPBS by numerical analysis. The superstructural mass of the CFPBS and skew angle of the friction surface were considered for numerical analysis with El Centro NS (1940), Kobe NS (1995) and artificial seismic waves. The CFPBS isolation performance evaluation was based on the results of numerical analysis and the executed comparative analysis between the results from numerical analysis and the simplified theoretical equation under the same conditions.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.27 no.12
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• pp.705-709
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• 2017

The electronic and optical characteristics of molybdenum disulphide ($MoS_2$) film significantly vary with its thickness, and thus a rapid and accurate estimation of the number of $MoS_2$ layers is critical in practical applications as well as in basic researches. Various existing methods are currently available for the thickness measurement, but each has drawbacks. Transmission electron microscopy allows actual counting of the $MoS_2$ layers, but is very complicated and requires destructive processing of the sample to the point where it will no longer be useable after characterization. Atomic force microscopy, particularly when operated in the tapping mode, is likewise time-consuming and suffers from certain anomalies caused by an improperly chosen set point, that is, free amplitude in air for the cantilever. Raman spectroscopy is a quick characterization method for identifying one to a few layers, but the laser irradiation causes structural degradation of the $MoS_2$. Optical microscopy works only when $MoS_2$ is on a silicon substrate covered with $SiO_2$ of 100~300 nm thickness. The last two optical methods are commonly limited in resolution to the micrometer range due to the diffraction limits of light. We report here a method of measuring the distribution of the number of $MoS_2$ layers using a low voltage field emission electron microscope with acceleration voltages no greater than 1 kV. We found a linear relationship between the FESEM contrast and the number of $MoS_2$ layers. This method can be used to characterize $MoS_2$ samples at nanometer-level spatial resolution, which is below the limits of other methods.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.90-95
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• 2014

Nylon66 extrudates as a function of the extrusion number were prepared by a twin screw extruder. Chemical structures, thermal properties, melt index, crystal structures, mechanical properties such as the tensile strength, elongation at break and impact strength, and rheological property were measured by FT-IR, $^1H$-NMR, melt indexer, DSC, TGA, XRD, universal tensile tester, Izod impact tester, and rheometer. FT-IR and $^1H$-NMR characterizations indicated that the number of extrusions did not affect the chemical structure. The decrease in the molecular weight was checked by the melt index of extrudates. There were no effects of the thermal history on the melting and degradation temperature. The tensile and impact strength and modulus were found to be similar, regardless of the number of extrusions, but the elongation decreased significantly. The complex viscosity of extrudates at low frequencies decreased with the extrusion number. No structural changes after extrusion were confirmed from the fact that there was no change in the slope and shape of G'-G" plot.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.47-52
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• 2012

Abstract: In this study, PAN/$TiO_2$ fiber mats were fabricated from polyacrylonitrile (PAN) and titanium(IV) butoxide ($Ti(OBu)_4$) by an electrospinning method with various solution concentrations, applied voltages and solution flow rates. The fiber mats were irradiated with an electron beam to induce structural crosslinking and enhance photocatalytic activity. As a result, uniform and bead-free fibers without pits or cracks on surface were obtained at 5 wt% of $Ti(OBu)_4$ solution with 15 kV and 0.02 mL/min flow rate. The PAN/$TiO_2$ fiber mats were irradiated with an electron beam of 1.14 MeV acceleration voltage, 4 mA of current and $1{\times}10^4kGy$. Electron beam irradiation was enhanced the photocatalytic activity of PAN/$TiO_2$ nano fiber mat. The photocatalytic activity of the PAN/$TiO_2$ fiber mat was analyzed by degradation of methylene blue and volatile organic compounds.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.10
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• pp.954-959
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• 2021

Apoptosis is an important mechanism that regulates cellular populations to maintain homeostasis, and the caspases, a family of cysteine proteases, are key mediators of the apoptosis pathway. Caspase-8 is an initiator caspase of the extrinsic apoptotic pathway, which is initiated by extracellular stimuli. Caspase-8 have two conserved domains, N-terminal tandem death effector domains (DED) and C-terminal two catalytic domain, which are important for this extrinsic apoptosis pathway. In extrinsic apoptosis pathway, death receptors which members of TNF superfamily are activated by binding of death receptor specific ligands from cell outside. After the activated death receptors recruit adaptor protein Fas-associated death domain protein (FADD), death domains (DD) of death receptor and FADD bind to each other and FADD combined with death receptor recruits procaspase-8, a precursor form of caspase-8. The DED of FADD and procaspase-8 bind to one another and FADD-bound procaspase-8 is activated by cleavage of the prodomain. This death receptor-FADD-caspase-8 complex called death inducing signaling complex (DISC). Cellular FLICE-inhibitory proteins (c-FLIPs) regulate caspase-8 activation by acting both anti- and pro-apoptotically, and caspase-8 activation initiates the activation of executioner caspases such as caspase-3. Finally activated executioner caspases complete the apoptosis by acting critically DNA degradation, nuclear condensation, plasma membrane blebbing, and the proteolysis of certain caspase substrates.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.975-984
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• 2021

Objective: Inbreeding depression of reproduction is a major concern in the conservation of native chicken genetic resources. Here, based on the successful development of strongly inbred (Sinb) and weakly inbred (Winb) Langshan chickens, we aimed to evaluate inbreeding effects on reproductive traits and identify candidate genes involved in inbreeding depression of reproduction in Langshan chickens. Methods: A two-sample t-test was performed to estimate the differences in phenotypic values of reproductive traits between Sinb and Winb chicken groups. Three healthy chickens with reproductive trait values around the group mean values were selected from each of the groups. Differences in ovarian and hypothalamus transcriptomes between the two groups of chickens were analyzed by RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq). Results: The Sinb chicken group showed an obvious inbreeding depression in reproduction, especially for traits of age at the first egg and egg number at 300 days (p<0.01). Furthermore, 68 and 618 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were obtained in the hypothalamus and ovary between the two chicken groups, respectively. In the hypothalamus, DEGs were mainly enriched in the pathways related to vitamin metabolism, signal transduction and development of the reproductive system, such as the riboflavin metabolism, Wnt signaling pathway, extracellular matrix-receptor interaction and focal adhesion pathways, including stimulated by retinoic acid 6, serpin family F member 1, secreted frizzled related protein 2, Wnt family member 6, and frizzled class receptor 4 genes. In the ovary, DEGs were significantly enriched in pathways associated with basic metabolism, including amino acid metabolism, oxidative phosphorylation, and glycosaminoglycan degradation. A series of key DEGs involved in folate biosynthesis (gamma-glutamyl hydrolase, guanosine triphosphate cyclohydrolase 1), oocyte meiosis and ovarian function (cytoplasmic polyadenylation element binding protein 1, structural maintenance of chromosomes 1B, and speedy/RINGO cell cycle regulator family member A), spermatogenesis and male fertility (prostaglandin D2 synthase 21 kDa), Mov10 RISC complex RNA helicase like 1, and deuterosome assembly protein 1) were identified, and these may play important roles in inbreeding depression in reproduction. Conclusion: The results improve our understanding of the regulatory mechanisms underlying inbreeding depression in chicken reproduction and provide a theoretical basis for the conservation of species resources.

• Journal of the Korean Geosynthetics Society
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.169-177
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• 2018

Glass fiber reinforced polyester (GFRP) composites are widely used as structural materials in harsh environment such as underground pipes, tanks and boat hulls, which requires long-term water resistance. Especially, these materials might be damaged due to delamination between gelcoat and composites through an osmotic process when they are immersed in water. In this study, GFRP laminates were prepared by surface treatment of UPE (unsaturated polyester) gelcoat by vacuum infusion process to improve the durability of composite materials used in underground pipes. The composite surface coated with gelcoat was examined for surface defects, cracking, and hardness change characteristics in water-immersion environments (different temperatures of $60^{\circ}C$, $75^{\circ}C$, and $85^{\circ}C$). The penetration depth of cracks was investigated by micro CT imaging according to water immersion temperature. It was confirmed that cracks developed into the composites material at $75^{\circ}C$ and $85^{\circ}C$ causing loss of durability of the materials. The point at which the initial crack initiated was defined as the failure time and the life expectancy at $23^{\circ}C$ was measured using the Arrhenius equation. The results from this study is expected to be applied to reliability evaluation of various industrial fields where gelcoat is applied such as civil engineering, construction, and marine industry.