• Journal of the Korean Recycled Construction Resources Institute
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.269-275
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• 2022

In this study, the setting time and compressive strength of cement paste composites applied with nano-micro pozzolanic binders were experimental analyzed. The pozzolanic binder was reduced initial and final setting time and the compressive strength was increased. Micro silica was effective in decrease the initial setting and final setting time and impressing the compressive strength. When two or more cement binders were used, the using of silica fume and a small amount of nano silica at reduced the setting time to 62-64 % to OPC cement and the compressive strength was increased to 117 %. A small amount of mixing the nano silica was effect to pore filling and pozzolanic activation. However, the addition of a chemical admixture should be considered when mixing table design because pozzolanic binders high specific surface area causes a decrease in cement composites flow.

• The Journal of Advanced Prosthodontics
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.246-257
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• 2021

PURPOSE. This study aimed to investigate the Vickers Hardness Number (VHN) of light- and dual cured resin cements cured through monolithic zirconia specimens (VITA YZ) of various translucencies: translucent (T); high translucent (HT); super translucent (ST); and extra translucent (XT) at 0, 24, and 48 h after curing. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Four zirconia specimens from each translucency were prepared. Two light-cured resin cements (Variolink N LC; VL and RelyX Veneer; RL) and two dual-cured resin cements (Variolink N DC; VD and RelyX U200; RD) were used. The cement was mixed and loaded in a mold and cured for 20 s through the zirconia specimen. The upper surface of cements was tested for VHN using a microhardness tester at 0, 24, and 48 h after curing. The VHN were analyzed using two-way repeated, Brown-Forsythe ANOVA with Games Howell post-hoc analysis and independent t-tests (P < .05). RESULTS. All cements showed significantly higher VHN from 0 h to 24 h (P < .001). At 48 h, the VHN of light-cured cements were significantly lower when cured under the T groups than under XT groups (P = .001 in VL, P = .014 in RL). At each post curing time of each translucency, VD showed higher VHN than VL (P < .05), and RD also showed higher VHN than RL (P < .05). CONCLUSION. The translucency of zirconia has an effect on the VHN for light-cured resin cements, but has no effect on dual-cured resin cements. Dual-cured resin cement exhibited higher VHN than the light-cured resin cement from the same manufacturer. All resin cements showed significantly higher VHN from 0 h to 24 h.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Military Science and Technology
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.580-585
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• 2022

In this study, the high-temperature dielectric constant of Si₃N₄ ceramics, a representative non-oxide-based radome material, was evaluated and the cause of the dielectric constant change was analyzed in relation to the oxidation behavior. The dielectric constant of Si₃N₄ ceramics was 7.79 at room temperature, and it linearly increased as the temperature increased, showing 8.42 at 1,000 ℃. As results of analyzing the microstructure and phase for the Si₃N₄ ceramics before and after heat-treatment, it was confirmed that oxidation did not occur at all or occurred only on the surface at a very insignificant level below 1,000 ℃. Based on this, it is concluded that the increase in the dielectric constant according to the temperature increase of Si₃N₄ ceramics is irrelevant to the oxidation behavior and is only due to the activation of charge polarization.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.215-224
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• 2022

Background: The presence of the lumbopelvic-hip neuromuscular chain is essential for dynamic spinal stabilization; its therapeutic effects on dynamic movements of the distal extremity segment and underpinning motor mechanism remain unknown and warrant further study on participants with low back pain (LBP). Objects: We aim to compare the effects of the broken chain exercise (BCE) and connected chain exercise (CCE) on electromyography (EMG) amplitude and onset time in participants with and without LBP. Methods: Randomized controlled clinical trial. A convenience sample of 40 nonathletic participants (mean age: 24.78 ± 1.70) with and without LBP participated in this study. All participants underwent CCE for 30 minutes, 30-minute daily. We measured EMG amplitude and onset times on bilateral erector spinae (ES), gluteus maximus (GM), hamstring (HAM), transverse abdominis (TrA), internal oblique (IO), and external oblique (EO) during the prone hip extension (PHE) test before and after the BCE and CCE. We used multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) to analyze the amplitude and onset time difference between exercises (BCE and CCE) and Pearson's correlations to determine any synergistic relationship among the HAM, GM, bilateral TrA/IO, and ES muscles. The statistical analyses were used at p < 0.05. Results: MANOVA showed that CCE was more decreased on EMG amplitude in HAM and bilateral ES, while increased GM and contralateral TrA/IO than BCE (p < 0.05). MANOVA EMG onset time data analyses revealed that the main effect of the conditions was significant for all HAM, GM, and bilateral ES muscles, whereas the main effect for the group was significant only for GM and contralateral ES in healthy and LBP groups. Pearson's correlation coefficient was computed to assess the relationship between BCE and CCE on dependent variables. In most of the muscles, there was a strong, positive correlation between the two variables, and there was a significant relationship (p < 0.001). Conclusion: CCE produced more effective and coordinated core stabilization and motor control mechanism in the lumbopelvic-hip muscles in participants with and without LBP during PHE than BCE.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.63-67
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• 2022

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of assistance tools such as gym balls, wedges, and straps on lower extremity muscle activity and the increase in the range of motion made possible by the use of these tools. The subjects were divided into two groups: a group capable of deep-squatting (PS) and the second finding it impossible or having difficulty in performing such squats (IS). Methods: Twenty-three subjects participated in this study. Surface electromyography was used to measure the muscle activation of the rectus femoris (RF), vastus medialis (VM), and tibialis anterior (TA) muscles during deep squats, normal squats (NS), gym ball squats (GS), wedge squats (WS), and strap squats (SS). A motion analysis system was used to measure the range of motion of the knee joint during each of these exercises. Results: There was a significant difference in the RF muscle activity between the possible squat (PS) and the impossible squat (IS) groups in the GS, and there were significant differences in the RF and TA muscle activity between the groups in the WS. Both the PS group and the IS group showed a significant difference in the TA muscle activity depending on the tool used. There were also significant differences in the range of motion of the knee joints between the intervention methods using NS and those using the tools. Conclusion: In both groups, the muscle activity of the TA muscles was lower when GS, WS, and SS were performed compared to NS. In addition, compared to NS, the range of motion of the knee joint increased when the three tools were used. This study shows that the activity of the RF, VM, and TA muscles decreased and the range of motion of the knee joint increased during deep squats for both the PS and IS groups when tools were used.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.79-86
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• 2022

Background: Bird dog exercise (BDE) is one of the lumbar stabilization exercises that rehabilitate low back pain by co-contraction of the local and global muscles. Previous studies have reported the effect of various type of BDEs (for example, practicing the exercises on various surfaces and changing the limb movement) for muscle co-contraction. Objects: This study aimed to investigate the effect of knee joint flexion position of the raised lower limb on abdominal and back muscle activity during BDE in patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP). Methods: Thirteen males participated in this study (age: 32.54 ± 4.48 years, height: 177.38 ± 7.17 cm). Surface electromyographic (SEMG) data of the internal abdominal oblique (IO), external abdominal oblique (EO), lumbar multifidus (MF), and thoracic part of the iliocostalis lumborum (ICLT) were collected in two knee joint flexion positions (90° flexion versus 0° flexion) during BDE. The SEMG data were expressed as a percentage of root mean square mean values obtained in the maximal voluntary isometric contraction. Results: Greater muscle activity of the IO (p = 0.001), MF (p = 0.009), and ICLT (p = 0.021) of the raised lower limb side and the EO (p = 0.001) and MF (p = 0.009) of the contralateral side were demonstrated in the knee joint flexion position compared to the knee joint extension position. Greater local/global activity ratios of the abdominal muscle (i.e., IO and EO) of the raised lower limb (p = 0.002) and the back muscle (i.e., MF and ICLT) of the contralateral side (p = 0.028) were also noted in the knee joint flexion position. Conclusion: BDE with a knee joint flexion position might be recommended as an alternative lumbar stabilization exercise to enhance muscle activity in both the raised lower limb and the contralateral sides of the trunk for individuals with CLBP.

• Proceedings of the SCSK Conference
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• 2003.09a
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• pp.338-351
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• 2003

UV radiation is the most dangerous stress factor among permanent environmental impacts on human skin. Consequences of UV exposure are aberrant tissue architecture, alterations in skin cells including functional changes. Nowadays new kinds of outdoor leisure-time activities and changing environmental conditions make the question of sun protection more important than ever. It is necessary to recognize that self-confident consumers do not consider to change their way of life, they demand modern solutions on the basis of new scientific developments. In the past one fundamental principle of cosmetics was the use of physical and organic filter systems against damaging UV-rays. Today new research results demonstrate that natural protecting cell mechanisms can be activated. Suitable biological actives strongly support the protection function not from the surface but from the inside of the cell. A soy seed preparation (SSP) was proven to stimulate natural skin protective functions. The major functions are an increased energy level and the prevention of DNA damage. These functions can I be defined as biological UV protection. The tumor suppressor protein p53 plays a key role in the regulation of DNA repair. p53 must be transferred into the phosphorylated form to work as transcription factor for genes which are regulating the cell cycle or organizing DNA repair. A pretreatment with SSP increases the phosphorylation rate of p53 of chronically UV-irradiated human keratinocytes significantly. According to the same test procedure SSP induces a dramatic increase in the expression of the tumor suppressor protein p14$^{ARF}$ that is supporting the p53 activity by blocking the antagonist of p53, the oncoprotein Mdm2. Mdm2, a ubiquitin E3-ligase, downregulates p53 and at the same time it prevents phosphorylation of p53. The positive influence of the tumor suppressor proteins explains the stimulation of DNA repair and prevention of sunburn cell formation by SSP, which was proven in cell culture experiments. In vivo the increased skin tolerance against UV irradiation by SSP could be confirmed too. We have assumed, that an increased repair potential provides full cell functionality.y.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.274-282
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• 2023

Background: Ginsenoside compound K (CK) stimulated activation of the PI3K-Akt signaling is one of the major mechanisms in promoting cell survival after stroke. However, the underlying mediators remain poorly understood. This study aimed to explore the docking protein of ginsenoside CK mediating the neuroprotective effects. Materials and methods: Molecular docking, surface plasmon resonance, and cellular thermal shift assay were performed to explore ginsenoside CK interacting proteins. Neuroscreen-1 cells and middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model in rats were utilized as in-vitro and in-vivo models. Results: Ginsenoside CK interacted with recombinant human PTP1B protein and impaired its tyrosine phosphatase activity. Pathway and process enrichment analysis confirmed the involvement of PTP1B and its interacting proteins in PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. PTP1B overexpression reduced the tyrosine phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS1) after oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R) in neuroscreen-1 cells. These regulations were confirmed in the ipsilateral ischemic hemisphere of the rat brains after MCAO/R. Ginsenoside CK treatment reversed these alterations and attenuated neuronal apoptosis. Conclusion: Ginsenoside CK binds to PTP1B with a high affinity and inhibits PTP1B-mediated IRS1 tyrosine dephosphorylation. This novel mechanism helps explain the role of ginsenoside CK in activating the neuronal protective PI3K-Akt signaling pathway after ischemia-reperfusion injury.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.481-491
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• 2023

The β subunits of high voltage-gated calcium channels (HGCCs) are essential for optimal channel functions such as channel gating, activation-inactivation kinetics, and trafficking to the membrane. In this study, we report for the first time the potent blood pressure-reducing effects of peptide fragments derived from the β subunits in anesthetized and non-anesthetized rats. Intravenous administration of 16-mer peptide fragments derived from the interacting regions of the β1 [cacb1(344-359)], β2 [cacb2(392-407)], β3 [cacb3(292-307)], and β4 [cacb4(333-348)] subunits with the main α-subunit of HGCC decreased arterial blood pressure in a dose-dependent manner for 5-8 min in anesthetized rats. In contrast, the peptides had no effect on the peak amplitudes of voltage-activated Ca²⁺ current upon their intracellular application into the acutely isolated trigeminal ganglion neurons. Further, a single mutated peptide of cacb1(344-359)-cacb1(344-359)_K357R-showed consistent and potent effects and was crippled by a two-amino acid-truncation at the N-terminal or C-terminal end. By conjugating palmitic acid with the second amino acid (lysine) of cacb1(344-359)_K357R (named K2-palm), we extended the blood pressure reduction to several hours without losing potency. This prolonged effect on the arterial blood pressure was also observed in non-anesthetized rats. On the other hand, the intrathecal administration of acetylated and amidated cacb1(344-359)_K357R peptide did not change acute nociceptive responses induced by the intradermal formalin injection in the plantar surface of rat hindpaw. Overall, these findings will be useful for developing antihypertensives.

• Clean Technology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.31-37
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• 2009

This study deals with the production process of activated carbons from the sewage sludge char by chemical activation reaction. KOH and NaOH were used as activating agents, which react well with carbon. From the experiments, it was found that activated carbons made with KOH treatment had better physicochemical properties in terms of iodine number and BET value than those made with NaOH treatment. It was also found that the optimal deposition ratio of an activating agent to the sewage sludge char was 75 wt% of KOH and 50 wt% of NaOH. Activated carbons were washed out by distilled water after neutralization with 5 M hydrochloric acid solution. The activated carbons that were produced from a sewage sludge char at this optimal conditions have BET surface areas of approximately $600m^2/g$.