• Journal of Life Science
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.137-147
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• 2014

Cortex ulmi pumilae, the cortex of Ulmus davidiana var. japonica, has been used in traditional folk medicine for its anti-inflammatory effect. Although its various bioactivities such as anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, and anti-cancer, have been reported, the anti-adipogenic activity of cortex ulmi pumilae remains unclarified. In the present study, we investigated the effect of cortex ulmi pumilae extract on adipocyte differentiation in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. Treatment with cortex ulmi pumilae extract significantly reduced the formation of lipid droplets and triglyceride content in a dose-dependent manner; this is associated with an inhibition of the adipogenic transcription factors, CCAAT/enhancer binding protein ${\alpha}$ ($C/EBP{\alpha}$), $C/EBP{\beta}$, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ${\gamma}$ ($PPAR{\gamma}$). In addition, cortex ulmi pumilae extract treatment during the early stage of adipogenesis showed more efficient anti-adipogenic activity than treatment during other stages of adipogenesis. Cortex ulmi pumilae extract also inhibited cell proliferation and induced G1 arrest of 3T3-L1 cells in the early stage of adipogenesis. This was associated with upregulated expression of Cdk inhibitor p21 and downregulated expression of cyclin E and phospho-Rb, indicating that cortex ulmi pumilae extract blocks mitotic clonal expansion by cell cycle regulation. Taken together, these results suggest that cortex ulmi pumilae extract possesses anti-adipogenic activity through the inhibition of adipocyte differentiation by blocking mitotic clonal expansion.

• Industrial Engineering and Management Systems
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.185-190
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• 2011

A driver interacts directly with the car seat at all times. There are ergonomic characteristics that have to be followed to produce comfortable seats. However, most of previous researches focused on either static or dynamic condition only. In addition, research on car seat development is critically lacking although Malaysia herself manufactures its own car. Hence, this paper integrates objective measurements and subjective evaluation to predict seat discomfort. The objective measurements consider both static and dynamic conditions. Steven's psychophysics power law has been used in which after expansion; ${\psi}\;=\;a+b{\varphi}_s^{\alpha}+c{\varphi}_v^{\beta}$ where ${\psi}$ is discomfort sensation, ${\varphi}_s^{\alpha}$ is static modality with exponent ${\alpha}$ and ${\varphi}_v^{\beta}$ is dynamic modality with exponent ${\beta}$. The subjects in this study were local and the cars used were Malaysian made compact car. Static objective measurement was the seat pressure distribution measurement. The experiment was carried out on the driver's seat in a real car with the engine turned off. Meanwhile, the dynamic objective measurement was carried out in a moving car on real roads. During pressure distribution and vibration transmissibility experiments, subjects were requested to evaluate their discomfort levels using vehicle seat discomfort survey questionnaire together with body map diagram. From subjective evaluations, seat pressure and vibration dose values exponent for static modality ${\alpha}$ = 1.51 and exponent for dynamic modality ${\beta}$ = 1.24 were produced. The curves produced from the $E_{q.s}$ showed better $R_{-sq}$ values (99%) when both static and dynamic modalities were considered together as compared to Eq. with single modality only (static or dynamic only R-Sq = 95%). In conclusion, car seat discomfort prediction gives better result when seat development considered both static and dynamic modalities; and using ergonomic approach.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.301-307
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• 2012

SiAlON glasses are silicates or alumino-silicates, containing Mg, Ca, Y or rare earth (RE) ions as modifiers, in which nitrogen atoms substitute for oxygen atoms in the glass network. These glasses are found as intergranular films and at triple point junctions in silicon nitride ceramics and these grain boundary phases affect their fracture behaviour. This paper provides an overview of the preparation of M-SiAlON glasses and outlines the effects of composition on properties. As nitrogen substitutes for oxygen in SiAlON glasses, increases are observed in glass transition temperatures, viscosities, elastic moduli and microhardness. These property changes are compared with known effects of grain boundary glass chemistry in silicon nitride ceramics. Oxide sintering additives provide conditions for liquid phase sintering, reacting with surface silica on the $Si_3N_4$ particles and some of the nitride to form SiAlON liquid phases which on cooling remain as intergranular glasses. Thermal expansion mismatch between the grain boundary glass and the silicon nitride causes residual stresses in the material which can be determined from bulk SiAlON glass properties. The tensile residual stresses in the glass phase increase with increasing Y:Al ratio and this correlates with increasing fracture toughness as a result of easier debonding at the glass/${\beta}-Si_3N_4$ interface.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.315-322
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• 1989

Li2O-Al2O3-SiO2 system glasses contained P2O5, TiO2 and ZrO2as the nucleating agents were melted and formed. The glass was subsequently heated first to nucleate and then to grow the crystals. At constant nucleating agent content the base glass compositions were varied and the influences of these variations on the crystallization behaviour were investigated. The study was made by measurement of thermal expansion coefficient, differential thermal analysis, X-ray diffraction analysis, scanning electron microscope observation and transmission measurement of crystallized glass specimen in visible region. It was shown that the content of crystalline phase decreased with increasing SiO2 content as well as decresing Li2O in the base glass compositions. As the result of X-ray diffrection analysis, the major crystal was $\beta$-quartz solid solution. The degree of crystallinity which was calculated using the noncrystalline scattering methods increased in S-shape with increasing heat treatment time. This change was similar to that in thermal expansion coefficient. The transmissions of 5mm thick samples were 80-90% in visible ray region.

• Clean Technology
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2020

Rapid expansion of supercritical solution (RESS) process was used to make molsidomine (MOL) loaded peracetyl-β-cyclodextrin (PAc-β-CD) nanoparticles, which were collected into the air. The effect of the concentration of the drug PAc-β-CD (0.5 and 1 wt%), extraction temperature (45 ~ 60 ℃), nozzle length (5 ~ 20 mm) and internal diameter (ID) (50 ~ 150 μm) of a capillary, and spray distance on the particle size and morphology of the resulting particles were investigated. The interaction of a drug and PAc-β-CD was confirmed by ¹H-NMR spectroscopy while the particle size was measured by means of a scanning electron microscope. It was found that increasing the temperature from 45 ℃ to 60 ℃ and decreasing the nozzle diameter from 150 μm to 50 μm had an increasing effect on the average particle size, while increasing the spray distance led to a decrease in the average particle size at a constant pressure of 34.5 MPa and temperature of 45 ℃. With 0.5 wt% of PAc-β-CD, the capillary nozzle of short length (5 mm) and small ID (50 μm) gave the smallest size (165 nm). The obtained nanoparticles showed increased dispersity and solubility in oil. The oil suspension of the inclusion complex showed increased sustainability, which can increase the in-vitro controlled release time of the drug.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.835-845
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• 1998

Background: Silica-induced lung diseases is characterized by the accumulation of inflammatory cells at early stage and fibrosis in pulmonary parenchyma and interstitium at late stage. As a consequence of inflammation, silicosis is accompanied with the expansion of interstitial collagen and the formation of fibrotic nodule. In this process, several kinds of lung cells produce cytokines which can amplify and modulate pulmonary fibrosis. The alveolar macrophage is a potent source of proflammatory cytokines and growth factor. But in the process of silicotic inflammation and fibrosis, there are many changes of the kinetics in cytokine network. And the sources of cytokines in each phase are not well known. Method: 2.5 mg of silica was instillated into the lung of C57BL/6J mice. After intratracheal instillation of silica, the lungs were removed for imunohistochemical stain at 1, 2, 7 day, 2, 4, 8, 12 week, respectively. We investigated the expression of IL-1$\beta$, IL-6, TNF-$\alpha$ and TGF-$\beta$ in lung tissue. Results: 1) The expression of IL-6 increased from 1 day after exposure to 8 weeks in vascular endothelium. Also peribronchial area were stained for IL-6 from 7 days and reached the peak level for 4 weeks. 2) The IL-1 $\beta$ was expressed weakly at the alveolar and peribronchial area through 12 weeks. 3) The TNF-$\alpha$ expressed strongly at alveolar and bronchial epithelia during early stage and maintained for 12 weeks. 4) TGF-$\beta$ was expressed strongly at bronchial epithelia and peribronchial area after 1 week and the strongest at 8 weeks. Conclusion: The results above suggests IL-6, TNF-$\alpha$ appear to be a early inflammatory response in silica induced lung fibrosis and TGF-$\beta$ play a major role in the maintenance and modulation of fibrosis in lung tissue. And the regulation of TNF-$\alpha$ production will be a key role in modultion of silica-induced fibrosis.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.127-133
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• 2013

Porcelain with high thermal shock resistance was successfully fabricated by a lithium solution infiltration method with a lithium hydroxide solution. Lithium hydroxide solutions having various lithium concentrations were infiltrated into pre-sintered porcelain bodies. The porcelain sample infiltrated by the 9 wt% lithium solution and heat treated at $1250^{\circ}C$ for 1 h showed a low thermal expansion coefficient of $1.0{\times}10^{-6}/^{\circ}C$ with excellent thermal shock resistance. The highly thermally resistant porcelain had a well-developed ${\beta}$-spodumene phase with the general phases observed in porcelain. Furthermore, the porcelain showed a denser structure of $2.41g/cm^3$ sintering density and excellent whiteness in comparison with commercial thermally resistible porcelains. The lithium hydroxide in the samples readily reacted with moisture, and liquid phase reactants were formed during the fabrication process. In the case of an excess amount of lithium in the sample body, the lithium reactants were forced to the surface and re-crystallized at the surface, leaving large pores beneath the surface. These phenomena resulted in an irregular structure in the surface area and led to cracking in samples subjected to a thermal shock test.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.123-128
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• 2006

Mechanical and thermal properties of spray-cast hypereutectic Al-20wt.%Si-xwt.%Fe alloys (x=0, 1, 3, 5) were investigated. After the spray-casting, hot extrusion was performed at $400^{\circ}C$. Intermetallic compound (${\beta}-Al_5FeSi$) and primary Si are observed in the spray-cast aluminum alloys. The size of primary Si and intermetallic compound of the spray-aluminum alloys became finer and more uniformly distributed than that of the permanent mold cast ones. Ultimate tensile strength of the spray-cast aluminum alloys increased by increasing Fe contents, but that of the permanent mold cast aluminum alloys decreased by increasing Fe contents possibly due to increased amount of coarse intermatallic compound. The coefficient of thermal expansion (CTEs) of the aluminum alloys became lower with finer primary Si and intermetallic compound, and this is attributed to the increased amount of interfacial area between the aluminum matrix and the phases of finer Si and intermetallic compound.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.275-285
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• 1996

The effect of heat-treatment on catalytic crystallization in $LI_2O-Al_2O_3-SiO_2$ glass system over its glass transition temperature was investigated. Glass composition $4Li_2O{cdot}22AL_2O_3{cdot}66SiO_2{cdot}2TiO_2{cdot}2.5ZrO_2{cdot}1.5P_2O_5{cdot}1.0Na_2O{cdot}1.0As_2O_3$ (wt%) was selected and heat-treated at different heating conditions to obtain transparent glass-ceramic. Nucleation and crystallization behaviour of this composition were estimated by differential thermal analysis (DTA) and X-ray diffractometer (XRD) and its thermal expansion coefficients were measured by Dilatometer. As a result, glass transition temperature was $730^{\circ}C$ and two maximum nucleation temperatures were estimated at $730^{\circ}C$ and 82$0^{\circ}C$ using JMA(Johson-Mehl-Avrami) equation by DTA. $ZrTiO_4$ $\beta$-Quartz solid solution and $\beta$-Spodumene crystals were identified by XRD. The optimum crystallization temperature was 92$0^{\circ}C$ and three step heating schedule was expected to be useful to obtain transparent glass-ceramic.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.437-445
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• 2014

Purpose: The aim in this study was to identify head nurses' nursing performance according to their managerial competencies and professional nurse autonomy. Methods: From January 15 to January 31, 2013 a survey was distributed to 200 head nurses working in 5 tertiary hospitals in B city and J city. The response rate was 80% (160 responses). The survey content included the Managerial Competencies Scale (MCS), Schutzenhofer professional nurse autonomy Scale (SPNA), and Nursing Performance Scale (SPNA). Results: The score for MCS was 4.53, for SPNA, 177.05, and for SPNA, 4.62. Nursing performance was related to managerial competencies (${\beta}=0.741$; p<.001; SE=0.059) and professional autonomy (${\beta}=0.135$; p=.010; SE=0.001). These factors accounted for 64.8~67.3% of the variability in nursing performance. Conclusion: Results indicate that head nurses' performance would be improved through increased nursing managerial competencies and expansion of professional autonomy suggesting a need to develop work systems designed to achieve high managerial competency and professional autonomy in head nurses.