• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.434-444
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• 2021

BRAF inhibitors are insufficient monotherapies for BRAF-mutated cancer; therefore, we investigated which inhibitory pathway would yield the most effective therapeutic approach when targeted in combination with BRAF inhibition. The oncogenic BRAF inhibitor, PLX4720, increased basal autophagic flux in BRAF-mutated cells compared to wild-type (WT) BRAF cells. Interestingly, early autophagy inhibition improved the effectiveness of PLX4720 regardless of BRAF mutation, whereas late autophagy inhibition did not. Although ATG5 knockout led to PLX4720 resistance in both WT and BRAF-mutated cells, the MEK inhibitor trametinib exhibited a synergistic effect on PLX4720 sensitivity in WT BRAF cells but not in BRAF-mutated cells. Conversely, the prolonged inhibition of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress reduced basal autophagy in BRAF-mutated cells, thereby increasing PLX4720 sensitivity. Taken together, our results suggest that the combined inhibition of ER stress and BRAF may simultaneously suppress both pro-survival ER stress and autophagy, and may therefore be suitable for treatment of BRAF-mutated tumors whose autophagy is increased by chronic ER stress. Similarly, for WT BRAF tumors, therapies targeting MEK signaling may be a more effective treatment strategy. Together, this study presents a rational combination treatment strategy to improve the efficacy of BRAF inhibitors depending on BRAF mutation status.

• Journal of Audiology & Otology
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.149-156
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• 2020

Background and Objectives: The gap prepulse inhibition of the acoustic startle response has been used to screen tinnitus in an animal model. Here, we examined changes in the auditory late response under various conditions of gap prepulse inhibition. Subjects and Methods: We recruited 19 healthy adults (5 males, 14 females) and their auditory late responses were recorded after various stimuli with or without gap prepulsing. The N1 and P2 responses were selected for analysis. The gap prepulse inhibition was estimated to determine the optimal auditory late response in the gap prepulse paradigm. Results: We found that the gap per se generated a response that was very similar to the response elicited by sound stimuli. This critically affected the gap associated with the maximal inhibition of the stimulus response. Among the various gap-stimulus intervals (GSIs) between the gap and principal stimulus, the GSI of 150 ms maximally inhibited the response. However, after zero padding was used to minimize artifacts after a P2 response to a gap stimulus, the differences among the GSIs disappeared. Conclusions: Overall, the data suggest that both the prepulse inhibition and the gap per se should be considered when using the gap prepulse paradigm to assess tinnitus in humans.

• Korean Journal of Audiology
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.149-156
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• 2020

Background and Objectives: The gap prepulse inhibition of the acoustic startle response has been used to screen tinnitus in an animal model. Here, we examined changes in the auditory late response under various conditions of gap prepulse inhibition. Subjects and Methods: We recruited 19 healthy adults (5 males, 14 females) and their auditory late responses were recorded after various stimuli with or without gap prepulsing. The N1 and P2 responses were selected for analysis. The gap prepulse inhibition was estimated to determine the optimal auditory late response in the gap prepulse paradigm. Results: We found that the gap per se generated a response that was very similar to the response elicited by sound stimuli. This critically affected the gap associated with the maximal inhibition of the stimulus response. Among the various gap-stimulus intervals (GSIs) between the gap and principal stimulus, the GSI of 150 ms maximally inhibited the response. However, after zero padding was used to minimize artifacts after a P2 response to a gap stimulus, the differences among the GSIs disappeared. Conclusions: Overall, the data suggest that both the prepulse inhibition and the gap per se should be considered when using the gap prepulse paradigm to assess tinnitus in humans.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Building Construction Conference
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• 2021.11a
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• pp.27-28
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• 2021

The search for new corrosion inhibitors for different corrosive mediums is a never-ending task. In the present work, the corrosion inhibition behavior and adsorption mechanism of two novel synthetic thiazolidinedione derivatives noted MTZD and ATZD in 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution on copper were investigated. Electrochemical, scanning electron microscope (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM) techniques were used along with first-principles DFT calculations. At maximum inhibitor concentration i.e., 300 ppm corrosion inhibition efficiency reached maximum up to 90% and 96% for MTZD and ATZD, respectively, and thereby followed the order of ATZD > MTZD. The inhibition efficiency increased up to 24 h of immersion, and then decreased after 48h immersion. The potentiodynamic curves suggested that the inhibition action of tested compounds is a mixed type of inhibitor. The first-principles DFT calculations suggested that compounds under investigation formed covalent bonds with Cu(111) surface via reactive sites. SEM and AFM results confirmed the formation of protective barrier that prevent corrosion attack.

• Korean Journal of Childcare and Education
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.97-113
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• 2023

Objective: The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of young children's behavioral inhibition on self-determination, examining the sequential mediating effects of mothers' parenting anxiety and autonomy support. Methods: Participants in this study were 225 mothers with children aged 6 years. An online survey was conducted, and SPSS Statistics 23.0 was used for basic analysis. The research model used the Process Macro 4.0 program. Results: The higher the level of behavioral inhibition, the lower the child's self-determination. Furthermore, a mediating effect was confirmed when parenting anxiety was added. However, in the single mediation model and the sequential mediation model in which autonomy support was added, the direct effects of behavioral inhibition temperament and parenting anxiety on self-determination disappeared. As a result, behavioral inhibition characteristics were found to have an indirect effect on self-determination through the sequential mediating effects of mother's parenting anxiety and autonomy support. Conclusion/Implications: If a mother with a child with a behaviorally inhibited temperament properly handles the negative emotions experienced during parenting based on her understanding of the child and supports the child to have a high degree of autonomy, she can enhance the child's right to self-determination.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.1-6
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• 1973

Although numerous drugs are available for the treatment of superficial fungi infections of skin, the clinical effects of the majority of such drugs are not satisfactory. In the hope of searching the effective drugs for superficial fungi infections, authors studied whether Veratrum rhizoma extracts had any effect on fungi, with water extract (VRWE), ethanol extract (VREE) and methanol extract (VRME) from Veratrum album L. var. grandiflorum Max. In in vitro studies, the spores of fungi were inoculated on Sabouraud's glucose agar media which contained three extracts of Veratrun rhizoma in each concentration of $500\;{\mu}g/ml$, $1,000\;{\mu}g/ml$ and $5,000\;{\mu}g/ml$ respectively, and the growth of the fungi were observed for 3 weeks. The species of the fungi used in these experiments were Epidermophyton floccosum, Microsporum canis, Microsporum nanum, Microsporum gypseum, Microsporum cookei, Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Trichophyton tonsurans and Trichophyton verrucosum. The results of the studies were as follows: 1. The growth of M. canis, M. nanum, T mentagrophytes and T. tonsurans were slightly inhibited by VRWE $1,000\;{\mu}g/ml$, and with VRWE $5,000\;{\mu}g/ml$, the growth of E. floccosum, M. gypseum and T. rubrum were slightly inhibited, moderate inhibition on the growth of M. canis, M. nanum, M. cookei, T. mentagrophytes and T. tonsurans were showed by VRWE $5,000\;{\mu}g/ml$. 2. With $500\;{\mu}g/ml$ of VREE, the inhibition on growth of E. floccosum, M. nanum and M. gypseum were slight, however significant inhibition on the growth of M. canis, M. cookei, T. mentagrophytes, T. rubrum and T. tonsurans were observed. The growth of M. nanum and M. gypseum were moderately inhibited, and significant inhibition on the growth of E. floccosum, M. canis, M. cookei, T. mentagrophytes, T. rubrum and T. tonsurans were observed by VREE $1,000\;{\mu}g/ml$. By VREE $5,000\;{\mu}g/ml$, the growth of all tested fungi were significantly inhibited except T. verrucosuia being showed slight inhibition. 3. Significant inhibition on the growth of M. canis, T, mentagrophytes, T. rubrum and T. tonsurans were noted, and moderate inhibition of M. nanum, slight inhibition of E. floccosum and M. gypseum in growth were observed by VRME $500\;{\mu}g/ml$. The growth of E. floccosum, M. canis, M. nanum, M. cookei, T. mentsgrophytes, T. rubrum and T. tonsurans were significantly inhibited by VRME $1,000\;{\mu}g/ml$, and that of M. gypseum was moderate. With $5,000\;{\mu}g/ml$ of VRME, significant inhibition on the growth of E. floccosum, M. canis, M. nanum, M. gypseum, M. cookei, T mentagrophytes, T. rubrum and T. tonsurans were observed, and T. verrucosum was showed only slight inhibition. From the above results, it was found that the extracts of organic solvents from Veratrum rhizoma (VREE & VRME) exerted significant antifungal activity, and their effects were probably derived from the pharmacological action of steroidal alkaloids.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.110-115
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• 2012

Various unripe peach (Prunus persica L. Batsch) seeds, which were picked on late May, were subjected to 80% methanol extracts to investigate the antioxidant activities, whitening effects, and anti-wrinkle activities. The yield of 6 cultivars (Takinosawa Gold, Kawanakawase Hakuto, Madoka, Yumefuji, Nagasawa Hakuho, and Hong Bak) from unripe peaches were the highest on Yumefuji, followed by Madoka, Kawanakawase Hakuto, Takinosawa Gold, Hong Bak, and Nagasawa Hakuho (6.16%, 6.08%, 5.65%, 5.25%, 5.23%, and 5.20%). The content of the total polyphenol of seed extracts ranged from 18.33 to 27.08 mg/g. The antioxidant in vitro assays including the DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities were the highest with Hong Bak and Kawanakawase Hakuto. The tyrosinase inhibition activity greatly affected the Takinosawa Gold and Kawanakawase Hakuto. Compared to the elastase inhibition activity of 6 cultivars, Madoka was higher than others, while the lowest was Hong Bak. The significant correlation coefficient values were determined (more than p=0.05) between the yield, total polyphenol content, antioxidant activities, tyrosinase inhibition, and elastase inhibition activities. The results suggested that the total polyphenol content has a high positive value on the DPPH, ABTS radical scavenging activity, and tyrosinase inhibition activity. Also, the tyrosinase inhibition activity and elastase inhibition activity showed a significant correlation (r=+0.594). The ABTS inhibition activity and tyrosinase inhibition activity that is the most suitable character represented significant positive correlation (r=+0.846). This data suggested that the methanol extracts from these unripe peaches could be potential candidates for natural cosmetics.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.208-214
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• 2012

Chaff-vinegar is known for having a variety of useful purposes in the fields of health and lifestyles. In a previous study we isolated and identified the active fractions of the polyphenol compound 7 species as a potential biomaterial for cosmeceuticals. To further test for its potential use as a functional material, we carried out an MTT assay, collagenase inhibition assay, elastase inhibition assay, tyrosinase inhibition assay, DPPH free radical scavenging assay, SOD-like activity assay and a xanthine oxidase inhibition assay. Chaff-vinegar exhibited potent collagenase and elastase inhibitory activities in a concentration dependent manner, indicating that the agent has the potential to alleviate the skin wrinkling process. Chaff-vinegar also showed 80% tyrosinase inhibition at a concentration of $100{\mu}L/mL$. DPPH radical scavenging, xanthine oxidase inhibition, and SOD-like activity results for each activity were 80%, 80%, and 100%, respectively. Taken together, the present study suggests that chaff-vinegar is a good candidate for use as an anti-wrinkling and/or whitening agent.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.125-130
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• 2008

Free ammonia ($NH_3$-N) inhibition of nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB) has been widely studied for partial nitrification (or nitrite accumulation) and denitrification via nitrite ($NO_2^-$-N) as a low-cost treatment of ammonium containing wastewater. The literature on $NH_3$-N inhibition of NOB, however, shows disagreement about the threshold $NH_3$-N concentration and its degree of inhibition. In order to clarify the confusion, a simple and cheap respirometric method was devised to investigate the effect of free ammonia inhibition of NOB. Sludge samples from an autotrophic nitrifying reactor were exposed to various $NH_3$-N concentrations to measure the maximum specific nitrite oxidation rate ($\hat{K}_{NO}$) using a respirometer. NOB biomass was estimated from the yield values in the literature. Free ammonia inhibition of nitrite oxidizing bacteria was reversible and the specific nitrite oxidation rate ($K_{NO}$) decreased from 0.141 to 0.116, 0.100, 0.097 and 0.081 mg $NO_2^-$-N/mg NOB h, respectively, as the $NH_3$-N concentration increased from 0.0 to 1.0, 4.1, 9.7 and 22.9 mg/L. A nonlinear regression based on the noncompetitive inhibition mode gave an estimate of the Inhibition concentration ($K_I$) of free ammonia to be 21.3 mg $NH_3$-N/L. Previous studies gave $\hat{K}_{NO}$ of Nitrobacter and Nitrospira as 0.120 and 0.032 mg/mg VSS h. The free ammonia concentration which inhibits Nitrobacter was $30{\sim}50\;mg$ $NH_3$-N/L and Nitrospira was inhibited at $0.04{\sim}0.08\;mg$ $NH_3$-N/L. The results support the fact that Nitrobacter is the dominant NOB in the reactor. The variations in the reported values of free ammonia inhibition may be due to the different species of nitrite oxidizers present in the reactors. The respirometric method provides rapid and reliable analysis of the behavior and community of the nitrite oxidizing bacteria.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.238-247
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• 2015

Katsura tree (Cercidiphyllum japonicum Sieb. Et Zucc) leaves were collected, air-dried and extracted with 70% aqueous acetone, then concentrated and sequentially fractionated using n-hexane, $CH_2Cl_2$, EtOAc, and $H_2O$ to be freeze dried for antioxidant and ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibition activity tests. The antioxidant activity of the extracts was evaluated using DPPH (1,1-diphenyl 2-picrylhydrazyl) free radical scavenging assay. The test concentrations were adjusted to 500, 250, 125, 62.5, 31.25, 15.62, 7.81, 3.9, 1.95 and 0.97 ppm. The $H_2O$ and EtOAc fractions showed higher activities compared with the control, ${\alpha}$-tocopherol, at all concentrations. The crude fraction also gave better activity at the concentrations lower than 62.5 ppm. However, the nonpolar n-hexane and $CH_2Cl_2$ fractions gave prominently lower activities compared with the control at all concentrations. The $IC_{50}$ values of the crude, EtOAc, and $H_2O$ fractions exhibited 11.78, 4.29 and $9.80{\mu}g/m{\ell}$, respectively, compared with $12.08{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ of the control. But the n-hexane and $CH_2Cl_2$ fractions indicated 300 and $91.85{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ of $IC_{50}$, respectively. ${\alpha}$-Glucosidase inhibition activity was evaluated at the concentrations of 50, 25, 12.5, 6.3, 3.1, 1.6 and 0.8 ppm. The inhibition activities were increased according to as the increase of sample concentrations. However, the nonpolar n-hexane and $CH_2Cl_2$ fractions indicated very low inhibition activities compared with acarbose, a positive control. The EtOAc fraction showed very good capability as almost 100% compared with the control at the higher concentrations than 12.5 ppm and the crude fraction also indicated good potential as 95% and 100% at 25 and 50 ppm, respectively. The $H_2O$ fraction gave good inhibition value as 90% at 50 ppm although the value was lower than the control. These results showed that the polar fractions had better ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibition activities. The $IC_{50}$ values of the nonpolar fractions, n-hexane and $CH_2Cl_2$, showed very lower values as 468 and $103.6{\mu}g/m{\ell}$, respectively, than the control. ${\alpha}$-Glucosidase Inhibition Activity of the Extracts of Katsura Tree (Cercidiphyllum japonicum Sieb. Et Zucc) Leaves However, the polar fractions, crude, EtOAc and $H_2O$, showed 7.1, 3.7 and $13{\mu}g/m{\ell}$, respectively, indicating that these fractions can be used as natural bioresources for treating diabetes mellitus. Also ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibition activity had a positive correlation with antioxidant activity of the extracts.