• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.585-593
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• 2015

Stress fiber (SF) alteration is mediated by cellular receptors, which, upon interaction with the extracellular counterpart, signal to the actin cytoskeleton for remodeling. This association is mediated by a variety of scaffold and signaling factors, which control the mechanical and signaling activities of the interaction site. The heterotrimeric transmembrane lymphotoxin α1β2 (LTα1β2), a member of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) family of cytokines, including soluble homotrimeric lymphotoxin (LT α), plays an important role in lymphoid tissue architecture. Ligation between LTα1β2 and the lymphotoxin β receptor (LTβR) activates signal-cascade in fibroblastic reticular cells (FRCs). We found LTβR stimulation using an agonistic anti-LTβR antibody alone or combined with LTα or TNFα induced changes in the actin and plasticity of cells. To clarify the involvement of myosin underlying the alteration, we analyzed the effect of myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) with an MLCK inhibitor (ML7), the phosphorylation level of myosin light chains (MLC), and the level of phospho-myosin phosphatase target subunit 1 (MYPT1) after treatment with an agonistic anti-LTβR antibody for cytoskeleton reorganization in FRCs. The inhibition of MLCK activity induced changes in the actin cytoskeleton organization and cell morphology in FRC. In addition, we showed the phosphorylation of MLC and MYPT1 was reduced by LTβR stimulation in cells. A DNA chip revealed the LTβR stimulation of FRC down-regulated transcripts of myosin and actin components. Collectively, these results suggest LTβR stimulation is linked to myosin regarding SF alteration in FRC.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.40 no.8
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• pp.1184-1188
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• 2011

This study analyzed changes in the texture and salt content of Chinese cabbage after salting using different methods to determine the effects of low salt brining. To verify the possibility of brining under low salt concentration, Chinese cabbage was salted with 1%, 2%, 6%, and 10% salt solutions by pressing, pressure reduction, or steaming. After salting, the firmness (g, determined using the puncture test) of the Chinese cabbage changed according to the brining methods used, however, an increasing trend in rigidity was observed as the salinity increased. Because the power applied during pressing or pressure reduction treatments is higher, the firmness of and penetration time on the surface of the brined Chinese cabbages after these treatments increased more in the 6% salt solution cabbage. Additionally, the Chinese cabbages treated with steam showed significantly higher firmness and penetration time than those treated by pressing and pressure reduction. As a result of pressing the 6% salt concentrated cabbage with 1.35 $kg{\cdot}f/cm^2$, a pressure reduction from 250 mmHg, and steaming at 100$^{\circ}C$ for 1 min, the cabbage had roughly 2% of the salt concentration, ultimately. These physical treatments of pressing, pressure reduction, and steaming could be used as new methods for preparing salted Chinese cabbage with low salt concentrations for general use.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.131-141
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• 2004

The recycling of waste XLPE(crosslinked polyethylene), which is a major source of scraps from high voltage power transmission cables, has been discussed. The waste XLPE scraps were ground into fine powder with various sizes from less than $100{\mu}m$ up to about $1000{\mu}m$ using two types of tailor-made pulverizers. The compounds were prepared in a modular intermeshing co-rotating twin screw extruder at various conditions such as different compositions, types and powder sizes of waste XLPE, screw configurations and various polymer matrices (LDPE, HDPE, PP, PS). The mechanical and rheological properties and the fracture surface or the compounds were investigated. It was found that an improved impact strength was obtained from the compound with white XLPE powder pulverized from the scraps without outer/inner semi-conductive layers. Generally, the impact strength increases with the content of XLPE but decreases with the size of XLPE. Especially for LDPE, the extrusion was possible up to 80 wt% loading of XLPE. Also, the impact strength increases with the number of kneading disc blocks in the given screw configurations. The melt viscosity of the compounds increases with increasing XLPE loading. However, the higher shear thinning behavior of the compounds at common shear rates implies proper processibility of the compounds. In addition, the impact strength for other polymer matrices used increases with XLPE and it is noticeable that the impact strength of PS/XLPE (80/20 wt%) compound was improved twice that of pure PS.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.363-367
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• 2003

Contact area and pressure are important factors which directly influence a life of knee implants. Since implant's mechanical functions should be experimentally evaluated for clinical use, many studies using a knee simulator and a pressure sensor system have been conducted. However it has not been reported that the contact pressure's distribution of a knee implant motion was estimated in real-time during a gate cycle. Therefore. the objective of this study was to analyze the contact pressure distribution for the motion of a joint using the knee simulator and I-scan sensor system. For this purpose, we developed a force-controlled dynamic knee simulator to evaluate the mechanical performance of artificial knee joint. This simulator includes a function of a soft tissue and has a 4-degree-of-freedom to represent an axial compressive load and a flexion angle. As axial compressive force and a flexion angle of the femoral component can be controlled by PC program. The pressure is also measured from I-scan system and simulator to visualize the pressure distribution on the joint contact surfaces under loading condition during walking cycle. The compressive loading curve was the major cause for the contact pressure distribution and its center move in a cycle as to a flexion angie. In conclusion, this system can be used to evaluate to the geometric interaction of femoral and tibial design due to a measured mechanical function such as a contact pressure, contact area and a motion of a loading center.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.27-38
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• 2021

We devised the system to automatically shutdown the boiler and to fundamentally block the harmful gases, including carbon monoxide, into the indoor when the exhaust system swerves: (1) The discharge pressure of the exhaust gas decreases when the exhaust pipe is disconnected. The monitoring system of the exhaust pipe is implemented by measuring the output voltage of APS(Air Pressure Sensor) installed to control the amount of combustion air. (2) The operating software was modified so that when the system recognizes the fault condition of a flue pipe, the boiler control unit displays the fault status on the indoor regulator while shutting down the boiler. In accordance with the ventilation facility standards in the "Rules for Building Equipment Standards" by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, experiments were conducted to ventilate indoor air. When carbon monoxide leaked in worst-case scenario, it was possible to prevent poisoning accidents. However, since 2013, the number of indoor air exchange times has been mitigated from 0.7 to 0.5 times per hour. We observed the concentration exceeding TWA 30 ppm occasionally and thus recommend to reinforce this criterion. In conclusion, if the flue pipe fault detection and the indoor air ventilation system are introduced, carbon monoxide poisoning accidents are expected to decrease significantly. Also when the manufacturing and inspection steps, the correct installation and repair are supplemented with the user's attention in missing flue, it will be served to prevent human casualties from carbon monoxide poisoning.

• Clean Technology
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.332-338
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• 2018

Currently graphite is used as an anode active material for lithium ion battery. However, since the maximum theoretical capacity of graphite is limited to $372mA\;h\;g^{-1}$, a new anode active material is required for the development of next generation high capacity and high energy density lithium ion battery. The maximum theoretical capacity of Si is $4200mA\;h\;g^{-1}$, which is about 10 times higher than the maximum theoretical capacity of graphite. However, since the volume expansion rate is almost 400%, the irreversible capacity increases as the cycle progresses and the discharge capacity relative to the charge is remarkably reduced. In order to solve these problems, it is possible to control the particle size of the Si anode active material to reduce the mechanical stress and the volume change of the reaction phase, thereby improving the cycle characteristics. Therefore, in order to minimize the decrease of the charge / discharge capacity according to the volume expansion rate of the Si particles, the improvement of the cycle characteristics was carried out by pulverizing Si by a dry method with excellent processing time and cost. In this paper, Si is controlled to nano size using vibrating mill and the physicochemical and electrochemical characteristics of the material are measured according to experimental variables.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.21-29
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to compare the MI using SonoVue along with different machines output and to infer the meaning of the signal difference under the same condition. All of the comparative instruments showed strong signal values at early stage as MI value increased. Over time, the inter-instrumental signal values showed signal attenuation under all conditions except for 10 min of the condition of MI 0.1 of RS85A. E9 and EPIQ7 showed signal degradation due to microbubble collapse over time at all MI values. In the comparison of equipment, the signal strengths of MI 0.1, 0.2, and 0.4 were high in order of EPIQ7, RS85A and E9. In the quantitative analysis, there were statistically significant from the SNR and CNR that were obtained from RS85A and E9 (P-value<0.05). In the quantitative analysis, Epiq7 was statistically significant except for CNR as the MI value was changed In the contrast-enhanced ultrasound, even though MI value was low (MI <0.05), it will be helpful for diagnosis, controlling the MI and scan time because a difference in signal intensity was shown between the three machines.

• Composites Research
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.385-391
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• 2018

In this study, carbon fibers were fabricated via carbonization of oxidized polyacrylonitrile (oxi-PAN) under different carbonization conditions. Carbonization of oxi-PAN fiber was performed under four different temperature (1300, 1400, 1500, $1600^{\circ}C$) with four different fiber tensions (14, 25, 35, 45 MPa). Effect of carbonization process on the structural development and mechanical properties of carbon fiber were characterized by single filament fiber tensile test and Raman spectroscopy. A clear correlation exists between the Raman spectrum and the tensile modulus of carbon fiber and effect of carbonization temperature on the tensile modulus showed increased tendency only at higher fiber tension (${\geq}25MPa$) while tensile strength showed decreased or random tendency. Therefore, it may be concluded that the optimization of carbonization temperature of oxi-PAN fiber also requires optimization of fiber tension.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.317-326
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• 2020

Deep blocking of consciousness alone does not prevent a reaction to severe stimuli, and copious amounts of pain medication do not guarantee unconsciousness. Therefore, anesthesia must satisfy both: the loss of consciousness as well as muscle relaxation. Muscle relaxants improve the intra-bronchial intubation, surgical field of vision, and operating conditions, while simultaneously reducing the dose of inhalation or intravenous anesthesia. Muscle relaxants are also very important for breathing management during controlled mechanical ventilation during surgery. Excessive dosage of such muscle relaxants may therefore affect neurological examinations during surgery, but an insufficient dosage will result in movement of the patient during the procedure. Hence, muscle relaxation anesthesia depth and neurophysiological monitoring during surgery are closely related. Using excessive muscle relaxants is disadvantageous, since neurophysiological examinations during surgery could be hindered, and eliminating the effects of complete muscle relaxation after surgery is challenging. In the operation of neurophysiological monitoring during the operation, the anesthesiologist administers muscle relaxant based on what standard, it is hoped that the examination will be performed more smoothly by examining the trends in the world as well as domestic and global trends in maintaining muscle relaxant.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.228-240
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• 2021

The organic solvent robust polybenzimidazole (PBI) membranes were prepared as organic solvent nanofiltration (OSN) membrane for the recycling of alcoholic solvents using non-solvent induced phase separation with different dope solution concentration and coagulant composition of water/ethanol mixtures to control the membrane morphology and permeation performance. Investigation on crosslinking of polybenzimidazole indicated that the membrane crosslinked with dibromoxylene (DBX) had enough mechanical strength and solvent resistance to be applied as a OSN membranes. The crosslinked PBI membrane prepared by more than 20wt% dope concentration coagulated in water showed a rejection of > 90% to Congo Red (MW of 696.66 g/mol) while pure ethanol permeances was more than 22.5 LMH/bar at 5 bar. Investigation on coagulant composition indicated that ethanol permeance through crosslinked PBI OSN membrane increased with increasing of ethanol concentration in water/ethanol mixture coagulants.