• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.39-46
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• 2021

Objectives : AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a key metabolic regulator that reduces lipogenesis. AMPK is mainly activated via phosphorylation of liver kinase B (LKB) 1 under energy stress. Here, we highlighted the anti-obesity effect and underlying mechanism of Coix lacryma-jobi var. mayuen Stapf sprout water extract (CSW) sprout extract in connection with the LKB1/AMPK signaling pathway. Methods : C57BL/6 mice (20~25 g) fed HFD to induce obesity and at the same time administered CSW 100 mg/kg (CSWL; (CSWL; CSW low concentration) or CSW 200 mg/kg (CSWH; CSW high concentration) or Garcinia extract (Garcinia) 200 mg/kg orally for 6 weeks. Body weight and food intake were measured at the same time each day. After 6 weeks of CSW administration, liver tissue and serum were obtained through an autopsy. After the end of the experiment, biochemical analysis (triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), HDL-cholesterol, and LDL-cholesterol) was performed on the serum. And then, protein levels related to TG and TC synthesis were measured through western blot analysis in liver tissue. Results : As a result, serum TG, TC, and LDL-cholesterol levels were significantly increased in the control group and significantly decreased in the CSW administration group. On the other hand, the HDL-cholesterol level was increased in the CSW-administered group. And as a result of Western blot analysis, CSW significantly increased the phosphorylation of LKB1 & AMPK, and remarkably decreased the expression of factors related to TG and TC synthesis. Conclusions : Our findings suggest that CSW influences the TG and TC synthesis to positively affect HFD-induced obesity in C57BL/6 mice.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.283-291
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• 2022

Hydrogen energy has received much attention as a solution to the supply of renewable energy and to respond to climate change. Hydrogen is the most suitable candidate of storing unused electric power in a large-capacity long cycle. Among the technologies for producing hydrogen, water electrolysis is known as an eco-friendly hydrogen production technology that produces hydrogen without carbon dioxide generation by water splitting reaction. Membranes in water electrolysis system physically separate the anode and the cathode, but also prevent mixing of generated hydrogen and oxygen gases and facilitate ion transfer to complete circuit. In particular, the key to next-generation anion exchange membrane that can compensate for the shortcomings of conventional water electrolysis technologies is to develop high performance anion exchange membrane. Many studies are conducted to have high ion conductivity and excellent durability in an alkaline environment simultaneously, and various materials are being searched. In this review, we will discuss the research trends and points to move forward by looking at the research on anion exchange membranes based on commercial polystyrene-b-poly(ethylene-co-butylene)-b-polystyrene (SEBS) block copolymers.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.176-182
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• 2023

The stems of Dendrobium moniliforme are used in traditional Oriental medicine as a Yin tonic to nourish the stomach, promote the production of body fluid, and reduce fever. This study investigated the effects of the aqueous extract of D. moniliforme stems (DME) on mast cell degranulation and the expression of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-4 (IL-4), and histamine-synthesizing enzyme histidine decarboxylase (HDC). We used rat mast cell line RBL-2H3 cells and stimulated them with PMA plus calcium ionophore (PMACI). Pretreatment with DME significantly inhibited PMACI-induced β-hexosaminidase release and the expression of TNF-α, IL-4, and HDC. Furthermore, DME suppressed PMACI-induced nuclear translocation of the nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) and activator protein 1 (AP-1). In addition, HDC expression was inhibited by SP600125 (JNK inhibitor), PD98059 (ERK inhibitor), and SB203580 (p38 kinase inhibitor). Finally, the phosphorylation of p38 kinase, extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) was inhibited by pretreatment with DME. These results suggest that DME has inhibitory effects against degranulation, cytokine (TNF-α and IL-4) and HDC expression, and that HDC expression is mediated by MAPK signaling. These findings suggest that DME may have therapeutic potential in the treatment of hypersensitive and inflammatory diseases.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.211-221
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• 2023

This study presents a comprehensive study on the synthesis and characterization of PVI-PGMA/LiTFSI polymeric membrane electrolytes and CxNy-C flexible electrodes for energy storage applications. The dual-functional PVI-PGMA copolymer exhibited excellent ionic conductivity, with the PVI-PGMA73/LiTFSI200 membrane electrolyte achieving the highest conductivity of 1.0 × 10^-3 S cm^-1. The electrochemical performance of the CxNy-C electrodes was systematically investigated, with C3N2-C demonstrating superior performance, achieving the highest specific capacitance of 958 F g^-1 and lowest charge transfer resistance (R_ct) due to its highly interconnected hybrid structure comprising nanowires and polyhedrons, along with binary Co/Ni oxides, which provided abundant redox-active sites and facilitated ion diffusion. The presence of a graphitic carbon shell further contributed to the enhanced electrochemical stability during charge-discharge cycles. These results highlight the potential of PVI-PGMA/LiTFSI polymeric membrane electrolytes and CxNy-C electrodes for advanced energy storage devices, such as supercapacitors and lithium-ion batteries, paving the way for further advancements in sustainable and high-performance energy storage technologies.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.50 no.6
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• pp.15-29
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• 2022

The Byungsan Neo-Confucian Academy, a 17th-century World Heritage Site in Korea, is being praised as a manifestation of naturalness or non-artificiality of the traditional Korean borrowed scenery technique (借景, chagyeong). This study, however, aims to reinterpret the chagyeong of the Byungsan Academy (hereafter the Academy) as a device of illusion evoking an idealized vision of nature. In the process of interpretation, 'picture and frame'-a widely accepted expression that represents the chagyeong of the Academy-will be foregrounded as the pivotal concept mediating the change of perspectives from naturalistic to ideological. This study consists of the following three parts. First, it shows that 'picture and frame' represent a modern way of seeing the Academy as an architectural heritage in harmony with nature; it denotes pristine nature and the empty architectural frame that safely circumscribes the innate beauty of the natural landscape. Second, departing from the naturalistic perspective, this study argues that the architectural framework of the Academy composes scenography enticing the viewer to imagine the idealized, Confucian image of nature that compares to the landscape imagery found in the landscape poetry and paintings that were produced and appreciated by the 17th-century Confucian literati. Lastly, based on the above interpretation, this study stresses that the 'picture' one encountered at the Academy in the 17th century was not the framed scene of a natural landscape but the illusion it caused; the architectural 'frame' worked not as a symbol of naturalness but as an institutional apparatus of vision manipulating the way one sees-and therefore imagines-the landscape.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.27-40
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• 2023

A pile is a structural element that is used to transfer external loads from superstructures and has been widely utilized in construction fields all over the world. The method of installing a pile into the ground should be selected based on geotechnical conditions, location, site status, environmental factors, and construction costs, among others. It can be divided into two types: direct hammering and preboring. The direct hammering method installs a pile into the bearing layer, such as rock, using a few types of hammer, generating a considerable amount of pile driving-induced vibration. The vibration from pile driving influences adjacent structures and the ground; therefore, quantitatively investigating the effects of vibration is inevitably required. In this study, two-dimensional dynamic numerical modeling and analysis are performed using the finite difference method to investigate the influence on the adjacent slope, including temporary supporting system. Time-dependent loading induced by pile driving is estimated and used in the numerical analysis. Consequently, large surface displacement is estimated due to surface waves and less wave deflection, and refraction at the surface. The total displacement decreases with the increase of the distance from the source. However, lateral displacement at the top of the slope shows a larger value than vertical displacement, and the overall displacement tends to be concentrated near the face of the slope.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.1-11
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• 2022

Objectives : Although the anti-obesity effect of Schizandrae Fructus water extract has been demonstrated, its underlying mechanism is still unclear. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the anti-obesity effect of Schizandrae Fructus water extract through the p-AMP-activated protein kinase (p-AMPK), sirtuin1 (Sirt1), and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator 1α (PGC-1α) signaling in 60% high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mouse model. Methods : Male C57BL/6 mice were divided into four groups. The Normal group was fed a normal diet and the obese groups were fed 60% HFD. Except for the Control group, the GG group was supplemented with 0.5% Garcinia gummigutta and the SCW group was supplemented with 0.5% Schizandrae Fructus water extract. After 6 weeks, obesity-related biomarkers in serum were measured and the expressions of protein for lipid-related factors in liver tissue were analyzed by western blot. Results : Treatment with SCW significantly down-regulated body weight compared to the Control group. SCW down-regulated levels of triglyceride and total cholesterol in serum and significantly increased p-AMPK, Sirt1, and PGC-1α in liver tissue. In addition, the expressions of fatty acid oxidation-related proteins such as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα), carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1A (CPT-1A), uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1), and uncoupling protein 3 (UCP3) were significantly up-regulated. However, fatty acid synthesis-related proteins including sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1 (SREBP-1), phospho-Acetyl-CoA Carboxylase (p-ACC), and fatty acid synthase (FAS) were significantly down-regulated. Conclusions : Taken together, SCW treatment showed anti-obesity effect by regulating both fatty acid oxidation-related and fatty acid synthesis-related proteins through AMPK/Sirt1/PGC-1α signaling in 60% HFD-induced obese mice.

• Journal of Aerospace System Engineering
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.97-103
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• 2022

An aircraft component can only be mounted on an aircraft if it has been certified to have a structural robustness under flight load conditions. Among the major components of the aircraft, a pylon is a structure that connects external equipment such as an engine, and external attachments with the main wing of an aircraft and transmits the loads acting on it to the main structure of the aircraft. In civil aircraft, when there is an incident of fire in the engine area, the pylon prevents the fire from spreading to the wings. This study presents the results of structural static tests performed to verify the structural robustness of a fuel pylon used to mount external fuel tank in an aircraft. In the main text, we present the test set-up diagram consisting of test fixture, hydraulic pressure unit, load control system, and data acquisition equipment used in the structure static test of the fuel pylon. In addition, we introduce the software that controls the load actuator, and provide a test profile for each test load condition. As a result of the structural static test, it was found that the load actuator was properly controlled within the allowable error range in each test, and the reliability of the numerical analysis was verified by comparing the numerical analysis results and the strain obtained from the structural test at the main positions of the test specimen. In conclusion, it was proved that the fuel pylon covered in this study has sufficient structural strength for the required load conditions through structural static tests.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.29-38
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• 2022

The friction anisotropy of shear resistance can be selectively used in geo-structures. For example, larger axially loaded deep foundation, soil nails, and tiebacks increase load carrying capacity due to induced large shear resistance while pile penetration and soil sampling produce minimal shear resistance. Previous studies confirmed direction-dependent shear resistance induced by interface between soil and surface asperity of plate inspired by geometrical shape of snake scale. The aim of this paper is to quantitatively evaluate interface friction angle with different surface asperities. Using the modified direct shear test, a total of 51 cases, which sand are prepared at the relative density of 40%, are conduced including 9 plates, two shear direction (shearing direction against the height of surface asperity is increased or decreased during shearing test), and three initial vertical stress (100 kPa, 200 kPa, 300 kPa). Experimental results show that shear stress is increased with higher height of surface asperity, shorter length of surface asperity, and the shearing direction that the height of surface asperity increases. Also, interface friction angle is decreased with larger surface asperity ratio, and shearing direction with increasing height of surface asperity produces larger interface friction angle regardless of the surface asperity ratio.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.33 no.11
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• pp.876-886
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• 2023

In some cases of head and neck cancers (HNC), surgical interventions may result in the loss of organs and/or changes to their functions, thereby significantly affecting the patient's quality of life. As a result, the surgical treatment of HNC patients is often limited to specific cases, and alternative treatment modalities, such as chemotherapy, are considered. However, serious adverse effects caused by chemotherapy, such as severe nausea and vomiting, necessitate the need for the development of adjunctive methods to minimize patient suffering. Chuanxiong, Ligusticum chuanxiong (L. chuanxiong), is a natural herb used in Eastern medicine to treat cerebrovascular disorders and headaches. This study aimed to predict the effect and potential of L. chuanxiong as an auxiliary anticancer drug through network-based pharmacology and molecular docking analysis. The study results showed that 40 out of 41 genes of L. chuanxiong shared common targets of HNC and their proteins could be used to target HNC cells to prevent cancer progression. The results of the functional enrichment analysis confirmed that L. chuanxiong is associated with the neuroactive-ligand metabolism and neurotransmitter pathways, indicating its potential medicinal value as an adjuvant in HNC treatment. Lastly, our findings demonstrated that the active ingredient of L. chuanxiong, (Z)-Ligustilide, has the ATP binding site of heat shock protein 90, a protein known to promote the activation of cancer cells. These results suggest that L. chuanxiong is a promising candidate for developing auxiliary anticancer drugs, and further research could potentially lead to the discovery of newer and safer anti-cancer agents.