• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.105-111
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• 2010

Inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors ($InsP_3Rs$) modulate $Ca^{2+}$ release from intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ store and are extensively expressed in the membrane of endoplasmic/sarcoplasmic reticulum and Golgi. Although caffeine and 2-aminoethoxydiphenyl borate (2-APB) have been widely used to block $InsP_3Rs$, the use of these is limited due to their multiple actions. In the present study, we examined and compared the ability of caffeine and 2-APB as a blocker of $Ca^{2+}$ release from intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ stores and $Ca^{2+}$ entry through store-operated $Ca^{2+}$ (SOC) channel in the mouse pancreatic acinar cell. Caffeine did not block the $Ca^{2+}$ entry, but significantly inhibited carbamylcholine (CCh)-induced $Ca^{2+}$ release. In contrast, 2-APB did not block CCh-induced $Ca^{2+}$ release, but remarkably blocked SOC-mediated $Ca^{2+}$ entry at lower concentrations. In permeabilized acinar cell, caffeine had an inhibitory effect on InsP3-induced $Ca^{2+}$ release, but 2-APB at lower concentration, which effectively blocked $Ca^{2+}$ entry, had no inhibitory action. At higher concentrations, 2-APB has multiple paradoxical effects including inhibition of Ins$P_3$-induced $Ca^{2+}$ release and direct stimulation of $Ca^{2+}$ release. Based on the results, we concluded that caffeine is useful as an inhibitor of $InsP_3R$, and 2-APB at lower concentration is considered a blocker of $Ca^{2+}$ entry through SOC channels in the pancreatic acinar cell.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.989-996
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• 2005

Ultraviolet (UV) induces photo aging, erythema, sunburn, photo-toxicity, photo-allergy, and skin tumor, To investigate photo-protective effects of AmorePacific Beauty-03 (APB-03; mixture of red ginseng extract powder and soybean extract powder) on UV-induced damaged skins, 40 SKH hairless female mice were orally administered APB-03 or saline five times a week and irradiated with UV three times per week far up to 12 weeks. Visible skin changes and skin damage in dermis and epidermis by replica image analysis and histological analysis. In APB-03-treated group, better skin, negative replica appearance and less wrinkle formation were observed compared to the UV control group. These results demonstrate oral administration of APB-03 have photo-protective effects on UV-damaged hairless mouse skin.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.80.1-80.13
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• 2020

Background: In suckling piglets, transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV) causes lethal diarrhea accompanied by high infection and mortality rates, leading to considerable economic losses. This study explored methods of preventing or inhibiting their production. Bovine antimicrobial peptide-13 (APB-13) has antibacterial, antiviral, and immune functions. Objectives: This study analyzed the efficacy of APB-13 against TGEV through in vivo and in vitro experiments. Methods: The effects of APB-13 toxicity and virus inhibition rate on swine testicular (ST) cells were detected using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT). The impact of APB-13 on virus replication was examined through the 50% tissue culture infective dose (TCID₅₀). The mRNA and protein levels were investigated by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot (WB). Tissue sections were used to detect intestinal morphological development. Results: The safe and effective concentration range of APB-13 on ST cells ranged from 0 to 62.5 ㎍/mL, and the highest viral inhibitory rate of APB-13 was 74.1%. The log₁₀TCID₅₀ of 62.5 ㎍/mL APB-13 was 3.63 lower than that of the virus control. The mRNA and protein expression at 62.5 ㎍/mL APB-13 was significantly lower than that of the virus control at 24 hpi. Piglets in the APB-13 group showed significantly lower viral shedding than that in the virus control group, and the pathological tissue sections of the jejunum morphology revealed significant differences between the groups. Conclusions: APB-13 exhibited good antiviral effects on TGEV in vivo and in vitro.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.47-53
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• 2022

The objective of this study was to verify the effect of pig slurry application with acidification and biochar on feed value, nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) of maize forage, and ammonia (NH₃) emission. The four treatments were applied: 1) non-pig slurry (only water as a control, C), 2) only pig slurry application (P), 3) acidified pig slurry application (AP), 4) acidified pig slurry application with biochar (APB). The pig slurry and biochar were applied at a rate of 150 kg N ha^-1 and 300 kg ha^-1, respectively. The AP and APB treatments enhanced all feed values compared to C and P treatments. The NUE for plant N was significantly increased 92.1% by AP and APB treatment, respectively, compared to the P treatment. On the other hand, feed values were not significantly different between AP and APB treatments. The acidification treatment with/without biochar significantly mitigated NH₃ emission compared to the P treatment. The cumulative NH₃ emission throughout the period of measurement decreased by 71.4% and 74.8% in the AP and APB treatments. Also, APB treatment reduced ammonia emission by 11.9% compared to AP treatment. The present study clearly showed that acidification and biochar can reduce ammonia emission from pig slurry application, and pig slurry application with acidification and biochar exhibited potential effects in feed value, NUE, and reducing N losses from pig slurry application through reduction of NH₃ emission.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.275-280
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• 2012

Poly(amic acid)s were successfully synthesized from 1,4-bis(4-aminophenoxy)benzene (1,4-APB) or 2,2-bis[4-(4-aminophenoxy)phenyl]hexafluoropropane (HFBAPP) with pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA), 3,3'-4,4'-benzopenonetetracarboxylic dianhydride (BPDA) and $p$-phenylenediamine ($p$-PDA) and then they were effectively converted into polyimide films by thermal imidization. The chemical structure and thermo-mechanical properties of polyimide films were examined using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermo-gravimetric analyzer (TGA), thermo-mechanical analyzer, dynamic mechanical analyzer (DMA) and universal tensile machine (UTM). The moisture absorption, thermal and mechanical properties of polyimide films decreased with increasing the amount of 1,4-APB and HFBAPP. The polyimide films using HFBAPP showed lower properties than that of 1,4-APB at the same ratio, but it displayed better thermal properties and lower moisture absorption at the similar coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) with a copper. On the basis of our finding, it is concluded that 4-component polyimide films could be utilized for base films for flexible copper clad laminates (FCCL) of flexible printed circuit boards.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.187-191
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• 2003

Purpose: MEPs elicited by transmagnetic stimulations of the motor cortex are facilitated by voluntary muscle contraction. We evaluated the effects of the imagination of the movements on latencies of MEPs and reciprocal inhibition by using transmagnetic stimulations. Methods: Twenty two healthy volunteers(eight men and fourteen women) were studied. TMSs were delivered at rest and during imagining abducting or adducting right thumb. A stimulator with a round coil and a fixed intensity of 80% of maximum was used to evoke MEPs. MEPs were evoked by magnetic stimulations over the scalp and cervical spine(C7-T1), and central motor conduction times(CMCT) were calculated by subtracting the latency of compound muscle action potentials(CMAPs) obtained by stimulating over the cervical spine from that obtained by stimulating over the scalp. The motor evoked potentials were recorded from right abductor pollicis brevis muscle(APB) and adductor pollicis muscle(AP) simultaneously. Results: Imagination of abduction resulted in a shortened latency of the CMAPs in APB, and a prolonged latency in AP. Imagination of adduction resulted in a shortened latency in AP, and a prolonged latency in APB. But the imagination caused no significant change in the latency of CMAPs elicited by stimulation over cervical spine. Therefore, the changes of the CMCTs account for these latency changes with imagination of movement. With the imagination of abduction, there are significant reduction of the CMCT's in APB(10.8%) and prolongation in AP(5.8%). On the other hand, with the imagination of adduction, prolongation of the CMCT's in APB(7.3%) and reduction in AP(5.9%) were observed. Conclusion: These findings indicate that imagination of muscle contraction increases the excitability of the human corticospinal system. Reciprocal inhibition may be accountable for the prolonged latency in the antagonist muscle.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.1-6
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• 2018

The combustion characteristics of cypress wood coated with boric acid (BA) and ammonium pentaborate (APB) were examined using a cone calorimeter according to the ISO 5660-1 standard. As a result, the combined specimens of boric acid and ammonium pentaborate (BA/APB) led to an improved fire performance index due to their synergistic effect. In addition, the total heat release values of the specimen coated with the boron compounds were 6.1~14.1% lower than that of the base specimen. The total smoke release rate (TSR) of the specimens coated with the boron compound decreased throughout the combustion process, except for BA/APB. The maximum concentration of carbon monoxide was reduced by 15.8~25.5%. In general, wood treated with flame retardants has a lower fire hazard.

• The Journal of the Acoustical Society of Korea
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.155-163
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• 2009

In text-to-speech systems, the conversion of text into prosodic parameters is necessarily composed of three steps. These are the placement of prosodic boundaries. the determination of segmental durations, and the specification of fundamental frequency contours. Prosodic boundaries. as the most important and basic parameter. affect the estimation of durations and fundamental frequency. Break prediction is an important step in text-to-speech systems as break indices (BIs) have a great influence on how to correctly represent prosodic phrase boundaries, However. an accurate prediction is difficult since BIs are often chosen according to the meaning of a sentence or the reading style of the speaker. In Japanese, the prediction of an accentual phrase boundary (APB) and major phrase boundary (MPB) is particularly difficult. Thus, this paper presents a method to complement the prediction errors of an APB and MPB. First, we define a subtle BI in which it is difficult to decide between an APB and MPB clearly as a variable break (VB), and an explicit BI as a fixed break (FB). The VB is chosen using the classification and regression tree, and multiple prosodic targets in relation to the pith and duration are then generated. Finally. unit-selection is conducted using multiple prosodic targets. In the MOS test result. the original speech scored a 4,99. while proposed method scored a 4.25 and conventional method scored a 4.01. The experimental results show that the proposed method improves the naturalness of synthesized speech.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.453-469
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• 2000

This study has a purpose to provide information to help develop nursing intervention for demented elderly staying at home. For this purpose I analysed the relationship of patients' disturbing behaviors with their demographic and social characteristics, premorbid personality, and present environmental characteristics through questionnaire survey on their family members. The survey was performed through direct interview, telephone contact. and mail in the regions of Pusan and Gyeongnam. Among family members contacted. 112 ones made an appropriate response to the survey. The statistical package SAS was utilized for descriptive statistics, correlation coefficients, stepwise multiple regression, and cluster analysis. The results of the study were as follows: 1) Demographic and social characteristics of the patients surveyed are female 81.3%, average age 81.4 years, lack of schooling 83.0%, spouse dead 73.2%, having no other disease 58.9%, average duration of dementia 3.8 years, no medical treatment for dementia 84.8%, good married life 40.2%, and primary care given by daughter-in-law 49.1%. 2) Aggressive Psychomotor Behavior(APB) was observed in a way statistically meaningful in case that primary care was given by daughter-in-law, while Nonaggressive Psychomotor Behavior(NPB) was in case of good married life and primary care given by other than daughter-in-law and spouse. Verbally aggressive behavior (VAB) was observed in groups of female, spouse dead, bad married life, and daughter-in-law's primary care. As for Passive Behavior(PB), it was observed in case that patients had educational background of not less high than middle school and that they were having medical treatment. Functionally Impaired Behavior(FIB) was observed in age group of 60-69 and more than 90, in patients' group having no other disease, and in case that the duration of dementia was not less than 5 years. 3) Premobid Neuroticism(N) showed positive correlation with APB and VAB, while Openness (O) did negative correlation with PB. Agreeableness (A) was proved to have positive correlation with PA and FIB, but to have negative correlation with APB and VAB. In addition, Conscientiousness(C) showed negative correlation with APB and VAB. 4) The worse the psychosocial environment was, the more NPB and VAB were observed. 5) APB was explained 24% by C and primary care-giver, while NPB was explained 28% by psychosocial environment, having other disease or not, and married life. VAB was explained 40% by A. sex, and married life. On the other hand PB was explained 33% by O, A. N, and having medical treatment or not. But any significant factor was not found to explain FIB. 6) A cluster analysis was performed on disturbing behaviors of demented elderly staying at home. It enabled to regroup the demented elderly in 5 patterns: high scored in NPB, high scored in FIB. high scored in NPB and VAB, moderately scored in most disturbing behaviors, and low scored in all areas. In conclusion, disturbing behaviors of demented elderly not only reflect their premorbid personality in the past, but also are affected by their present psychosocial environment. Therefore, it is necessary to encourage and respond them with understanding their disturbing behaviors in relation to their past premorbid personality. In addition, it is important to provide them better psychosocial environment in order to reduce their disturbing behaviors.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.301-308
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• 2024

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive and irreversible neurodegenerative disorder characterized by extracellular amyloid plaques composed of amyloid β-peptide (Aβ). Studies have indicated that Ca²⁺ dysregulation is involved in AD pathology. It is reported that decreased capacitative Ca²⁺ entry (CCE), a refilling mechanism of intracellular Ca²⁺, resulting in increased Aβ production. In contrast, constitutive activation of CCE could decrease Aβ production. Panax ginseng Meyer is known to enhance memory and cognitive functions in healthy human subjects. We have previously reported that some ginsenosides decrease Aβ levels in cultured primary neurons and AD mouse model brains. However, mechanisms involved in the Aβ-lowering effect of ginsenosides remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the relationship between CCE and Aβ production by examining the effects of various ginsenosides on CCE levels. Aβ-lowering ginsenosides such as Rk1, Rg5, and Rg3 potentiated CCE. In contrast, ginsenosides without Aβ-lowering effects (Re and Rb2) failed to potentiate CCE. The potentiating effect of ginsenosides on CCE was inhibited by the presence of 2-aminoethoxydiphenyl borate (2APB), an inhibitor of CCE. 2APB alone increased Aβ42 production. Furthermore, the presence of 2APB prevented the effects of ginsenosides on Aβ42 production. Our results indicate that ginsenosides decrease Aβ production via potentiating CCE levels, confirming a close relationship between CCE levels and Aβ production. Since CCE levels are closely related to Aβ production, modulating CCE could be a novel target for AD therapeutics.