• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.293-310
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• 2017

An ultrasonic assisting vacuum membrane distillation (VMD) system was designed to promote the heat and mass transfer in membrane distillation (MD) process. Both the effects of operating conditions and ultrasonic parameters to permeation flux in this process were investigated; the heat and mass transfer mechanism was also being discussed in this paper. The results showed that the performance of VMD process was improved significantly by ultrasonic assisting. The permeation flux was boosted at a certain feed solution temperature, pressure at permeate side and feed solution velocity whether or not to PP and PTFE. The results also indicated that ultrasonic power and frequency also was the key factor affecting the mass and transfer efficiencies. The feed side transfer coefficient ($K_f$), corresponding to ultrasonic power ($K_f=4.406-0.026{\times}P+7.824{\times}10^{-5}{\times}P^2$) and ultrasonic frequency ($K_f=0.941+0.598{\times}f-0.012{\times}f^2+6.283{\times}10^{-5}f^3$), was obtained and employed in the modeling of ultrasonic assisting VMD process. The modeling results showed that the calculated value of $K_f$ aligned with experimental results well. Both variations of temperature polarization coefficient (TPC) and concentration polarization coefficient (CPC) were studied based on the obtained data. The results showed that both TPC and CPC were improved obviously by the ultrasonic parameters.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.194-202
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• 2020

The sweetpotatoes (Ipomoea batatas) generate adventitious roots (ARs) from cut stems that develop into storage roots and make for an important means of propagation. However, few studies have investigated the hormones involved in AR development in sweetpotato. In this study, the expression patterns of hormone-related genes involved in AR formation were identified using the transcriptome data. RNA-seq data from stems grown for 0 and 3 days after cutting were analyzed. In addition, hormone-related genes were identified among differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and filtered genes, and cluster analysis was used to characterize expression patterns by function. Most hormone-related regulated genes expressed 3 days after growing the cut stems were abscisic acid (ABA)-related genes, followed by ethylene- and auxin-related genes. For ABA, the biosynthesis genes (including genes annotated to NINE-CIS-EPOXYCAROTENOID DIOXYGENASE 3 (NCED3)) and signal transduction and perception genes (including genes annotated to PROTEIN PHOSPHATASE 2Cs (PP2Cs)) tended to decrease. Expression patterns of auxin- and ethylene-related genes differed by function. These results suggest that ABA, auxin, and ethylene genes are involved in AR formation and that they may be regulated in a hormone function-dependent manner. These results contribute to the identification of hormone functions during AR formation and may contribute to understanding the mechanism of AR formation in the sweetpotato.

• BMB Reports
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• v.46 no.8
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• pp.410-415
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• 2013

Adhesion molecules such as ICAM-1 are important in the infiltration of leukocytes into the site of inflammation. In this study, we investigated the inhibitory effects of curcumin on ICAM-1 expression and monocyte adhesiveness as well as its underlying action mechanism in the TNF-${\alpha}$-stimulated keratinocytes. Curcumin induced expression of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in the human keratinocyte cell line HaCaT. In addition, curcumin induced Nrf2 activation in dose- and time-dependent manners in the HaCaT cells. Curcumin suppressed TNF-${\alpha}$-induced ICAM-1 expression and subsequent monocyte adhesion, which were reversed by the addition of tin protoporphyrin IX (SnPP), a specific inhibitor of HO-1, or HO-1 knockdown using siRNA. Furthermore, Nrf2 knockdown using siRNA reversed the inhibitory effect of curcumin on the TNF-${\alpha}$-induced ICAM-1 expression and adhesion of monocytes to keratinocytes. These results suggest that curcumin may exert its anti-inflammatory activity by suppressing the TNF-${\alpha}$-induced ICAM-1 expression and subsequent monocyte adhesion via expression of HO-1 in the keratinocytes.

• JSTS:Journal of Semiconductor Technology and Science
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.495-502
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• 2014

Fast recovery diodes (FRDs) were developed using the $p^{{+}{+}}/n^-/n^{{+}{+}}$ epitaxial layers grown by low temperature epitaxy technology. We investigated the effect of electrostatic discharge (ESD) stresses on their electrical and switching properties using current-voltage (I-V) and reverse recovery time analyses. The FRDs presented a high breakdown voltage, >450 V, and a low reverse leakage current, < $10^{-9}$ A. From the temperature dependence of thermal activation energy, the reverse leakage current was dominated by thermal generation-recombination and diffusion, respectively, at low and high temperature regions. By virtue of the abrupt junction and the Pt drive-in for the controlling of carrier lifetime, the soft reverse recovery behavior could be obtained along with a well-controlled reverse recovery time of 21.12 ns. The FRDs exhibited excellent ESD robustness with negligible degradations in the I-V and the reverse recovery characteristics up to ${\pm}5.5$ kV of HBM and ${\pm}3.5$ kV of IEC61000-4-2 shocks. Likewise, transmission line pulse (TLP) analysis reveals that the FRDs can handle the maximum peak pulse current, $I_{pp,max}$, up to 30 A in the forward mode and down to - 24 A in the reverse mode. The robust ESD property can improve the long term reliability of various power applications such as automobile and switching mode power supply.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.173-183
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• 2012

Recently, experimental studies to prevent explosive spalling based on spalling mechanism and addition of Polypropylene fiber in high strength concrete (HSC) are performed actively. However, with respect to ultra high strength concrete (UHSC), its compact internal structure is more difficult release vapor pressure at rapid rising temperature compared to HSC. Therefore, in this study, an experiment was conducted to evaluate spalling properties of UHSC using ${\Box}$ $100mm{\times}100{\times}H200mm$ rectangular specimen according to ISO-834 standard fire curve. With respect melting point of fiber, three fiber types of Polyethylene, Polypropylene, and Nylon fibers with melting temperature of $110^{\circ}C$, $165^{\circ}C$, and $225^{\circ}C$, respectively, were considered. Mixed fiber of 0.15% and 0.25% of concrete volume was used to consider spalling properties based on water vapor pressure release. Then, TGDTA test on fiber and FEM analysis were performed. The results showed that it is difficult to prevent initial spalling without loss of fiber mass even if fiber melting temperature is low. Also, in preventing thermal spalling, fiber that melts to rapidly create porosity within 10 minutes of fire is more effective than that of low melting temperature property of fiber.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Agricultural Machinery Conference
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• 2017.04a
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• pp.128-128
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• 2017

현재 식물공장에서 사용되고 있는 이식장치는 핀을 이용하여 육묘트레이 위에서 플러그묘를 뽑아 육묘트레이 또는 포트로 옮겨 심는 방식을 채택하고 있다. 이러한 이식 방식은 셀과 셀 사이에 있는 다른 묘의 잎을 파지함으로써 묘를 2개 이상 취출하는 현상이라든지 핀에 의한 잎 손상 등이 우려되고 있어 이에 대한 개선책이 필요하다. 본 연구는 플러그묘의 이식작업 시 잎 손상을 줄이면서 기계 적응성을 향상시킬 수 있는 이식시스템을 개발하기 위해 진공흡인을 이용한 이식 메커니즘에 대해 검토하였다. 플러그묘 이식시스템은 육묘트레이 셀을 X-Y로 옮기는 묘 이송부, 육묘트레이의 셀 하단으로부터 진공을 발생시켜 묘를 떨어뜨리는 진공 흡인부, 낙하되는 묘를 감지하는 센서와 블로워 및 공압 실린더로 구성된 진공 발생부, 혈공된 포트를 진공 발생부의 유도관으로 옮기는 포트 이송부 등으로 설계 제작하였다. 이식 메커니즘은 육묘트레이 하단부로부터 플러그묘를 1개씩 진공흡인하는 방식을 채택하였고, 이를 위해 상하 모두 개방된 72공 육묘트레이($L538{\times}W280{\times}H45mm$)를 윗부분(Ø35mm) 보다 아랫부분(Ø37mm)의 셀이 넓은 형상으로 PP재질의 육묘트레이를 사출금형 제작하였다. 묘 이송부에 장착된 플러그묘는 X축 방향(12개 셀)으로 이식작업이 이루어지고, Y축(6개 셀)으로 이동된 후 다시 동일한 방향으로 연속 작업이 가능하도록 제어프로그램을 구성하였다. 이식 원리는 진공 흡인부에 플러그묘가 이송되면 진공 발생부의 흡착패드가 위로 전진하여 진공을 발생시켜 묘를 흡인하고, 유도관 내에 부착된 광화이버센서에 의해 묘를 감지하여 블로워와 공압실린더를 제어함으로써 이식 공정이 끝나게 된다. 로메인상추의 플러그묘를 대상으로 진공흡인 시험을 실시한 결과 묘 손상없이 이식작업이 가능한 것으로 확인되었다.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.31 no.1 s.256
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• pp.36-42
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• 2007

This paper presents mechanical design, fabrication and test of a biomimetic fish robot actuated by a unimorph piezoceramic actuator, LIPCA(Lightweight Piezo-Composite curved Actuator.) We have designed a linkage mechanism that can convert bending motion of the LIPCA into the caudal fin movement. This linkage system consists of a rack-pinion system and four-bar linkage. Four types of artificial caudal fins that resemble caudal fin shapes of ostraciiform subcarangiform, carangiform, and thunniform fish, respectively, are attached to the posterior part of the robotic fish. The swimming test under 300 $V_{pp}$ input with 0.6 Hz to 1.2 Hz frequency was conducted to investigate effect of tail beat frequency and shape of caudal fin on the swimming speed of the robotic fish. At the frequency of 0.9 Hz, the maximum swimming speeds of 1.632 cm/s, 1.776 cm/s, 1.612 cm/s and 1.51 cm/s were reached for fish robots with ostraciiform, subcarangiform carangiform and thunniform caudal fins, respectively. The Strouhal number, which means the ratio between unsteady force and inertia force, or a measure of thrust efficiency, was calculated in order to examine thrust performance of the present biomimetic fish robot. The calculated Strouhal numbers show that the present robotic fish does not fall into the performance range of a fast swimming robot.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.259-265
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• 2017

Excessive influx and the subsequent rapid cytosolic elevation of $Ca^{2+}$ in neurons is the major cause to induce hyperexcitability and irreversible cell damage although it is an essential ion for cellular signalings. Therefore, most neurons exhibit several cellular mechanisms to homeostatically regulate cytosolic $Ca^{2+}$ level in normal as well as pathological conditions. Delayed rectifier $K^+$ channels ($I_{DR}$ channels) play a role to suppress membrane excitability by inducing $K^+$ outflow in various conditions, indicating their potential role in preventing pathogenic conditions and cell damage under $Ca^{2+}$-mediated excitotoxic conditions. In the present study, we electrophysiologically evaluated the response of $I_{DR}$ channels to hyperexcitable conditions induced by high $Ca^{2+}$ pretreatment (3.6 mM, for 24 hours) in cultured hippocampal neurons. In results, high $Ca^{2+}$-treatment significantly increased the amplitude of $I_{DR}$ without changes of gating kinetics. Nimodipine but not APV blocked $Ca^{2+}$-induced $I_{DR}$ enhancement, confirming that the change of $I_{DR}$ might be targeted by $Ca^{2+}$ influx through voltage-dependent $Ca^{2+}$ channels (VDCCs) rather than NMDA receptors (NMDARs). The VDCC-mediated $I_{DR}$ enhancement was not affected by either $Ca^{2+}$-induced $Ca^{2+}$ release (CICR) or small conductance $Ca^{2+}$-activated $K^+$ channels (SK channels). Furthermore, PP2 but not H89 completely abolished $I_{DR}$ enhancement under high $Ca^{2+}$ condition, indicating that the activation of Src family tyrosine kinases (SFKs) is required for $Ca^{2+}$-mediated $I_{DR}$ enhancement. Thus, SFKs may be sensitive to excessive $Ca^{2+}$ influx through VDCCs and enhance $I_{DR}$ to activate a neuroprotective mechanism against $Ca^{2+}$-mediated hyperexcitability in neurons.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.49-70
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• 2017

Objectives: The present study is to observe the skin-regeneration, anti-wrinkle, whitening and skin moisturizing effects of Cheongsangbangpung-tang (CSBPT) with cytotoxicity. Methods: In the present study, cytotoxicity of CSBPT lyophilized aqueous extracts (yield=18.71%) was experimented against human normal fibroblast cells and B16F10 murine melanoma cells by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium Bromide (MTT) assay, and skin regeneration and anti-wrinkle effects were also showed through the assay of collagen type I synthesis by an enzyme immunoassay (EIA) kit as comparing with transforming growth factor (TGF)-${\beta}1$, hyaluronidase, collagenase and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1 inhibitory assays as comparing with oleanolic acid (OA), and elastase inhibitory effects as comparing with phosphoramidon disodium salt (PP). In addition, whitening effects of CSBPT were observed by tyrosinase inhibitory assay and melanin formation test in B16/F10 melanoma cells as comparing with arbutin, and skin moisturizing effects were measured through mouse skin water contents test, respectively. Results: No CSBPT treatment related cytotoxic effects were demonstrated against human normal fibroblast cells and B16/F10 murine melanoma cells. CSBPT concentration-dependent increased collagen type I synthesis at human normal fibroblast cells. It also effectively suspreessed hyaluronidase, collagenase, elastase and MMP-1 activities, which were enzymes that related to declining of ECM and formation of wrinkle. CSBPT supressed B16/F10 melanoma cells's melanin productions with tyrosinase activity, which was an enzyme connected with melanin formation, and dose-dependent and significant increases of skin water contents were detected in CSBPT treated mouse skin as compared with vehicle control skins. Conclusions: CSBPT showed favorable and enough skin regeneration, anti-wrinkle, whitening and skin moisturizing effects at least in a condition of this experiment. However, more detail mechanism and in vivo skin protective efficacy studies should be conducted in future with the screening of the biological active compounds in individual herbs of Cheongsangbangpung-tang.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.65-70
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• 2007

Chinese herb medicines have traditionally been used to treat or alleviate the symptom of various diseases. The rationale for use of certain herbs to certain disorder is now getting unveiled by modern technology. In the present study, we investigated whether herb mix extract(HMX), which is alleged to be useful for gastric ulcer, protects stomach from oxidative stress. Rats were allowed to normal diet with and without HMX (1, 5, 10 mg/kg) for 30 days. To induce gastric ulcer, ethanol (75%, 1.5 ml) or acidified aspirin (100 mg/kg in 0.2 N HCl) was administered by oral route in 24 h-fasted rats and examined the gastric ulceration(bleeding) by measuring the size 1 h after the treatment. Results indicated the area of gastric bleeding was significantly less in HMX fed rats than in normal diet fed ones, and it was dependent on the duration and amount of HMX. To investigate the underlying mechanism by which HMX protects stomach from oxidative stress, expression of enzymes like heme oxygenase (HO), cyclooxygenase (COX), and inducible nitric oxide (iNOS) were investigated in MKN-74 cells, where aspirin or H. pylori was introduced. The results were compared with RAW 264.7 cells to check if there's cell specificities exist. The expression of HO-1 but not COX-2, iNOS was significantly increased by HMX. Furthermore, HO-1 inhibitor, SnPP IX reduced the HO-1 activity and reversed the survival rate in HMX-treated MKN-74 cells. There's no difference between RAW 264.7 cells and MKN-74 cells. We, thus, concluded that HMX is beneficial for protection from oxidative injury, and induction of HO-1 by HMX in gastric cells is, at least, responsible for protection from oxidative stress such as ethanol, aspirin and possibly H. pylori infection.