• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.295-302
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• 2021

Microglial priming is the process of microglial proliferation and activation in response to neurodegeneration and abnormal protein accumulation. Priming makes microglia susceptible to secondary inflammatory stimuli and causes exaggerated inflammatory responses. In the present study, we established a microglial priming model in mice by administering a single injection of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP, 20 mg/kg). MPTP induced microglial activation without dopaminergic degeneration; however, subsequent treatment with a sub-toxic dose of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) induced an amplified inflammatory response and caused nigrostriatal dopaminergic degeneration. These pathological and inflammatory changes, including microglial activation and dopaminergic cell loss in the substantia nigra (SN) area were reversed by papaverine (PAP) administration. In addition, MPTP/LPS enhanced interleukin-1β (IL-1β) expression and processing via nod-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activation in the SN region of mice. However, PAP treatment suppressed inflammasome activation and subsequent IL-1β maturation. Moreover, PAP inhibited nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and enhanced cAMP-response element binding protein (CREB) activity in the SN of MPTP/LPS mice. These results suggest that PAP inhibits the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome by modulating NF-κB and CREB signaling pathways, which results in reduced microglial activation and neuronal cell death. Thus, PAP may be a potential candidate for the treatment of Parkinsons's disease, which is aggravated by systemic inflammation.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.125-132
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• 2018

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the isolated activation ratio of the quadriceps femoris muscle on different support surfaces during squat exercise. Methods: Twenty participants (10 males and 10 females) voluntarily agreed to participate in the research after receiving an explanation about the purpose and process of the study. Each participant performed squat exercises on three different support surfaces (a flat surface, a form roller, and an unstable surface). Muscle activities of the rectus femoris (RF), vastus medialis (VM), and vastus lateralis (VL) were measured by electromyography. The isolated activation ratio of the quadriceps femoris muscle was calculated using the %isolation formula. Results: For the squat exercise, the %isolation value of the VM was significantly higher on the unstable surface than on the flat surface and form roller. In contrast, the %isolation values for the RF for the squat exercise were significantly higher on the flat surface and form roller than on the unstable surface. There was no significant differences in the %isolation values of the VL on the three different surfaces. Conclusion: The findings indicate that squat exercise on different surfaces results in differential activation of the quadriceps femoris muscle, which suggests that squat exercise on a multi-directional unstable surface could increase the isolated activation ratio of the VM.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.133-139
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• 2000

In this study, activated carbon was prepared from solid residue after lignin pyrolysis by using zinc chloride as an activation agent. The steam activation method was adopted to manufacture activated carbon from solid residue after lignin pyrolysis. The effect of process operation variables such as activation temperature, activation time and mass of activation agent added to char on the pore structure and specific surface area of the activated carbon was investigated. Activated carbon with high surface area and well-developed pore structure could be prepared, when solid residue after lignin pyrolysis was mixed with zinc chloride of 300 wt% and then the mixture was activated for 1 hour at $1000^{\circ}C$ in a stream of nitrogen.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.888-894
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• 2011

Blackboard architecture was designed as a means for dealing with ill-defined and complex problems. In order to improve the efficiency of the systems using blackboard architecture, this paper proposes a mechanism for fast detection of knowledge source activations which can contribute potentially to the problem solving of blackboard systems, whenever the state of blackboard is changed. The proposed mechanism uses a Rete network generated from the activation conditions subscribed by all knowledge sources to process the pattern matching between blackboard data and the activation conditions efficiently.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.18 no.10
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• pp.552-556
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• 2008

Modified thermal annealing was applied to the activation of the polycrystalline silicon films doped as p-type through implantation of $B_2H_6$. The statistical design of experiments was successfully employed to investigate the effect of rapid thermal annealing on activation of polycrystalline Si doped as p-type. In this design, the input variables are furnace temperature, power of halogen lamps, and alternating magnetic field. The degree of ion activation was evaluated as a function of processing variables, using Hall effect measurements and Raman spectroscopy. The main effects were estimated to be furnace temperature and RTA power in increasing conductivity, explained by recrystallization of doped ions and change of an amorphous Si into a crystalline Si lattice. The ion activation using rapid thermal annealing is proven to be a highly efficient process in low temperature polycrystalline Si technology.

• BMB Reports
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• v.52 no.8
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• pp.502-507
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• 2019

Translation is a costly, but inevitable, cell maintenance process. To reduce unnecessary ATP consumption in cells, a fine-tuning mechanism is needed for both ribosome biogenesis and translation. Previous studies have suggested that the ribosome functions as a hub for many cellular signals such as ribotoxic stress response, mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), and ribosomal S6 kinase (RSK) signaling. Therefore, we investigated the relationship between ribosomes and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation under ribotoxic stress conditions and found that the activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNKs) was suppressed by ribosomal protein knockdown but that of p38 was not. In addition, we found that JNK activation is driven by the association of inactive JNK in the 80S monosomes rather than the polysomes. Overall, these data suggest that the activation of JNKs by ribotoxic stress is attributable to 80S monosomes. These 80S monosomes are active ribosomes that are ready to initiate protein translation, rather than polysomes that are already acting ribosomes involved in translation elongation.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.43-49
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• 2019

Primordial follicle activation is a process in which individual primordial follicles leave their dormant state and enter a growth phase. While existing hormone stimulation strategies targeted the growing follicles, the remaining dormant primordial follicles were ruled out from clinical use. Recently, in vitro activation (IVA), which is a method for controlling primordial follicle activation, has provided an innovative technology for primary ovarian insufficiency (POI) patients. IVA was developed based on Hippo signaling and phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN)/phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT)/forkhead box O3 (FOXO3) signaling modulation. With this method, dormant primordial follicles are activated to enter growth phase and developed into competent oocytes. IVA has been successfully applied in POI patients who only have a few remaining remnant primordial follicles in the ovary, and healthy pregnancies and deliveries have been reported. IVA may also provide a promising option for fertility preservation in cancer patients and prepubertal girls whose fertility preservation choices are limited to tissue cryopreservation. Here, we review the basic mechanisms, translational studies, and current clinical results for IVA. Limitations and further study requirements that could potentially optimize IVA for future use will also be discussed.

• Clean Technology
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.279-286
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• 2013

Using a cation exchange resin of polystyrene-DVB copolymer as a carbon source for the production of activated carbon, the effects of operating parameters on the physical properties of activated carbon such as specific surface area and specific pore volume were experimentally studied. In carbonization process specific surface area and specific pore volume of carbonized product decreased with the increase of carbonization temperature and time. They were proportional to activation temperature and time up to the specific temperature and time in activation process. In carbonization process the increase of heating rate gave negative effect to the properties. The properties of activated product, on the contrary, increased with the heating rate in carbonization process. The properties of activated carbon manufactured with the resin exchanged with divalent cations were lower than those with raw resin.

• Transactions on Electrical and Electronic Materials
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• v.1 no.4
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• pp.1-6
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• 2000

The mechanical strength of silicon carbide dose nor permit the use of diffusion as a means to achieve selective doping as required by most electronic devices. While epitaxial layers may be doped during growth, ion implantation is needed to define such regions as drain and source wells, junction isolation regions, and so on. Ion activation without an annealing cap results in serious crystal damage as these activation processes must be carried out at temperatures on the order of 1600$^{\circ}C$. Ion implanted silicon carbide that is annealed in either a vacuum or argon environment usually results in a surface morphology that is highly irregular due to the out diffusion of Si atoms. We have developed and report a successful process of using silicon overpressure, provided by silane in a CAD reactor during the anneal, to prevent the destruction of the silicon carbide surface, This process has proved to be robust and has resulted in ion activation at a annealing temperature of 1600$^{\circ}C$ without degradation of the crystal surface as determined by AFM and RBS. In addition XPS was used to look at the surface and near surface chemical states for annealing temperatures of up to 1700$^{\circ}C$. The surface and near surface regions to approximately 6 nm in depth was observed to contain no free silicon or other impurities thus indicating that the process developed results in an atomically clean SiC surface and near surface region within the detection limits of the instrument(${\pm}$1 at %).

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.33 no.9
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• pp.3033-3038
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• 2012

The hydrogen storage mechanism of graphite was studied by measuring the electrical resistance change. Graphite was expanded and activated to allow for an easy hydrogen molecule approach and to enlarge the adsorption sites. A vanadium catalyst was simultaneously introduced on the graphite during the activation process. The hydrogen storage increased due to the effects of expansion, activation, and the catalyst. In addition, the electrical resistance of the prepared samples was measured during hydrogen molecule adsorption to investigate the hydrogen adsorption mechanism. It was found that the electrical resistance changed as a result of the easy hydrogen molecule approach, as well as of the adsorption process and the catalyst. It was also notable that the catalyst improved not only the hydrogen storage capacity but also the speed of hydrogen storage based on the response time. The hydrogen storage mechanism is suggested based on the effects of expansion, activation, and the catalyst.