• Journal of Adhesion and Interface
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.33-40
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• 2003

In this work, diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA)/polyetherimide (PEI) blends were cured using 4,4-diaminodiphenyl methane (DDM). And the effects of addition of different PEI contents to neat DGEBA were investigated in the thermal properties and fracture toughness of the blends. The contents of contents of containing PEI were varied in 0, 2.5, 5, 7.5, and 10 phr. The cure activation energies ($E_a$) of the cured specimens were determined by Kissinger equation and the mechanical interfacial properties of the specimens were performed by critical stress intensity factor ($K_{IC}$). Also their surfaces were examined by using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and the surface energetics of blends was determined by contact angles. As a result, $E_a$ and $K_{IC}$ showed maximum values in the 7.5 phr PEI. This result was interpreted in the increment of the network structure of DGEBA/PEI blends. Also, the surface energetics of the DGEBA/PEI blends showed a similar behavior with the results of $K_{IC}$. This was probably due to the improving of specific or polor component of the surface free energy of DGEBA/PEI blends, resulting in increasing the hydrogen bonding of the hydroxyl and imide groups of the blends.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.713-719
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• 2018

At present, Busan City has proposed various taxi industry development measures, but fundamentally there is a problem that the taxi supply is excessive compared to the demand. Therefore, this study tried to explore ways to activate the taxi reduction. We first identified problems with the taxi reduction program in Busan, and analyze thoughts of taxi operators and workers. As a result, difficulties in securing funding and lack of consent from a large number of stakeholders were identified as the first problem for current taxi reduction program. Second, both groups recognize the need for the taxi reduction, and taxi drivers are more willing to participate in the program. Third, the most important factor in determining to take the taxi reduction program was the amount of compensation. And to activate taxi reduction program, it is helpful for executives to improve their management conditions and for drivers to place reemployment.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.7-12
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• 2001

Sintered LiF:Mg,Cu,Na,Si thermoluminescence (TL) pellets were developed for application in radiation dosimetry. In the present study, the TL dosimetric properties of LiF:Mg,Cu,Na,Si TL pellets have been investigated for emission spectrum, dose response, energy response, and fading characteristics. LiF:Mg,Cu,Na,Si TL pellets were made by using a sintering process, that is, pressing and heat treatment from TL powders. Photon irradiations for the experiments were carried out using X-ray beams and a $^{137}Cs$ gamma source at the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI). The average energies and the dose were in the range of 20-662 keV and $10^{-6}-10^{-2}\;Gy$, respectively. The glow curves were measured with a manual type TLD reader(System 310, Teledyne) at a constant nitrogen flux and a linear heating rate. For a constant heating rate of $5^{\circ}C\;s^{-1}$, the main dosimetric peak of glow curve appeared at $234^{\circ}C$, the activation energy was 2.34 eV and frequency factor was $1.00{\times}10^{23}$. TL emission spectrum is appeared at the blue region centered at 410 nm. A linearity of photon dose response was maintained up to 100 Gy. The photon energy responses relative to $^{137}Cs$ response were within ${\pm}20%$ at overall photon energy region. The fading of TL sensitivity of the pellets stored at the room temperature was not found for one year.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.337-344
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• 2002

Runx2, a Runt-related osteoblast-specific transcription factor, is essential for osteoblast differentiation and function. Runx2 was identified as a key regulator of osteoblast-specific gene expression through its binding to the OSE2 element present in these genes. However, little is known about the signaling mechanism regulating Runx2 activity. This study examines the role of protein kinase C (PKC) pathway and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway in regulating Runx2 and bone marker genes (osteopontin; OP, osteocalcin; OC). Luciferase assay and Northern blot analysis suggested that the stimulation of PKC by PMA increased transcription activity of Runx2 and bone marker genes (OP and OC) and also increased expression of Runx2. The stimulation of MAPK by okadaic acid increased transcription activity of Runx2 and bone marker genes (OP and OC). Pretreatment with PD98059 (Erk pathway inhibitor) and SB203580 (P38 pathway inhibitor) prior to PMA treatment decreased PMA stimulated Runx2 activity. Together these results indicate that both PKC and MAPKs are involved in the regulation of Runx2 activity and also the stimulation of Runx2 transcriptional activity by the PKC pathway is through activation of MAPK pathway.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.356-362
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• 2010

When pine (Pinus densiflora) needles were fractionated into cold water (PD-CW), hot water (PD-HW) and methanol extract (PD-M), PD-M showed potent simulating activity (1.19-fold of the saline control) for proliferation of bone marrow cells mediated by Peyer's patch cells in vitro. MeOH extracts were prepared by homogenization, stirring or reflux to identify the method of methanol extraction, and MeOH extract by reflux method showed significantly highest intestinal immune system modulating activity (1.30-fold) in vitro. The intestinal immune system modulating effect of orally administered PD-M fractionated from pine needles also were studied in mice. Analyzing intestinal immune system modulating activity mediated Peyer's patch cells from C3H/He mice which had been fed with PD-M at different doses for 7 days, 1.0 g/kg of BW/day indicated that the bone marrow cells had proliferated (3.65-fold of 3% EtOH administered group). In addition, the amounts of IL-6 in the culture supernatant of Peyer's patch cells at 1.0 g/kg of BW/day were increased (1.13-fold) whereas the production of GM-CSF was not dose dependent. These results indicate that oral administration of PD-M enhances the secretion of hematopoietic growth factors such as GM-CSF and IL-6 from Peyer's patch cells, and these cytokines also act on modulator of bone marrow cell proliferation.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.103-115
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• 2009

In vertebrates, the face is mainly formed with neural crest derived neural crest cells by the inherent programs and the interactive environmental factors. Extracellular signaling-regulated kinase (Erk) is one of such programs to regulate the various cellular functions. And retinoic acid (RA) also plays an important role as a regulator in differentiation process at various stages of vertebrate embryogenesis. We wanted to know that the segregation as well as the patterning of maxillary and mandibular structure is greatly influenced by the maxillomandibular cleft (MMC) and the failure of this development may result in the maxillomandibular fusion (syngnathia) or other patterning related disorder. It has been well documented that the epithelium at this cleft region has significant expression of Fibroblast growth factor (Fgf) 8, and it is essential for the patterning of the first arch derived structures. By the morphological, skeletal, cell proliferation and apoptotic, and hybridization analysis, we checked the effects of Erk inhibition and/or RA activation onto MMC and could observe that Erk and RA signaling is individually and synergically involved in the facial patterning in terms of FGF signaling pathway via Barx-l. So RA and Erk signaling work together for the MMC patterning and the segregation of maxilla-mandible by controlling the Fgf-related signaling pathways. And the abnormality in MMC brought by aberrant Fgf signaling may result in the disturbances of maxillary-mandibular segregation.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.7-15
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• 2015

Objectives : Rosa laevigata Michx. has been used for the treatment of renal disease in traditional Korean medicine. In this study, we investigated cytoprotective effect of R. laevigata water extract (RLE) against oxidative stress induced by arachidonic acid (AA) + iron.Methods : To evaluate the protective effects of RLE against AA + iron-induced oxidative stress in HepG2 cell, cell viability and changes on apoptosis-related proteins were assessed by MTT and immunoblot analyses. The effects of RLE on reduced glutathione level, production of reactive oxygen species and mitochondrial membrane potential were also monitored. Furthermore, to verify underlying molecular mechanism, NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) was examined by immunoblot analysis. Additionally, Nrf2 transactivation and its downstream target genes expression were also determined by reporter gene and realtime RT-PCR analyses.Results : RLE pretreatment (30-300 μg/ml) prevented cells from AA + iron-mediated cell death in a concentration dependent manner. In addition, 100 μg/ml RLE inhibited AA + iron-induced glutathione depletion, reactive oxygen species production and mitochondrial dysfunction. RLE accumulated nuclear Nrf2 and also transactivated Nrf2, which was evidenced by antioxidant response element- and glutathione S-transferase A2-driven luciferase activities and mRNA level of glutamate-cysteine ligase catalytic subunit, NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 and sestrin 2. Moreover, protective effect of RLE against AA + iron was abolished in Nrf2 knockout cells.Conclusions : These results indicate that RLE has the ability to protect hepatocyte against oxidative stress through Nrf2 activation.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.127-134
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• 2008

Objectives : The present study was designed to investigate whether Ostericum koreanum (OK) could regulate lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory response in vitro and in vivo. Methods : To evaluate of anti-inflammatory effect of OK, we examined Nitric oxide (NO), proinflammatory cytokines production in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Furthermore, we checked molecular mechanism especially in the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and the degradation of inhibitory kappa B a ($Ik-B{\alpha}$) using western blot and also investigated survival of mice in LPS-mediated endotoxin shock. Results : 1. Extract from OK itself have weak cytotoxic effect on RAW264.7 cells. Extract from OK inhibited LPS-induced NO, tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$ ($TNF-{\alpha}$), interleukin $(IL)-1{\beta}$, IL-6 and IL-10 production in RAW264.7 cells. 2. OK inhibited the phosphorylation of MAPKs, such as p38, extracelluar signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2) and c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) and also the degradation of $I{\kappa}-B{\alpha}$ in the LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells 3. OK did not inhibit LPS-induced endotoxin shock. Conclusions : OK down-regulated LPS-induced NO and cytokines production through suppressing activation of MAPKs and degradation of $I{\kappa}-B{\alpha}$. Our results suggested that OK may be a beneficial drug against inflammatory diseases.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.119-125
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• 2008

Objectives : The purpose of this paper was to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of extract from Teucrium veronicoides (TV) on the RAW 264.7 cells. Methods : To evaluate of anti-inflammatory of TV, we examined the cytokine productions on lipopolysacchride (LPS)-induced RAW 264.7 cells and also inhibitory mechanisms using Western blot. Furthermore, We examined LPS-induced endotoxin shock. Results : 1. Extract from TV itself does not have any cytotoxic effect. 2. Extract from TV reduced LPS-induced Nitric oxide (NO),interleukin (IL)-1b, IL-6 and IL-10, tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a) production in RAW 264.7 cells. 3. TV inhibited the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) such as p38, extracelluar signal-regulated kinase (ERK 1/2) and c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) and also the degradation of inhibitory kappa B a (Ik-Ba) in the LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. 3. TV slightly increased the duration of survival after LPS-induced endotoxin shock. Conclusions : TV down-regulated LPS-induced NO and cytokines production, which could provide a clinical basis for anti-inflammatory properties of TV.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.305-310
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• 2007

The principal objective of this study was to compare the effects of whole and hydrolyzed cells (bifidobacteria) treated with gastrointestinal digestive enzymes on the activation of cloned macrophages. Seven different strains of Bifidobacterium obtained from swine, chickens, and rats, were digested with pepsin followed by pancreatin and the precipitate (insoluble fraction) and supernatant (soluble fraction) obtained via centrifugation. The RAW 264.7 murine macrophages were incubated with either whole cells, the precipitate, or supernatant at various concentrations. Pronounced increases in the levels of nitric oxide (NO), interleukin $(IL)-1{\beta}$, IL-6, IL-12, and tumor necrosis factor $(TNF)-{\alpha}$ were observed in the whole cells and precipitates, but these effects were less profound in the supernatants. The precipitates also evidenced a slight, but significant, inductive activity for NO and all tested cytokines, with the exception of $(TNF)-{\alpha}$ in the macrophage model as compared with the whole cells. By way of contrast, $(TNF)-{\alpha}$ production when cultured with whole cells (100 ng/ml) resulted in marked increases as compared with what was observed with the precipitates. The results of this study indicated, for the first time, that digested Bifidobacterium sp. can induce the production of NO and several cytokines in RAW 264.7 murine macrophage cells. In the current study, it was demonstrated that Bifidobacterium strains treated with digestive enzymes, as compared with whole cells, are capable of stimulating the induction of macrophage mediators, which reflects that they may be able to modulate the gastrointestinal immune functions of the host.