• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2011.02a
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• pp.319-319
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• 2011

Hydrolysis of sodium borohydride provides a safe and clean approach to hydrogen generation. Having the proper catalytic support for controlling this reaction is therefore a valuable technology. Here we demonstrate the capability of hydroxyapatite as a novel catalytic support material for hydrogen generation. Aside from being inexpensive and durable, we reveal that Ru ion exchange on the HAP surface provides a highly active support for sodium borohydride hydrolysis, exemplifying a high total turnover number of nearly 24,000 mol $H_2$/ mol Ru. Moreover, we observe that the RuHAP support exhibits a high catalytic lifetime of approximately one month upon repeated exposure to $NaBH_4$ solutions. In addition to examining surface area effects, we also identified the role of complex surface morphology in enhancing hydrolysis by the catalytic transition metal covered surface. Particularly, we found that a polycrystalline RuHAP catalytic support exhibits shorter induction times for the initial bubble formation as well as increased hydrogen generation rates as compared to a single crystal supports. The independent factor of a complex surface morphology is believed to provide enhanced sites for gas release during the initial stages of the reaction. By demonstrating the ability to shorten induction time and enhance catalytic activity through changes in surface morphology and Ru content, we find it feasible to further explore this catalyst support in the construction of a practical hydrogen generator.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.53 no.5
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• pp.597-603
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• 2015

Trichomonas vaginalis is a flagellated protozoan parasite that causes vaginitis and cervicitis in women and asymptomatic urethritis and prostatitis in men. Mast cells have been reported to be predominant in vaginal smears and vaginal walls of patients infected with T. vaginalis. Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), activated by various stimuli, have been shown to regulate the transcriptional activity of various cytokine genes in mast cells. In this study, we investigated whether MAPK is involved in ROS generation and exocytotic degranulation in HMC-1 cells induced by T. vaginalis-derived secretory products (TvSP). We found that TvSP induces the activation of MAPK and NADPH oxidase in HMC-1 cells. Stimulation with TvSP induced phosphorylation of MAPK and $p47^{phox}$ in HMC-1 cells. Stimulation with TvSP also induced up-regulation of CD63, a marker for exocytosis, along the surfaces of human mast cells. Pretreatment with MAPK inhibitors strongly inhibited TvSP-induced ROS generation and exocytotic degranulation. Finally, our results suggest that TvSP induces intracellular ROS generation and exocytotic degranulation in HMC-1 via MAPK signaling.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.19-27
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• 2022

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a receptor tyrosine kinase widely expressed in many cancers such as non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), pancreatic cancer, breast cancer, and head and neck cancer. Mutations such as L858R in exon 21, exon 19 truncation (Del19), exon 20 insertions, and others are responsible for aberrant activation of EGFR in NSCLC. First-generation EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) such as gefitinib and erlotinib have clinical benefits for EGFR-sensitive (L858R and Del19) NSCLC patients. However, after 10-12 months of treatment with these inhibitors, a secondary T790M mutation at the gatekeeper position in the kinase domain of EGFR was identified, which limited the clinical benefits. Second-generation EGFR irreversible inhibitors (afatinib and dacomitinib) were developed to overcome this T790M mutation. However, their lack of selectivity toward wild-type EGFR compromised their clinical benefits due to serious adverse events. Recently developed third-generation irreversible EGFR TKIs (osimertinib and lazertinib) are selective toward driving mutations and the T790M mutation, while sparing wild-type EGFR activity. The latest studies have concluded that their efficacy was also compromised by additional acquired mutations, including C797S, the key residue cysteine that forms covalent bonds with irreversible inhibitors. Because second- and third-generation EGFR TKIs are irreversible inhibitors, they are not effective against C797S containing EGFR triple mutations (Del19/T790M/C797S and L858R/T790M/C797S). Therefore, there is an urgent unmet medical need to develop next-generation EGFR TKIs that selectively inhibit EGFR triple mutations via a non-irreversible mechanism.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.1018-1021
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• 2010

Metallic and non-metallic isomerases can be used to produce commercially important monosaccharides. To determine which category of isomerase is more suitable as a template for directed evolution to improve enzymes for galactose isomerization, L-arabinose isomerase from Escherichia coli (ECAI; E.C. 5.3.1.4) and tagatose-6-phosphate isomerase from Staphylococcus aureus (SATI; E.C. 5.3.1.26) were chosen as models of a metallic and non-metallic isomerase, respectively. Random mutations were introduced into the genes encoding ECAI and SATI at the same rate, resulting in the generation of 515 mutants of each isomerase. The isomerization activity of each of the mutants toward a non-natural substrate (galactose) was then measured. With an average mutation rate of 0.2 mutations/kb, 47.5% of the mutated ECAIs showed an increase in activity compared with wild-type ECAI, and the remaining 52.5% showed a decrease in activity. Among the mutated SATIs, 58.6% showed an increase in activity, whereas 41.4% showed a decrease in activity. Mutant clones showing a significant change in relative activity were sequenced and specific increases in activity were measured. The maximum increase in activity achieved by mutation of ECAI was 130%, and that for SATI was 190%. Based on these results, the characteristics of the different isomerases are discussed in terms of their usefulness for directed evolution of non-natural substrate isomerization.

• Journal of Advanced Navigation Technology
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.85-90
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• 2015

In this paper, a novel Internet-of-things (IoT) based telecare system is proposed to provide high-quality care services to silver generations. It consists of various sensor nodes including activity sensors, wearable emergency pagers, emergency telephone as a home gateway, and a server as a telecare service platform. Especially, an activity index as a qualification method is presented to analyze the activities of daily living. By using the activity index, the daily/weekly/monthly activity information can be obtained, from which we infer the activity pattern, notice the abrupt change of the activity, and take appropriate actions in abnormal situations.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.174-183
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• 2015

Objectives: The objective of this study is the estimation of factors influencing airborne fiber concentrations by means of an observation survey of asbestos-containing materials in buildings. Methods: Forty-five samples were collected from four commercial buildings by NIOSH Method 7400 and classified according to current condition, potential activity, construction year, and operations and maintenance(O&M). Results: Airborne fiber concentrations by current condition(classified as good, fair and poor) were significantly different(p<0.05). Concentrations by potential activity were significantly different among groups(p<0.05), and those from the low activity group were higher than those from the middle activity group. Based on construction year, airborne fiber concentrations from the decade of the 1990's were higher than those from the 1960's. When O&M status was considered, airborne fiber concentrations from 1960's buildings were lower than those buildings not operated and maintained(p<0.01), because dust generation was influenced by O&M status. It was found that airborne fiber concentrations were related to current condition and potential activity via regression analysis, but the coefficient of determination was low. Also, correlation analysis showed that the higher the potential activity, the more current condition is worsened, but the relationship was not significant(r=-0.455, p>0.05). Conclusions: Airborne fiber concentrations in asbestos-containing buildings had weak relationships with current condition and potential activity.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.466-471
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• 2002

Oxidative stress is considered to be associated with many diseases, such as inflammatory and cardiovascular diseases, aging and cancer. An important etiological mechanism of these diseases may be a causal relationship between the presence of oxidants and the generation of lipid hydroperoxides derived from enzymatic reactions or xenobiotic metabolism. The hydroperoxides can be decomposed to alkoxy- (ROㆍ) and peroxy- (ROOㆍ) free radicals that can oxidize other cell components, resulting in changes in enzyme activity or the generation of mediators, which can cause further cell damage. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of aqueous extract from the roots of Platycodon grandiflorum A. DC (Campanulaceae), Changkil (CK), to affect cellular response in primary cultures of rat hepatocytes to t-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP) induced oxidative stress and hepatotoxicity. CK-treated cells showed an increased resistance to oxidative challenge, as revealed by a higher percent of survival capacity in respect to control cells. CK reduced t-BHP-enhanced lipid peroxidation measured as production of malondialdehyde and enhanced intracellular reduced glutathione depletion by t-BHP. Furthermore, CK protected from the t-BHP-induced intracellular generation of reactive oxygen species assessed by monitoring dichlorodihydrofluorescein fluorescence. It can be concluded that CK exerts an antioxidant action inside the cell, responsible for the observed modulation of the cellular response to oxidative challenge, and CK have a marked antioxidative and hepatoprotective potency.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.263-267
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• 2008

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a treatment utilizing the generation of singlet oxygen and other reactive oxygen species (ROS), which selectively accumulate in target cells. Peroxiredoxin (prx) plays an important role in eliminating peroxides generated during metabolism. Prx exert protective antioxidant role in cells though peroxidase activity. The aim of present work is to investigate the cytotoxicity of photofrin-mediated PDT in prx IV-transfectant AMC-HN3 cell lines. We confirmed that PDT has an effect on ROS generation in prx IV-induced cell lines. Treatment of PDT in prx IV-HN3 cell lines inhibits cytotoxic effects. Prx IV-induced HN3 cell lines resists in cell death during PDT. Also, prx IV-HN3 cell lines treated PDT inhibited ROS generation in contrast with vector control. We indicated that prx IV-induced AMC-HN3 cell lines have a function as inhibitors during PDT.

• Proceedings of the KSRS Conference
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• 2005.10a
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• pp.11-13
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• 2005

The Third Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) concluded that many collective observations gave a aspect of a global warming and other changes in the climate system. Future earth observation using satellite data should monitor global climate change, and should contribute to social benefits. Especially, human activities has given the big impacts to earth environment This is a very complex affair, and nature itself also impacts the clouds, namely the seasonal variations. JAXA (former NASDA) has the plan of the Global Change Observation Mission (GCOM) for monitoring of global environmental change. SGLI (Second Generation GLI) onboard GCOM-C (Climate) satellite, which is one of this mission, is an optical sensor from Near-UV to TIR. This sensor is the GLI follow-on sensor, which has the various new characteristics. Polarized/multi-directional channels and 250m resolution channels are the unique characteristics on this sensor. This sensor can be contributed to clarification of coastal change in sea surface. This paper shows the introduction of the unique aspects and characteristics of the next generation satellite sensor, SGLIIGCOM-C, and shows the preliminary research for this sensor.

• Journal of Korea Technology Innovation Society
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.451-470
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• 2006

This study aims to test factors on the success of Employee Suggestion Systems (ESS). Considering the difference between manufacturing and non-manufacturing firms in the use of ESS, this study analyzes the impact of the industrial sector. Partial Least Square (PLS) is employed to analyze data front employees in an automobile company and a bank. The result shows that there is no distinctive difference between two industries but there are some differences in the strength of the relationships such as e impact of pro-activity on idea generation, the work improvement on idea generation and idea generation on idea submission. Some suggestions for managing ESS in non-manufacturing firms are presented.