• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.17
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• pp.7363-7369
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• 2014

The present study aimed to prepare and evaluate polymeric micelles conjugated with folic acid through ${\alpha}$- or ${\gamma}$-carboxyl groups for antitumor efficacy. The isomeric block copolymers, ${\alpha}$- and ${\gamma}$-folate-polyethyleneglycol-distearoyl phosphatidylethanolamine (${\alpha}$- and ${\gamma}$-Fol-PEG-DSPE), were produced by solid phase peptide synthesis. Three types of doxorubicin (DOX)-loaded polymeric micelles (MPEG-DSPE-DOX and ${\alpha}$- / ${\gamma}$-Fol-PEG-DSPEDOX micelles) were prepared via the film formation method. Compared with MPEG-DSPE-DOX micelles, the ${\alpha}$- / ${\gamma}$-Fol-PEG-DSPE-DOX micelles presented a higher cellular uptake behavior in the live cell study. Cell viability percentages were 81.8%, 57.3%, 56.6% at 2 hours for MPEG-DSPE-DOX, ${\alpha}$- and ${\gamma}$-Fol-PEG-DSPE-DOX micelles, respectively (p<0.05). Using the KB xenograft tumor model, both ${\alpha}$- and ${\gamma}$-folate-conjugated micelles were found to have better antitumor effects with lower toxicity in comparison with MPEG-DSPE-DOX micelles. No difference in in vivo antitumor efficacy was found between ${\alpha}$- and ${\gamma}$-Fol-PEG-DSPE-DOX micelles. The folate-conjugated micelles might be a potentially useful strategy for tumor targeting of therapeutic agents, whether grafting with folic acid through ${\alpha}$- or ${\gamma}$-carboxyl groups.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.189-199
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• 1996

Myocardial ${\alpha}_1-adrenoceptors$ have been shown to mediate a biphaslc inotropic response that was characterized by a transient decline followed by a sustained increasing phase in guinea pig ventricular muscle. Recently one group reported that an ${\alpha}_1-adrenoceptors-induced$ intracellular $Na^+$ decrease is linked to fast $Na^+$ channel inhibition and another group reported that it is linked to $Na^+$-$K^+$ pump activation by ${\alpha}_{1b}-adrenoceptors$. But until now, its mechanism is not clear. Therefore, to see whether the $Na^+$channel or $Na^+-K^+$ pump is related to a decrease in intracellular $Na^+$ activity and/or the negative inotropic response, and which ${\alpha}_1-adrenoceptor$ subtype was involved in the decrease in intracellular $Na^+$activity by phenylephrine, we used conventional and sodium selective microelectrodes, and tension transducer to determine the effects of ${\alpha}_1-adrenergic$ stimulation on membrane potential, intracellular $Na^+$ activity, and twitch force in guinea pig ventricular muscles. $10^{-5}$ M Phenylephrine produced a slight hyperpolarization of the diastolic membrane potential, a decrease or increase in $a_N^i_a$, and a biphasic inotropic response. The negative inotropic response accompanied by a decrease in intracellular $Na^+$activity, whereas in muscles showing a remarkable positive inotropic response without initial negative inotropic effect was accompanied by an increase in intracellular $Na^+$ activity. The decrease in intracellular $Na^+$ activity was apparently inhibited by WB4101, an antagonist of the ${\alpha}_{1a}-adrenoceptors$. The decrease in intracellular $Na^+$ activity caused by phenylephrine was not abolished or reduced by a block of the fast $Na^+$ channels. $V_{max}$ also was not affected by phenylephrine. Phenylephrine produced an increase in intracellular $Na^+$ activity in the presence of a high concentration of extracellular $Ca^{2+}$ (in quiescent muscle) or phorbol dibutyrate, a protein kinase C activator(in beating muscle). These suggest that the ${\alpha}_{1a}-adrenoceptors-mediated$ decrease in intracellular $Na^+$ activity may be related to the protein kinase C.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.191-197
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• 2015

We investigated the physicochemical properties and volatile flavor compounds in Taiwan Apple Mango (TAM) and Philippines Carabao Mango (PCM). The volatile flavor compounds were extracted using solid-phase microextraction (SPME) and analyzed by GC/MS. TAM and PCM have significantly different chemical composition, except for their crude ash. The moisture and crude fat contents were higher in TAM, whereas the crude protein and carbohydrate contents were higher in PCM. The major free sugars in order of concentration were sucrose, fructose, and glucose. We identified 56 and 59 volatile flavor compounds in TAM and PCM, respectively. Terpenes and their derivatives comprised 94.42% of the volatile flavor compounds in TAM, but only 63.79% of those in PCM. The acidic compound contents were higher in PCM than in TAM. ${\delta}$-3-Carene was the dominant flavor compound in these two mango cultivars. ${\alpha}$-Copaene, ${\alpha}$-guaiene, germacrene D, ${\alpha}$-bulnesene, and ${\gamma}$-gurjunene were found only in TAM, whereas ${\beta}$-myrcene, ${\alpha}$-phellandrene, ${\beta}$-phellandrene, ${\alpha}$-terpinolene, and cis-3-hexenyl butyrate were identified in PCM. Based on the results, we suggest that these compounds might contribute to the distinguishing flavor properties in different varieties of mango.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Building Construction
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.59-65
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• 2016

This study examined the compressive strength development and pH values of alpha-calcium sulfate hemihydrate(${\alpha}-CH$)-based binders developed for vegetation concrete with neutral pH between 6~7. Considering cost down and strength enhancement of the prepared binders, the ${\alpha}-CH$ was partially replaced by ground granulated blast furnace slag(GGBS), fly ash(FA), or ordinary Portland cement(OPC) by 25% and 50%. The compressive strength of mortars using 100% ${\alpha}-CH$ was 50% lower than that of 100% OPC mortars. With the increase of the replacement level of GGBS or FA, the compressive strength of ${\alpha}-CH$-based mortars tended to decrease, whereas the pH values were maintained to be 6.5~7.5. The main hydration products of ${\alpha}-CH$-based binders with GGBS or FA were a gypsum($CaSO_4$), whereas portlandite($Ca(OH)_2$) was not observed in such binders. Meanwhile, the pH values of ${\alpha}-CH$-based binders with OPC exceeded 11.5 due to the formation of $Ca(OH)_2$ phase as a hydration product. From the thermogravimetric analysis, the amount of $Ca(OH)_2$ in ${\alpha}-CH$-based binders with OPC was evaluated to be approximately 10% of the cement content.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.167-179
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• 2019

Ovarian cancer is the fifth main cause of pre-senescent death in women. Although chemotherapy is generally an efficient treatment, its side effects and the occurrence of chemotherapeutic resistance have prompted the need for alternative treatments. In this study, ${\alpha}$-mangostin and apigenin were evaluated as possible anticancer alternatives to the chemotherapeutic drug doxorubicin, used herein as a positive control. The ovarian adenocarcinoma cell line SKOV-3 (ATCC No. HTB77) was used as model ovarian cancer cells, whereas the skin fibroblast line CCD-986Sk (ATCC No. CRL-1947) and lung fibroblast line WI-38 (ATCC No. CCL-75) were used as model untransformed cells. Apigenin and doxorubicin inhibited the growth of SKOV-3 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. After 72 hr exposure, doxorubicin was mostly toxic to SKOV-3 cells, whereas apigenin was toxic to SKOV-3 cells but not CCD-986Sk and WI-38 cells. ${\alpha}$-Mangostin was more toxic to SKOV-3 cells than to CCD-986Sk cells. A lower cell density, cell shrinkage, and more unattached (floating round) cells were observed in all treated SKOV-3 cells, but the greatest effects were observed with ${\alpha}$-mangostin. With regard to programmed cell death, apigenin caused early apoptosis within 24 hr, whereas ${\alpha}$-mangostin and doxorubicin caused late apoptosis and necrosis after 72 hr of exposure. Caspase-3 activity was significantly increased in ${\alpha}$-mangostin-treated SKOV-3 cells after 12 hr of exposure, whereas only caspase-9 activity was significantly increased in apigenin-treated SKOV-3 cells at 24 hr. Both ${\alpha}$-mangostin and apigenin arrested the cell cycle at the $G_2/M$ phase, but after 24 and 48 hr, respectively. Significant upregulation of BCL2 (apoptosis-associated gene) and COX2 (inflammation-associated gene) transcripts was observed in apigenin- and ${\alpha}$-mangostin-treated SKOV-3 cells, respectively. ${\alpha}$-Mangostin and apigenin are therefore alternative options for SKOV-3 cell inhibition, with apigenin causing rapid early apoptosis related to the intrinsic apoptotic pathway, and ${\alpha}$-mangostin likely being involved with inflammation.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.129-138
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• 2015

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to report the instrument modification and validation processes to make existing health belief model scales culturally appropriate for Korean Americans (KAs) regarding colorectal cancer (CRC) screening utilization. Methods: Instrument translation, individual interviews using cognitive interviewing, and expert reviews were conducted during the instrument modification phase, and a pilot test and a cross-sectional survey were conducted during the instrument validation phase. Data analyses of the cross-sectional survey included internal consistency and construct validity using exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. Results: The main issues identified during the instrument modification phase were (a) cultural and linguistic translation issues and (b) newly developed items reflecting Korean cultural barriers. Cross-sectional survey analyses during the instrument validation phase revealed that all scales demonstrate good internal consistency reliability (Cronbach's alpha=.72~.88). Exploratory factor analysis showed that susceptibility and severity loaded on the same factor, which may indicate a threat variable. Items with low factor loadings in the confirmatory factor analysis may relate to (a) lack of knowledge about fecal occult blood testing and (b) multiple dimensions of the subscales. Conclusion: Methodological, sequential processes of instrument modification and validation, including translation, individual interviews, expert reviews, pilot testing and a cross-sectional survey, were provided in this study. The findings indicate that existing instruments need to be examined for CRC screening research involving KAs.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.100-110
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• 2010

The solidification sequence and formation of intermetallic phase of Fe-rich Al-Si-Cu alloy were investigated by using real-time imaging of synchrotron X-ray radiation. Effects of cooling rate during uni-directional solidification on the resultant solidification behavior was also studied in a specially constructed vacuum chamber in the SPring-8 facility. The series of radiographic images were complementarily analyzed with conventional analysis of OM and SEM/EDX for phase identification. Detailed solidification sequence and formation mechanisms of various phases were discussed based on real-time image analysis. The growth rates of $\alpha$-AlFeMnSi and ${\beta}-Al_5FeSi$ were measured in order to understand the growth behavior of each phase. It is suggested that real-time imaging technique can be a powerful tool for the precise understanding of solidification behavior of various industrial materials.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.14 no.11
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• pp.821-827
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• 2004

Titanium oxide thin films were prepared on Si(100) substrates by R.F. magnetron reactive sputtering at $30\sim200watt$ R.F power range, and annealed at $600^{\circ}C\sim800^{\circ}C$ for 1 hour. The properties of $TiO_2$ thin films were analyzed using x-ray, ${\alpha}-step$, ellipsometer, scanning electron microscopy, and FT-IR spectrometer. Upon in-situ depositions, the initial phase of $TiO_2$ thin film showed non-crystalline phase at R.F. power $30\sim100$ watt. The crosssection of $TiO_2$ thin films were sbserved to be the columnar structure. With the increasing R.F power and annealing temperature, the grain size, crystallinity, refractive index, and void size of titanium oxides showed a tended to increase. The FT-IR transmittance spectra of titanium oxide thin films have the obsorption band of Ti-O bond, Si-O bond, Si-O-Ti bond and O-H bond. With the increase of R.F. power and annealing temperature, these films have the stronger bond structures. It is considered that such a phenomena is due to phase transition and good crystallinity

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.569-574
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• 2005

A coupled column liquid chromatography system was applied for the separation of the burnup monitors in spent nuclear fuel sample solutions. A reversed phase column was studied for the adsorption behavior of uranyl ions using alpha-hydroxyisobutyric acid as an eluent and used for the separation of plutonium and uranium. A cation exchange column prepared by coating 1-eicosylsulfate onto the reversed phase column was used for the separation of the lanthanides. In addition, retention of Np was checked with the reversed phase column and cation exchange column, respectively, according to the oxidation states to observe the interference effect for the separation of burnup monitors. This chromatography system showed a great reduction in separation time compared to a conventional anion exchange method. A good agreement from the burnup data was obtained between for this method and a conventional anion exchange method to within 1% of a difference for the spent nuclear fuel samples of about 40 GWD/MTU.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.33 no.8
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• pp.921-927
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• 1996

The liquid-phase concentration from the interior to the surface region and its influence on the microstructural changes were investigated in pressureless sintered $\beta$-SiC Surface reaction-layer was formed by reaction of packing powder and volatile components on the surface during sintering which was induced the concentration of liquid-phase in the surface regions. The microstructural changes between the surface region and the interior were appeared in sintered specimen which was resulted from the difference of liquid-phase content during sintering. Microstructural changes were observd with the depth of about 250${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ from he surface. The grain size and aspect ratio of SiC in the interior are larger than those in the surface region and the rate of transforma-tion of $\beta$-to $\alpha$-SiC during sintering is higher in the interior than that in the surface region.