• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.143-148
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• 2014

Marfan syndrome (MFS) is a dominantly inherited connective tissue disorder caused by mutations in the gene encoding fibrillin-1 (FBN1) and is characterized by aortic dilatation and dissection, which is the primary cause of death in untreated MFS patients. However, disease progression-associated changes in gene expression in the aortic lesions of MFS patients remained unknown. Using a mouse model of MFS, FBN1 hypomorphic mouse (mgR/mgR), we characterized the aortic gene expression profiles during the progression of the MFS. Homozygous mgR mice exhibited MFS-like phenotypic features, such as fragmentation of elastic fibers throughout the vessel wall and were graded into mgR1-4 based on the pathological severity in aortic walls. Comparative gene expression profiling of WT and four mgR mice using microarrays revealed that the changes in the transcriptome were a direct reflection of the severity of aortic pathological features. Gene ontology analysis showed that genes related to oxidation/reduction, myofibril assembly, cytoskeleton organization, and cell adhesion were differentially expressed in the mgR mice. Further analysis of differentially expressed genes identified several candidate genes whose known roles were suggestive of their involvement in the progressive destruction of aorta during MFS. This study is the first genome-wide analysis of the aortic gene expression profiles associated with the progression of MFS. Our findings provide valuable information regarding the molecular pathogenesis during MFS progression and contribute to the development of new biomarkers as well as improved therapeutic strategies.

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.131-138
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• 2014

This study investigates the effects of the slopes of the rotational axis and bearing preloads on the natural frequencies and onset speeds of the instability of a rotor supported on gas foil bearings (GFBs). The predictive model for the rotating system consists of a rigid rotor supported on two gas foil journal bearings (GFJBs) and a pair of gas foil thrust bearings (GFTBs). Each GFJB supports approximately half the rotor weight. As the slope of the rotational axis increases from $0^{\circ}$(horizontal rotor operation) to $90^{\circ}$(vertical rotor operation), the applied load on the GFJB owing to the rotor weight decreases. The predictions show that the natural frequency and onset speed of instability decrease significantly with an increase in the slope of the rotational axis. In a parametric study, the nominal radial clearance and preload for the GFJB were changed. In general, a decrease in the nominal radial clearance lead to an increase in the natural frequency and onset speed of instability. For constant assembly clearance, the decrease in the preload changed the natural frequency and onset speed of instability with insignificant improvements in the rotordynamic stability. The present predictions can be used as design guidelines for GFBs for oil-free high-speed rotating machinery with improved rotordynamic performance.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.77-95
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• 2006

The present study was conducted to examine the degree of variation in length-of-stay (LOS) among health care institutions participating in 17 diagnosis-related groups (DRGs) payment system and to find out hospital characteristics affecting the variation. Electronic medical claims data for treatments of severity classification '0' of 17 DRGs provided for two $years(2003{\sim}2004)$ were collected. For each DRG, the degree of variation in average LOS among health care institutions were analyzed using the random effect model. For DRGs showing significant differences in LOS, multiple regression analyses were performed to find out factors associated with LOS. Significant variations in LOS were observed 9 DRGs including unilateral/bilateral lens procedures, adult/child tonsilectomy, other anal procedures, bilateral adult/child herniorraphy, unilateral child herniorraphy, and hysterectomy, and hysterectomy using laparoscopic procedure. Among the 9 DRGs, five DRGs were selected to investigate the factors explaining for the variation. It was observed that the location of institution was significant predictors for all five DRGs. Within the same DRGs, LOS was significantly shorter among the institutions located in Seoul than those in other areas. As compared to clinics, hospitals and general hospitals/tertiary care institutions showed significantly longer LOS for DRGs of lens procedures, tonsilectomy, and other anal procedures. It is recommended that the institutions located in other than Seoul area benchmark the strategies of the institution in Seoul in efficiently managing LOS. Also, significant variation within the same severity classification such as other anal procedures implies the imminent need for improvement of patient classification system.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.8
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• pp.1368-1376
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• 2008

In our previous study, the expression of active H-ferritins in Saccharomyces cerevisiae was found to reduce cell growth and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation upon exposure to oxidative stress; such expression enhanced that of high-affinity iron transport genes (FET3 and FTR1). The results suggested that the recombinant cells expressing H-ferritins induced cytosolic iron depletion. The present study analyzes metabolic changes under these circumstances via proteomic methods. The YGH2 yeast strain expressing A-ferritin, the YGH2-KG (E62K and H65G) mutant strain, and the YGT control strain were used. Comparative proteomic analysis showed that the synthesis of 34 proteins was at least stimulated in YGH2, whereas the other 37 proteins were repressed. Among these, the 31 major protein spots were analyzed via nano-LC/MS/MS. The increased proteins included major heat-shock proteins and proteins related to endoplasmic reticulum-associated degradation (ERAD). On the other hand, the proteins involved with folate metabolism, purine and methionine biosynthesis, and translation were reduced. In addition, we analyzed the insoluble protein fractions and identified the fragments of Idh1p and Pgk1p, as well as several ribosomal assembly-related proteins. This suggests that intracellular iron depletion induces imperfect translation of proteins. Although the proteins identified above result from changes in iron metabolism (i.e., iron deficiency), definitive evidence for iron-related proteins remains insufficient. Nevertheless, this study is the first to present a molecular model for iron deficiency, and the results may provide valuable information on the regulatory network of iron metabolism.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.111-116
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• 2013

Finite element analysis(FEA) has been extensively applied in the analyses of biomechanical properties of stents. Geometrically, a closed-cell stent is an assembly of a number of repeated unit cells and exhibits periodicity in both longitudinal and circumferential directions. This study concentrates on various parameters of the FEA models for the analysis of drug-eluting biodegradable polymeric stents for application to the treatment of coronary artery disease. In order to determine the mechanical characteristics of biodegradable polymeric stents, FEA was used to model two different types of stents: tubular stents(TS) and helicoidal stents(HS). For this modeling, epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate (EGCG)-eluting poly[(L-lactide-co-${\varepsilon}$-caprolactone), PLCL] (E-PLCL) was chosen as drug-eluting stent materials. E-PLCL was prepared by blending PLCL with 5% EGCG as previously described. In addition, the effects of EGCG blending on the mechanical properties of PLCL were investigated for both types of stent models. EGCG did not affect tensile strength at break, but significantly increased elastic modulus of PLCL. It is suggested that FEA is a cost-effective method to improve the design of drug-eluting biodegradable polymeric stents.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.693-699
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• 2016

Clostridium difficile toxin A is known to cause deacetylation of tubulin proteins, which blocks microtubule formation and triggers barrier dysfunction in the gut. Based on our previous finding that the Clostridium difficile toxin A-dependent activation of histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC-6) is responsible for tubulin deacetylation and subsequent microtubule disassembly, we herein examined the possible effect of potassium acetate (PA; whose acetyl group prevents the binding of tubulin to HDAC-6) as a competitive/false substrate. Our results revealed that PA inhibited toxin A-induced deacetylation of tubulin and recovered toxin A-induced microtubule disassembly. In addition, PA treatment significantly decreased the production of IL-6 (a marker of inflamed tissue) in the toxin A-induced mouse enteritis model. An in vitro HDAC assay revealed that PA directly inhibited HDAC-6-mediated tubulin deacetylation, indicating that PA acted as a false substrate for HDAC-6. These results collectively indicate that PA treatment inhibits HDAC-6, thereby reducing the cytotoxicity and inflammatory responses caused by C. difficile toxin A.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.19 no.2 s.72
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• pp.161-169
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• 2006

The study proposes component models in developing an efficient platform for internet-based structural analysis. Since a structural analysis requires an operation of complicated algorithms, a client-side computation using X-Internet is preferred to a server-side computation to provide a flexible service for multi-users. To compete with the user-friendly interfaces of available commercial analysis programs, a window-based interface using Smart Client was applied. Also, component-based programming was performed with the considerations on reusability and expandability so that active Preparation for future change or modification could be feasible. The components describe the whole system by subdivision and simplification. In the relationship between upper-and lower-level components and also in the relationship between components and objects, a unified interface was used to clearly classify the connection between the libraries. By performing data communication between different types of platforms using XML WebService, a conner-stone of data transfer is proposed for the future integrated CAE. The efficiency of the developed platform has been examined through a sample structural analysis and design on planar truss structures.

• Aerospace Engineering and Technology
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.109-116
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• 2012

A vent-relief valve performs as a safety-valve assembly for liquid propellant feeding system of space launch vehicle, which relives pressurant propellant tanks during the filling and the flight. At vent mode, valve is opened and closed by driving pneumatic pressure, and at relief mode, valve is automatically operated to set relief pressure. In this study, we have analyzed a basic layout of vent-relief valve which is designed using foreign LVs(Saturn) to satisfy requirements of Korean Space Launch Vehicle. The simulation model of vent-relief valve is designed by using the AMESim code to verify design parameters and evaluate pneumatic behaviors of valve. In this study, we performed dynamic characteristic simulations on design parameters. And we could predict opening/closing time and pressures, operating performances on design parameters. Using this results, we could suggest detail design and boundary conditions of design.

• The Journal of Advanced Prosthodontics
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.14-21
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• 2017

PURPOSE. The aim of this study was to compare the retention of mini implant overdenture by the number, the type of magnetic attachment, and the directions of applied dislodging force. MATERIALS AND METHODS. The experimental groups were designed by the number and type of magnetic attachment. Twenty samples were tested with Magden implants. Each attachment was composed of the magnet assembly in overdenture sample and the abutment keeper in a mandibular model. Dislodging forces were applied to the overdenture samples (50.0 mm/min) in 3 directions. The loading was repeated 10 times in each direction. The values of dislodging force were analyzed statistically using SPSS at 95% level of confidence. RESULTS. The retentive force of group 2 was greater than that of group 1 in both types of attachment in every direction (P < .05). Oblique retentive force of flat type magnetic attachment was higher than that of cushion type attachment in both groups (P < .05). In group 1, oblique retentive force showed the highest and anterior-posterior retentive force showed the lowest value in both attachment types (P < .05). In group 2, both types of attachment showed the lowest retentive force with anterior-posterior direction of dislodging force (P <.05). CONCLUSION. Proper retentive properties for implant overdenture were obtained, regardless of the number and type of magnetic attachment. In both types of magnetic attachment, the greater retentive force was attained with more implants. Oblique retentive force of flat type magnetic attachment was greater than that of cushion type. Among all subgroups, anterior-posterior retentive force was the lowest among three different directions of dislodging force.

• Information Systems Review
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.183-204
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• 2007

As the innovation of Information technology in the Public sector is in progress, the "Efficient adaptation and management of information system Act" (passed the National Assembly in December 30, 2005) was established to support the information system planning and development which are systematic and integrated in the enterprise view point. The public sector should adopt Information Technology Architecture into it's organization by the act. This paper reports on the issues, solutions and CSFs (Critical Success Factors) considering the adoption of ITA through the implementation for the case of the Korea Post. To adopt ITA program to the Public sector successfully, Korea Government should set the clear goals for IT A, set the standards for IT A project pricing, and collaborate with the system integration industry to make successful IT A program cases. The case study of Korea Post of MIC will be useful in developing and managing ITA programs for all agencies and organizations considering adoption of ITA.