• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.40 no.8
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• pp.777-783
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• 2003

The mechanical properties of B$_4$C/Al composites normally depend on the species and quantity of reaction products between B$_4$C and Al and then the control of reaction products is necessary to make desirable composites for lightweight advanced or armor materials. TiB$_2$ is chemically inert with aluminum and has a lower contact angle (85$^{\circ}$ at 100$0^{\circ}C$) to liquid aluminum than B$_4$C. Thus, TiB$_2$ coating on B$_4$C may lower infiltration temperature of aluminum when the B$_4$C/Al composites is fabricated by infiltration process. In this study, the effects of TiB$_2$ on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the B$_4$C/Al composites have been investigated. TiB$_2$ coated B$_4$C powder was prepared using the sol-gel technique. It was found that the B$_4$C surface is homogeneously covered with TiB$_2$ having a particles size of 20-50 nm. While the B$_4$C/Al composites prepared by infiltration after TiB$_2$ coating had 17 wt% of unreacted Al, on the other hand, the B$_4$C/Al composites without coating included 14 wt% of Al. As a result, the composites infiltrated after the coating showed higher fracture toughness and lower hardness. This strongly suggests that TiB$_2$ not only lowers the infiltration temperature, but also inhibits the reaction between B$_4$C and Al.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2012

$Toxoplasma$ $gondii$ penetrates all kinds of nucleated eukaryotic cells but modulates host cells differently for its intracellular survival. In a previous study, we found out that serine protease inhibitors B3 and B4 (SERPIN B3/B4 because of their very high homology) were significantly induced in THP-1-derived macrophages infected with $T.$ $gondii$ through activation of STAT6. In this study, to evaluate the effects of the induced SERPIN B3/B4 on the apoptosis of $T.$ $gondii$-infected THP-1 cells, we designed and tested various small interfering (si-) RNAs of SERPIN B3 or B4 in staurosporine-induced apoptosis of THP-1 cells. Anti-apoptotic characteristics of THP-1 cells after infection with $T.$ $gondii$ disappeared when SERPIN B3/B4 were knock-downed with gene specific si-RNAs transfected into THP-1 cells as detected by the cleaved caspase 3, poly-ADP ribose polymerase and DNA fragmentation. This anti-apoptotic effect was confirmed in SERPIN B3/B4 overexpressed HeLa cells. We also investigated whether inhibition of STAT6 affects the function of SERPIN B3/B4, and vice versa. Inhibition of SERPIN B3/B4 did not influence STAT6 expression but SERPIN B3/B4 expression was inhibited by STAT6 si-RNA transfection, which confirmed that SERPIN B3/B4 was induced under the control of STAT6 activation. These results suggest that $T.$ $gondii$ induces SERPIN B3/B4 expression via STAT6 activation to inhibit the apoptosis of infected THP-1 cells for longer survival of the intracellular parasites themselves.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.45 no.10
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• pp.718-728
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• 2022

Splicing factor B subunit 4 (SF3B4), a component of the U2-pre-mRNA spliceosomal complex, contributes to tumorigenesis in several types of tumors. However, the oncogenic potential of SF3B4 in lung cancer has not yet been determined. The in vivo expression profiles of SF3B4 in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) from publicly available data revealed a significant increase in SF3B4 expression in tumor tissues compared to that in normal tissues. The impact of SF3B4 deletion on the growth of NSCLC cells was determined using a siRNA strategy in A549 lung adenocarcinoma cells. SF3B4 silencing resulted in marked retardation of the A549 cell proliferation, accompanied by the accumulation of cells at the G0/G1 phase and increased expression of p27, p21, and p53. Double knockdown of SF3B4 and p53 resulted in the restoration of p21 expression and partial recovery of cell proliferation, indicating that the p53/p21 axis is involved, at least in part, in the SF3B4-mediated regulation of A549 cell proliferation. We also provided ubiquitination factor E4B (UBE4B) is essential for p53 accumulation after SF3B4 depletion based on followings. First, co-immunoprecipitation showed that SF3B4 interacts with UBE4B. Furthermore, UBE4B levels were decreased by SF3B4 depletion. UBE4B depletion, in turn, reproduced the outcome of SF3B4 depletion, including reduction of polyubiquitinated p53 levels, subsequent induction of p53/p21 and p27, and proliferation retardation. Collectively, our findings indicate the important role of SF3B4 in the regulation of A549 cell proliferation through the UBE4B/p53/p21 axis and p27, implicating the therapeutic strategies for NSCLC targeting SF3B4 and UBE4B.

• Proceedings of the Korean Powder Metallurgy Institute Conference
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• 2006.09b
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• pp.1080-1081
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• 2006

In this investigation, $B_4C$ based ceramic composites were fabricated by in-situ reaction hot pressing using $B_4C$, TiC SiC powder as starting materials. The reaction synthesized composites by hot pressing at $1950^{\circ}C$ was found to posses very high relative density. The reaction synthesized $B_4C$ composites comprise $B_4C$, $TiB_2$, SiC and graphite by the reaction between TiC and $B_4C$. The newly formed $TiB_2$ and graphite was embedded both inside grain and at grain boundary $B_4C$. The mechanical properties of reaction synthesized $B_4C-TiB_2-SiC$-graphite composites were more enhanced compared to those of monolithic $B_4C$.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.302-306
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• 1999

The 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction of the quinoxaline 4-oxide 10 with 2-chloroacrylonitrile gave the 2,3-dihydro-lH-1,2-diazepino[3,4-blquinoxalines lla, b, respectively, which were converted into the 2,3,4,6-tetrahydro-lH-l,2-diazepino[3,4-b]quinoxaline 12. The reaction of compound lla with selenium dioxide in acetic acid/water resulted in ring transformation to give the 1,4-dihydro-4-oxopyridazino[3,4-blquinoxaline 13.

• Proceedings of the Korea Crystallographic Association Conference
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• 2002.11a
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• pp.27-27
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• 2002

[Cp＊Rh(H₂O)₃](OTf)₂ (1) reacts with a stoichiometric amount of A and B [ A = Me₃SiN₃, B = 4,4'-bipridyl, (2a), A = Me₃SiNCO, B = 4,4'-bipridyl (2b)] in acetone at room temperature for 3 h to give the supramolecular complexes [Cp＊₄Rh₄(μ-A)₄(μ-B)₂] [A = Me₃SiN₃, B = 4,4'-bipridyl, (2a), A = Me₃SiNCO, B = 4,4'-bipridyl (2b)]. Complexes 2a and 2b have been structurally characterized by X-ray diffraction.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.15 no.1 s.68
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• pp.80-86
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• 2005

To achieve the purpose of this study, forty-eight male Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned to control and three endurance exercise group. 36 rats were forced to exercise according to exercise intensity for 8 weeks and 12 rats were untrained for control group. Cardiac cytosol was extracted from cardiac tissue and cardiac mitochondria was purified from the cytosol. Purified mitochondria were separated into four fraction: inner membrane, outer membrane inter membrane space and matrix. The changes of cytosolic and mitochondrial LDH isozymes activity were measure. Relative activity $(\%)$ of cytosol for low and control group showed the following order of prevalence $AB_3>A_2B_2>B_4>A_3B>A_4$ for moderate and high group : $AB_3>B_4>A_2B_2>A_3B>A_4$. Outer membrane for low group showed $AB_3>B_4>A_2B_2$, for moderate group:$ B_4>AB_3>A_2B_2$, for high and control group: $B_4>A_3B$. Inter membrane space for low, moderate and high group showed $B_4>AB_3>A_2B_2>A_3B>A_4$, for control group: $B_4>A_3B>AB_3>A_2B_2>A_4$. Inner membrane for all group showed $B_4>AB_3>A_2B_2>A_3B>A_4$. Matrix for control, low, moderate and high group showed $B_4>AB_3>A_2B_2>A_3B>A_4$. These results suggest that long term exercise intensity effect on cardiac tissue cytosolic and mitochondrial activity and $A_4,\;A_3B,\;A_2B_2,\;AB_3\;and\;B_4$ isozymes were found entirely in mitochondrial fraction.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.181-188
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• 2006

Purpose: Heregulin is a natural ligand for erbB3 and erbB4. However, very little is known about their roles in the gastric cancer This retrospective study was performed to evaluate the frequencies of heregulin and erbB family protein expression and to compare their expressions with clinicopathologic parameters. Materials and Methods: Immunohistochemical expressions of heregulin and erbB family proteins were examined with tissue micro-array slides. A total of 251 gastric adenocarcinomas were classified as early cancers and advanced cancers and as having and not having lymph node metastases. Results: The positive rates of the heregulin, erbB1, erbB2, erbB3, and erbB4 protein stainings were 64%, 68%, 6%, 88%, and 76%, respectively. Intestinal type gastric adenocarcinomas showed higher expression of heregulin, erbB2, erbB3, and erbB4 proteins. Heregulin and erbB4 proteins showed lower expressions in advanced gastric carcinomas. However, erbB2 protein showed higher expression in advanced gastric carcinomas. The protein expressions of heregulin and erbB family proteins showed no relationship with survival rate. Co-expression groups of heregulin and erbB3 proteins or heregulin and erbB4 proteins showed higher expressions in intestinal type adenocarcinomas and early gastric carcinomas. Conclusion: Heregulin, erbB3, and erbB4 proteins may play a role in the early stage of adenocarcinomas.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.873-878
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• 2002

In order to industrialize traditional Meju-tasting Koji, the characteristics of Koji manufactured with bacteria and fungi found in traditional Meju were investigated. Bacillus subtilis B-4 and Aspergillus oryzae F-5 showing high enzyme activities including those of amylase and protease were used. L-value of Koji manufactured with B. subtilis B-4 had darker color and higher enzyme production than A. oryzae F-5 made one. B. subtilis B-4 made Koji showed higher enzyme production and sensony evaluation score than A. oryzae F-5 Koji. A. oryzae F-5 Koji showed superior color to B. subtilis B-4 Koji. Activity in color, capacity of enzyme production, viable cell count, and sensory evaluation of water activity controlled Koji was superior to the uncontrolled one.

• Composites Research
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.235-240
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• 2020

In this study, in order to improve the impact resistance of the B₄C tile-inserted B₄C_p/Al7075 hybrid composite, a control method of the B₄C/Al7075 interface was developed and the characteristics of the controlled interface were analyzed. B₂O₃, Ni, and Si were coated on the B₄C tile surface using additional thermal oxidation, electroless plating, and plasma spraying. The coated B₄C tile is inserted into the B₄C_p/Al7075 composite material using the liquid pressurization method. Interfacial energy, bonding strength, and impact resistance were measured to analyze the effect of the coating. All coatings enhanced interfacial energy, bonding strength, and impact resistance, and in particular, it was confirmed that the impact resistance increased by 86.8% when B₂O₃ coating was used. This study is significant in developing and analyzing a core surface treatment method that improves the performance of B₄C/Al series composites, which are attracting attention as next-generation lightweight amour and bulletproof materials.