• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.363-367
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• 2010

In this paper we proposed an easy method to calculate the thickness of primary protective barrier for radiographic equipment. The concrete was selected for the shielding material. The area of protective barrier was divided into a controlled area and a noncontrolled area. For the computation of thickness, the data in NCRP Report 49 and 51 was used. For radiographic equipments whose maximum tubevoltages are 100 and 150 kVp, the thicknesses of concrete were calculated as a function of distance. From the calculated data, four analytical models were acquired by fitting an exponential decay function. From the equations acquired by this study, the thickness of primary protective barrier can be calculated approximately.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.940-948
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• 2024

Codium fragile has been traditionally used in oriental medicine to treat enterobiasis, dropsy, and dysuria, and it has been shown to possess many biological properties. Atopic dermatitis (AD) is one of the types of skin inflammation and barrier disruption, which leads to chronic inflammatory skin diseases. In the current investigation, the protective effects of C. fragile extract (CFE) on anti-inflammation and skin barrier improvement were investigated. In LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells, nitric oxide generation and the expression levels of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-4, IL-6, iNOS, COX-2, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF)-α were reduced by CFE. CFE also inhibited the phosphorylation of NF-κB-p65, ERK, p-38, and JNK. Additionally, CFE showed inhibitory activity on TSLP and IL-4 expression in HaCaT cells stimulated with TNF-α/interferon- gamma (IFN-γ). Enhanced expression of factors related to skin barrier function, FLG, IVL, and LOR, was confirmed. These findings implied that CFE may be used as a therapeutic agent against AD due to its skin barrier-strengthening and anti-inflammatory activities, which are derived from natural marine products.

• BMB Reports
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.345-352
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• 2008

The cerebral microvessels possess barrier characteristics which are tightly sealed excluding many toxic substances and protecting neural tissues. The specialized blood-neural barriers as well as the cerebral microvascular barrier are recognized in the retina, inner ear, spinal cord, and cerebrospinal fluid. Microvascular endothelial cells in the brain closely interact with other components such as astrocytes, pericytes, perivascular microglia and neurons to form functional 'neurovascular unit'. Communication between endothelial cells and other surrounding cells enhances the barrier functions, consequently resulting in maintenance and elaboration of proper brain homeostasis. Furthermore, the disruption of the neurovascular unit is closely involved in cerebrovascular disorders. In this review, we focus on the location and function of these various blood-neural barriers, and the importance of the cell-to-cell communication for development and maintenance of the barrier integrity at the neurovascular unit. We also demonstrate the close relation between the alteration of the blood-neural barriers and cerebrovascular disorders.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.207-217
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• 2015

Skin is the first line of defense for protecting our bodies against external perturbations, including ultraviolet (UV) irradiation, mechanical/chemical stress, and bacterial infection. Nutrition is one of many factors required for the maintenance of overall skin health. An impaired nutritional status alters the structural integrity and biological function of skin, resulting in an abnormal skin barrier. In particular, the importance of micronutrients (such as certain vitamins and minerals) for skin health has been highlighted in cell culture, animal, and clinical studies. These micronutrients are employed not only as active compounds in therapeutic agents for treating certain skin diseases, but also as ingredients in cosmetic products. Here, the author describes the barrier function of the skin and the general nutritional requirements for skin health. The goal of this review is to discuss the potential roles and current knowledge of selected micronutrients in skin health and function.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.95-99
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• 2011

The microstructure and Cu diffusion barrier property of Ta-Si-N films for various Si and N compositions were studied. Ta-Si-N films of a wide range of compositions (Si: 0~30 at.%, N: 0~55 at.%) were deposited by DC magnetron reactive sputtering of Ta and Si targets. Deposition rates of Ta and Si films as a function of DC target current density for various $N_2/(Ar+N_2)$ flow rate ratios were investigated. The composition of Ta-Si-N films was examined by wavelength dispersive spectroscopy (WDS). The variation of the microstructure of Ta-Si-N films with Si and N composition was examined by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The degree of crystallinity of Ta-Si-N films decreased with increasing Si and N composition. The Cu diffusion barrier property of Ta-Si-N films with more than sixty compositions was investigated. The Cu(100 nm)/Ta-Si-N(30 nm)/Si structure was used to investigate the Cu diffusion barrier property of Ta-Si-N films. The microstructure of all Cu/Ta-Si-N/Si structures after heat treatment for 1 hour at various temperatures was examined by XRD. A contour map that shows the diffusion barrier failure temperature for Cu as a function of Si and N composition was completed. At Si compositions ranging from 0 to 15 at.%, the Cu diffusion barrier property was best when the composition ratio of Ta + Si and N was almost identical.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.175-183
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• 2021

The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway controls intestinal epithelial barrier permeability by regulating tight junctions (TJs) and epithelial cells damage. Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and carbon monoxide (CO) protect the intestinal epithelial barrier function, but the molecular mechanism is not yet clarified. MAPK activation and barrier permeability were studied using monolayers of Caco-2 cells treated with tissue necrosis factor α (TNF-α) transfected with FUGW-HO-1 or pLKO.1-sh-HO-1 plasmid. Intestinal mucosal barrier permeability and MAPK activation were also investigated using carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) administration with CoPP (a HO-1 inducer), ZnPP (a HO-1 inhibitor), CO releasing molecule 2 (CORM-2), or inactived-CORM-2-treated wild-type mice and mice with HO-1 deficiency in intestinal epithelial cells. TNF-α increased epithelial TJ disruption and cleaved caspase-3 expression, induced ERK, p38, and JNK phosphorylation. In addition, HO-1 blocked TNF-α-induced increase in epithelial TJs disruption, cleaved caspase-3 expression, as well as ERK, p38, and JNK phosphorylation in an HO-1-dependent manner. CoPP and CORM-2 directly ameliorated intestinal mucosal injury, attenuated TJ disruption and cleaved caspase-3 expression, and inhibited epithelial ERK, p38, and JNK phosphorylation after chronic CCl4 injection. Conversely, ZnPP completely reversed these effects. Furthermore, mice with intestinal epithelial HO-1 deficient exhibited a robust increase in mucosal TJs disruption, cleaved caspase-3 expression, and MAPKs activation as compared to the control group mice. These data demonstrated that HO-1-dependent MAPK signaling inhibition preserves the intestinal mucosal barrier integrity by abrogating TJ dysregulation and epithelial cell damage. The differential targeting of gut HO-1-MAPK axis leads to improved intestinal disease therapy.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.323-330
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• 2023

The skin's barrier structure is formed through the differentiation process of epidermal keratinocytes. It consists of corneocytes that are composed of keratin proteins and lipids that fill the spaces between them. During this process, the lipids such as phospholipid that made up the membrane of the basal layer cells of the epidermis are decomposed and replaced with newly synthesized components like ceramide. In this study, the effect of ginsenoside Rg3 components on the packing of the intercellular lipid structure of the skin barrier and the barrier function was confirmed. To confirm this, Rg3 components were treated during the differentiation process of 3D epidermal cells. The FT-IR and TEWL analysis on 3D epidermis showed an enhancement in the orthorhombic lipid packing and an improvement in barrier function. Additionally, in HaCaT cells, an increase in the expression of EVOL1 and EVOL4, which synthesize long-chain lipids, was detected, along with a decrease in CERS6, which synthesizes short-chain ceramide, and an increase in ACER6, which decomposes ceramide using phytosphingosine. This suggests the possibility that Rg3 affects lipid synthesis during the epidermal differentiation process, resulting in changes in barrier function.

• Journal of Marine Life Science
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.58-65
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• 2021

As aging progresses, reactive oxygen species (ROS) reduces skin moisturization and collapses skin barrier function. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of skin moisturizing and skin barrier function enhancement by extracts from halophytes using HaCaT cells. Spartina anglica (S. anglica; SAE) and Calystegia soldanella (C. soldanella; CSE), a kind of halophytes, were collected from Dongmak beach in Incheon, and extracted with 70% ethanol. At the first, we evaluated the cytotoxicity of extracts in HaCaT cell using WST-8 Kit. As a result, the other experiment was conducted by setting the concentration at which the cell viability was 90% or more. SAE and CSE showed high radical scavenging activity through ABTS assay. Expression levels of genes related to skin moisturizing and skin barrier functions, were analyzed by real-time qPCR. As a result, it showed that the expression of aquaporin 3, hyaluronan synthase 2, and transglutaminase 1 was increased by SAE treatment but not changed by CSE. Activation of extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and p38 mitogen activated protein kinase was induced by SAE. These results suggest that SAE can be used as functional materials for cosmetics for skin moisturizing and barrier function enhancement.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.19-26
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• 2023

Objectives : Agrimoniae Herba is a herbal medicine widely distributed in Asia and contains flavonoids including catechin, quercitrin, rutin, hyperoside, and quercetin. This study aimed to investigate the anti-oxidant activity and skin barrier function of different solvent fractions (Hexane; methylene chloride, MC; ethyl acetate, EA; n-butanol, Bu; Water) obtained from Agrimoniae Herba. Methods : Anti-oxidant activity of different solvent fractions obtained from Agrimoniae Herba was investigated through total polyphenol contents, total flavonoid contents, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging activity, and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging activity measurements. Then, filament aggregating protein (Filaggrin), Type I collagen, ceramide synthase (CERS) 3, and CERS4 were analyzed to evaluate the skin barrier strengthening effect of different solvent fractions obtained from Agrimoniae Herba on UVB-stimulated HaCaT cells. Results : As a result of measuring total polyphenol contents, total flavonoid contents, DPPH free radical scavenging activity, and ABTS radical scavenging activity, antioxidant activity was found to be excellent in the order of EA > Bu > MC > Hexane > Water. As a result of measuring mRNA gene expression of Type I collagen, Filaggrin, CERS3, and CERS4 after UVB-stimulated was applied to HaCaT cells treated with different solvent fractions obtained from Agrimoniae Herba, it was found to increase significantly in the Bu-treated group. Conclusion : Our findings show that the Bu sample obtained from Agrimoniae Herba has excellent anti-oxidant ability, which increases Type I collagen, Filaggrin, and ceramide synthetase in UVB-stimulated HaCaT cells to control the skin barrier improvement effect.

• Proceedings of the Korean Fiber Society Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.21-22
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• 2003

4 types rubber related geosynthetics were manufactured to examine the performance to for applications to the civil and geotechnical fields, especially to the road construction. Reinforcement and water barrier function of these geosynthetics were interpreted as the important properties. Fiber glass mat based and geogrid based geosynthetics showed the excellent mechanical properties as. Also elastomeric bitumen based geosynthetic showed the highest permittivity. From this, it i s thought that this geosynthetic is suitable for water barrier under specific load condition.