• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.137-142
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• 2013

Human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) are highly useful for vascular regeneration of injured or inflamed tissue. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is a potent activator of macrophages and stimulates macrophages to release inflammatory cytokines. In the present study, we explored the role of LPS-activated macrophages in the differentiation of hMSCs to smooth muscle cells (SMCs). We demonstrated that conditioned medium from LPS-induced macrophages (LPS CM) stimulates differentiation of hMSCs to SMCs, as evidenced by increased expression of smooth muscle-specific markers, including alpha-smooth muscle actin (${\alpha}$-SMA), smooth muscle-myosin heavy chain, and calponin. LPS induced the secretion of $PGF2{\alpha}$ from macrophages, and $PGF2{\alpha}$ treatment stimulated expression levels of SMC-specific markers in hMSCs. Furthermore, small interfering RNA-mediated silencing of the $PGF2{\alpha}$ receptor inhibited LPS CM-stimulated ${\alpha}$-SMA expression. These results suggest that LPS-activated macrophages promote differentiation of hMSCs to SMCs through a $PGF2{\alpha}$-dependent mechanism.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.511-516
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• 1992

The x-values of the nonstoichiometric compound YbO$_x$ have been measured in a temperature range of 600 to 1150$^{\circ}C$ under oxygen partial pressure of 1.00 ${\times}$ 10$^{-2}$ atm∼atmospheric air pressure. The values are varied between 1.55453 and 1.60794 in the conditions. The enthalpy of the formation for x' in YbO$_{1.5＋x'}$(${\Delta}$H$_f$) was 1.55, 1.18, and 1.05 kJ/mol under the above conditions, respectively. The electrical conductivities of the oxides or ${\sigma}$ have been measured in the temperature range from 600 to 1100$^{\circ}C$ under oxygen partial pressure of 1.00 ${\times}$ 10$^{-5}$ ∼ 2.00 ${\times}$ 10$^{-1}$ atm. They varied from 10$^{-9}$ to 10$^{-5}$ ohm$^{-1}$ cm$^{-1}$ within the semiconductor range. The Arrhenius plots of the electrical conductivities show a linearity and the activation energy for the conduction was about 1.7eV. The oxygen partial pressure dependence of the conductivity or 1/n value increases with the pressure. The nonstoichiometric conduction mechanism of the oxide was discussed in terms of the x values, ${\sigma}$ values, and the thermodynamic data.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.329-334
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• 1991

The x values and electrical conductivity of the nonstoichiometric compound NbO$_x$ have been measured in a temperature range 700$^{\circ}C$ to 1100$^{\circ}C$ under oxygen partial pressure of 2 ${\times}$ 10$^{-1}$ ∼ 1 ${\times}$ 10$^{-5}$ atm. The NbO$_x$ is a stoichiometrical compound of Nb$_2$O$_5$ under oxygen partial pressure higher than 1.0 ${\times}$ 10$^{-2}$ atm at the above temperature range. The x values were found to vary between 2.48491 and 2.49900 in a temperature range 700$^{\circ}C$ to 1100$^{\circ}C$ under oxygen partial pressure lower than 1 ${\times}$ 10$^{-3}$ atm. The enthalpy of the formation for x' in NbO$_{2.50000-x'}$(${\Delta}H_f$) increased of 15.98 to 17.26 kcal/mol under the conditions. The electrical conductivity (${\sigma}$) of the oxide varied from 10$_4$ to 10$_1$ ohm$_1$cm$_1$ in the above conditions. The activation energy for the conduction was about 1.7 eV. The oxygen pressure dependency of the conductivity (or 1/n value) was about -1/4. The nonstoichiometric conduction mechanism of the oxide has been discussed with the x' values, the ${\sigma}$ values, and the thermodynamic data.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.245-250
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• 2012

Branched polypropylenes (PP) with long chain branch were prepared by solid state reaction with three different branching agent of 0.3 wt% content. The chemical structures, non-isothermal crystallization behavior and complex viscosity of the branched PP were investigated by FTIR, DSC, optical microscope, and dynamic rheological measurement. The chemical structure of the branched PP was confirmed by the existence of =C-H stretching peak of the branching agent at 3100 $cm^{-1}$. There was no distinct change in melting temperature in case of PP-D-0-3 and PP-F-0-3, but PP-H-0-3 indicated a decrease in melting temperature. The decrease in melting temperature was interpreted by the fact that the degradation reaction of PP was more dominant than branched reaction, and confirmed by a decrease in complex viscosity. The non-isothermal crystallization behavior of the branched PP was analyzed using by Avrami equation. The Avrami exponent of PP was 3, and the values of the branched PP with DVB and FS were below 3. The activation energy of PP calculated by Kissinger method was 25 kJ/mol, and there were no big difference in activation energies of the branched PPs compared to PP.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.57 no.1
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• pp.17-21
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• 2019

The redox flow battery (RFB) is a large-capacity energy storage equipment, and the vanadium redox flow cell is a typical RFB, but VRFB is expensive. Iron-chrome RFBs are economical because they use low-cost active materials, but their low performance is an urgent problem. One of the reasons for the low performance is the crossover of the active materials. In this study, the sulfonated Poly (ether ether ketone) (sPEEK) membrane, which is a hydrocarbon membrane, was used instead of the fluorine membrane to reduce the crossover of the active materials. The chromium ion permeability of the sPEEK membrane was $1.8{\times}10^{-6}cm^2/min$, which was about 1/33 of that of the Nafion membrane. Thus, it was shown that the use of the sPEEK membrane instead of the fluorine membrane could solve the high active material crossover problem. The activation energy of iron diffusion through the sPEEK membrane was 24.9 kJ/mol, which was about 66% of Nafion membrane. And that the e-PTFE support in the polymer membrane reduces the active material crossover through Iron-Chrome Redox Flow Battery (ICRFB).

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.16-22
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• 2024

Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells have the advantage of low operating temperatures and fast startup and response characteristics compared to others. Simulation studies are actively researched because their cost and time benefits. In this study, the resistance of water residual in the gas diffusion layer (GDL) of the unit cell was added to the existing equation to compare the actual data with the model data. The experiments were conducted with a 25 cm² unit cell, and the samples were separated into stopping times of 0, 10, and 60 minutes following primary impedance measurement, activation, and polarization curve data acquisition. This gives 0, 10, and 60 minutes for the residual water in the GDL to evaporate. Without the rest period, the magnitude of the performance improvement was not significantly different at the same potential and flow rate, but the rest period did improve the performance of the membrane electrode assembly when measuring impedance. By changing the magnitude of the resistance reduction to an overvoltage, the voltage difference between the fuel cell model with and without residual water was compared, and the error rate in the high current density region, which is dominated by concentration losses, was reduced.

• Journal of the Korean Solar Energy Society
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.98-107
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• 2010

This paper introduces step by step procedures for the design, fabrication and operation of a solar tracking system. The system presented in this study consists of motion controllers, motor drives, step-motors, feedback devices and other accessories to support its functional stability. CdS sensors are used to constantly generate feedback signals to the controller, which assures a high-precision solar tracking even under adverse conditions. It enables instant correction if the system goes off track by strong winds causing gear backlash. A parabolic dish concentrator is mounted on the tracking system whose diameter was 30cm. The solar position data, in terms of azimuth and elevation, sunrise and sunset times were compared with those of the Astronomical Applications Department of the U.S. Naval Observatory. The results presented here clearly demonstrate the high-accuracy of the present system in solar tracking, which are applicable to many existing solar systems.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.554-562
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• 2012

Objectives : The purpose of this research is to verify the effects of the Electromagnetic acupuncture(EMA) on BL15 by Pupil size variability(PSV) which is directly related to the activation of the Autonomic Nervous System. Methods : Thirty male subjects participated in this study and were divided into three groups(non-stimulated, manual acupuncture and EMA group). The size of pupil was measured in the cube place of $60{\times}60{\times}60$ cm in order to avoid the effect of the surrounding circumstances. All subjects were measured the size of left pupil about 200sec in the constant illumination. Results : We observed the decrease in PSV of manual acupuncture group compared to non-stimulation group, but it was not significant statistically(p>0.05). The decrease in PSV of EMA group was observed in comparison to two groups, and we confirmed the result of significant difference statistically(p<0.05). Conclusions : We concluded that EMA treatment method is enough to activate in the parasympathetic nerve system by inducing the biotransformation.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.33 no.9
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• pp.1580-1583
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• 2004

The effect of far-infrared (FIR) radiation on the antioxidant activity of extracts from Citrus unshiu peels (CPs) was evaluated. CPs (5 g) were placed in Pyrex petri dishes (8.0 cm diameter) and irradiated at 150$^{\circ}C$ for 10, 20, 30, 40 or 50 min with a FIR heater. After FIR irradiation, 70% ethanol extract of CPs were prepared and total phenol contents (TPC), radical scavenging activity (RSA) and reducing power of the extracts were determined. FIR radiation of CPs at 150$^{\circ}C$ for 30 min increased the TPC and RSA of ethanol extract from 71.9${\mu}$M to 133.9 ${\mu}$M and from 29.64% to 51.27%, respectively, and reducing power was increased from 0.451 to 0.675, compared to those of non-irradiated control. These results indicated that FIR radiation onto CPs could liberate and activate covalently bound phenolic compounds that have antioxidant activities.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.34 no.2 s.133
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• pp.156-160
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• 2003

$NF-{\kappa}B$ (nuclear factor-kappa B) plays a particularly central role in epidermal biology. It has been established that ultraviolet radiation (UVR) is one of the mechanisms to induce the activation of $NF-{\kappa}B$ in human skin. We previously demonstrated that melanogenic inhibitors may act through the inhibition of $NF-{\kappa}B$ activation in keratinocytes. In order to find another type of melanogenic inhibitors of $NF-{\kappa}B$ activation, various kinds of the extracts from crude drugs $(30\;{\mu}g/ml)$ were preincubated with transfectant HaCaT cells for 3 hrs and then UVR $(60\;mj/cm^2)$ was irradiated. UVR-exposed cells were incubated for another 6 hrs to measure the $NF-{\kappa}B$ activity. $NF-{\kappa}B$ activation was measured with the secreatory alkaline phosphates (SEAP) reporter gene assay using a fluorescence detection method. Among natural products, Lycium chinense, Acanthopanax senticosus, Angelica koreana, Kalopanax pictus and Asparagus cochinchinensis were the most potent inhibitors of $NF-{\kappa}B$ activation by UVR. These observations suggest that some crude drugs might act partially through the modulation of the synthesis of melanotrophic factors to decrease melanogenesis in keratinocytes.