• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.90-96
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• 2014

The electrical resistivity of concrete can be related to two processes involved in corrosion of reinforcement: initiation (chloride penetration) and propagation (corrosion rate). The resisistivity of concrete structure exposed to chloride indicates the risk of early corrosion damage, because a low resistivity is related to rapid chloride penetration and to high corrosion rate. Concrete resistivity is a geometry-independent material property that describes the electrical resistance, which is the ratio between applied voltage and resulting current in a unit cell. In previous study, it was realized that the resistivity of concrete depended on the moisture content in the concrete, microstructural properties, and environmental attack such as carbonation. The current is carried by ions dissolved in the pore liquid. While some data exist on the relationship between moisture content on electrical resistivity of concrete, very little research has been conducted to evaluate the effect of chloride on the conduction of electricity through concrete. The purpose of this study is to examine and quantify the effect of chloride content on surface electrical resistivity measurement of concrete. It was obvious that chloride content had influenced the resistivity of concrete and the relationship showed a linear function. That is, concrete with chloride ions had a comparatively lower resistivity. Decreasing rate of resistivity of concrete was clear at early time, however, after 50 days resistivity was constant irrespective of chloride concentration. Conclusively, this paper suggested the quantitive solution to depict the electrical resistivity of concrete with chloride content.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.495-502
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• 2008

To analyze the growth of SOB(Thiobacillus novellus) and biochemical corrosion of concrete, simulation test method and device were developed, and basic conditions for SOB growth were established. Two types of simulation tests were conducted according to a transplant method and a concentration of $H_2SO_4$. As a result, the SOB growth in distinct manners and antibiosis of specimen were observed. In the case of the specimens indirectly transplanted with SOB through culture solution submersion at a hydrogen sulfide level of 120 ppm, the rapid activation of SOB and the resulting sulfuric acid production were observed. However, SOB were shown to grow rapidly and then die out in a relative short period of time. Meanwhile, in the case of the specimens directly transplanted with SOB at a hydrogen sulfide level of 50 ppm, the long-term growth of SOB was possible, but the production of sulfuric acid by SOB did not progress. In the case of the antibiotic metal-mixed specimens, SOB with destroyed cell membranes and internal organizations were observed.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.10
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• pp.1277-1285
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• 2012

The tumor necrosis, factor-related, apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) is regarded as a potentially useful anticancer agent with excellent selectivity for cancer cells. However, a considerable number of cancer cells are resistant to apoptosis induction by TRAIL. Developing strategies to overcome this resistance are important for the successful use of TRAIL for cancer therapy. Here, we revealed that siRNA-mediated downregulation of SIRT1 or SIRT1 inhibitor Amurensin G upregulated DR5 and c-Myc and downregulated c-$FLIP_{L/S}$ and Mcl-1, which was associated with sensitization of TRAIL-resistant MCF-7 cells to TRAIL. This result was followed by the activation of caspases, PARP cleavage, and downregulation of Bcl-2 in both TRAIL-treated MCF-7 cells transfected with SIRT1 siRNA and cells co-treated with Amurensin G and TRAIL. Our results suggest that the induction of DR5 and downregulation of c-FLIP via suppression of SIRT1 expression may be a useful strategy to increase the susceptibility of TRAIL-resistant cancer cells to TRAIL-induced cell death.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.40 no.8
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• pp.567-576
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• 2017

The $Na^+/H^+$ exchanger is responsible for maintaining the acidic tumor microenvironment through its promotion of the reabsorption of extracellular $Na^+$ and the extrusion of intracellular $H^+$. The resultant increase in the extracellular acidity contributes to the chemoresistance of malignant tumors. In this study, the chemosensitizing effects of cariporide, a potent $Na^+/H^+-exchange$ inhibitor, were evaluated in human malignant mesothelioma H-2452 cells preadapted with lactic acid. A higher basal level of phosphorylated (p)-AKT protein was found in the acid-tolerable H-2452AcT cells compared with their parental acid-sensitive H-2452 cells. When introduced in H-2452AcT cells with a concentration that shows only a slight toxicity in H-2452 cells, cariporide exhibited growth-suppressive and apoptosis-promoting activities, as demonstrated by an increase in the cells with pyknotic and fragmented nuclei, annexin V-PE(+) staining, a $sub-G_0/G_1$ peak, and a $G_2/M$ phase-transition delay in the cell cycle. Preceding these changes, a cariporide-induced p-AKT down-regulation, a p53 up-regulation, an ROS accumulation, and the depolarization of the mitochondrial-membrane potential were observed. A pretreatment with the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor LY294002 markedly augmented the DNA damage caused by the cariporide, as indicated by a much greater extent of comet tails and a tail moment with increased levels of the p-histone H2A.X, $p-ATM^{Ser1981}$, $p-ATR^{Ser428}$, $p-CHK1^{Ser345}$, and $p-CHK2^{Thr68}$, as well as a series of pro-apoptotic events. The data suggest that an inhibition of the PI3K/AKT signaling is necessary to enhance the cytotoxicity toward the acidtolerable H-2452AcT cells, and it underlines the significance of proton-pump targeting as a potential therapeutic strategy to overcome the acidic-microenvironment-associated chemotherapeutic resistance.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.133-139
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• 2006

In 'solid-phase' PEGylation, the conjugation reaction occurs as the proteins are attached to a solid matrix, and thus it can have distinct advantages over the conventional, solution-phase process. We report a case study: rhIFN-${\alpha}$-2a was first adsorbed to cation exchange resin and then N-terminally PEGylated by aldehyde mPEG of 5, 10, and 20 kD through reductive alkylation. After the PEGylation, salt gradient elution efficiently recovered the mono-PEGylate in a purified form from the unwanted species such as unmodified IFN, unreacted PEG, and others. The mono-PEGylation and its purification were integrated in a single chromatographic step. Depending on the molecular weight of the mPEG aldehyde used, the mono-PEGylation yield ranged 50-64%. We could overcome the major problems of random, or uncontrollable, multi-PEGylation and the post-PEGylation purification difficulties associated with the solution-phase process. N-terminal sequencing and MALDI-TOF MS confirmed that a PEG molecule was conjugated only to the N-terminus. Compared with the unmodified IFN, the mono-PEGylate showed the reduced anti-viral activity as measured by the cell proliferation assay. The bioactivity was reduced more as the higher molecular weight PEG was conjugated. Immunoreactivity, evaluated indirectly by antibody binding activity using a surface plasmon resonance biosensor, also decreased. Nevertheless, trypsin resistance as well as thermal stability was considerably improved.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.111-122
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• 2013

Sodium sulfur (NAS) battery is a high energy storage system (ESS). These days, as the use of renewable green energy like wind energy, solar energy and ocean energy is rapidly increasing, the demand of ESS is increasing and NAS battery is considered to be one of the most promising ESS. Since NAS battery has a high energy density(3 times of lead acid battery), long cycle life and no self-charge and discharge, it is a good candidate for ESS. A NAS battery consists of sulfur as the positive electrode, sodium as the negative electrode and ${\beta}$"-alumina as the electrolyte and a separator simultaneously. Since sulfur is an insulator, carbon felt should be used as conductor with sulfur and so the composition and property of the cathode could largely influence the cell performance and life cycle. Therefore, in this paper, the composition of NAS battery, the property of carbon felt and sodium polysulfides ($Na_2S_x$, intermediates of discharge), and the effects of these factors on cycle performance of cells are described in detail.

• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.57-61
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• 2016

In order to protect the solar cells from the moisture and oxygen, we evaluated the electrical and optical properties for the $Cu(In,Ga)Se_2$ (CIGS) solar cells which were prepared by the spray coating method. Generally, the EVA (ethylene-vinyl acetate) films are laminated to protect the CIGS flexible solar cells, which results in a high cost process due to complicated devices. In this study, we tried to prepare the protection layers of the flexible CIGS flexible solar cells by using spray coating method instead of conventional laminating films in order to reduce the device weight as well as the process time. The CIGS solar cells with spray coating method showed an enhanced efficiency than the before treated sample (2.77% to 2.93%) and relatively proper water vapor transmission rate of the solar cells about 62.891 gm/[$m^2-day$].

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.239-246
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• 1999

A highly sensitive photovoltaic infrared photodiode was fabricated for detecting infrared light in $3{\sim}5\;{\mu}m$ wavelength range on InSb wafer with p-i-n structure grown by MOCVD. Silicon dioxide($SiO_2$) insulating films for the junction interface and surface of photodiode were prepared using RPCVD because InSb has low melting point and evaporation temperature. After formation of In ohmic contacts by thermal evaporation, the electrical properties of the photodiode were characterized in dark state at 77K. A product of zero-bias resistance and area($R_0A$) showed $1.56{\times}10^6\;{\Omega}{\cdot}cm^2$ that satisfied BLIP(background limited infrared photodetector) condition. When the photodiode was tested under infrared light, the normalized detectivity of about $10^{11}\;cm{\cdot}Hz^{1/2}{\cdot}W^{-1}$ was obtained. we successfully fabricated a unit cell with InSb IR array with good quantum efficiency and high detectivity.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2016

Xenotransplantation involves multiple steps of immune rejection. The present study was designed to produce nuclear transfer embryos, prior to the production of transgenic pigs, using fibroblasts carrying transgenes human complement regulatory protein hCD59 and interleukin-18 binding protein (hIL-18BP) to reduce hyperacute rejection (HAR) and cellular rejection in pig-to-human xenotransplantation. In addition to the hCD59-mediated reduction of HAR, hIL-18BP may prevent cellular rejection by inhibiting the activation of natural killer cells, activated T-cell proliferation, and induction of $IFN-{\gamma}$. Transgene construct including hCD59 and ILI-18BP was introduced into miniature pig fetal fibroblasts. After antibiotic selection of double transgenic fibroblasts, integration of the transgene was screened by PCR, and the transgene expression was confirmed by RT-PCR. Treatment of human serum did not affect the survival of double-transgenic fibroblasts, whereas the treatment significantly reduced the survival of non-transgenic fibroblasts (p<0.01), suggesting alleviation of HAR. Among 337 reconstituted oocytes produced by nuclear transfer using the double transgenic fibroblasts, 28 (15.3%) developed to the blastocyst stage. Analysis of individual embryos indicated that 53.6% (15/28) of embryos contained the transgene. The result of the present study demonstrates the resistance of hCD59 and IL-18BP double-transgenic fibroblasts against HAR, and the usefulness of the transgenic approach may be predicted by RT-PCR and cytolytic assessment prior to actual production of transgenic pigs. Further study on the transfer of these embryos to surrogates may produce transgenic clone miniature pigs expressing hCD59 and hIL-18BP for xenotransplantation.

• Food Engineering Progress
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.14-20
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• 2010

The objective of the current study was to determine the cryoprotective effects of trehaolse on lactic acid bacteria in the frozen yoghurt during long-term frozen storage conditions. The frozen yoghurts were prepared using starter culture containing Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus, as well as trehalose and sorbitol as a cryoprotectant. The viable cell numbers of lactic acid bacteria in frozen yoghurt did not significantly decreased during six weeks frozen storage conditions. The MRS broth, which contains either trehalose or sorbitol, cultured with L. bulgaricus and/or S. thermophilus, and then the cultured medium was kept in the frozen condition for six weeks. The results indicated that lactic acid bacteria viability significantly increased with trehalose addition (2 and 5%) in the media compared to those of control and sorbitol supplement groups. The lactic acid bacteria viability in the yoghurts was examined on the effects of repeated freeze and thaw events. The freeze-thaw resistance of lactic acid bacteria significantly increased with trehalose supplement in the yoghurt. The major volatile aroma compounds (acetaldehyde, acetone, ethanol, diacetyl, and acetoin) in yoghurt were separated and indentified by headspace GC-FID analysis. Distinct flavor components and their ratios are known as important quality factors for yoghurt notes. Trehalose addition to the yoghurt was not influenced these factors during lactic acid fermentation. The results in this study demonstrated that trehalose potentially can be applicable as an effective cryoprotectant for lactic acid bacteria in the frozen yoghurt products.