• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.30 no.11
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• pp.595-600
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• 2020

The photovoltaic properties of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) with a carbon electrode fabricated using different annealing processes are investigated. Perovskite formation (50 ℃, 60 min) using a hot-plate and an oven is carried out on cells with a glass/fluorine doped TiO₂/TiO₂/ZrO₂/carbon structure, and the photovoltaic properties of the PSCs are analyzed using a solar simulator. The microstructures of the PSCs are characterized using an optical microscope, a field emission scanning electron microscope, and an electron probe micro-analyzer (EPMA). Photovoltaic analysis shows that the energy conversion efficiency of the samples fabricated using the hot-plate and the oven processes are 2.08% and 6.90%, respectively. Based on the microstructure of the samples and the results of the EPMA, perovskite is formed locally on the carbon electrode surface as the γ-butyrolactone (GBL) solvent evaporates and moves to the top of the carbon electrode due to heat from the bottom of the sample during the hot plate process. When the oven process is used, perovskite forms evenly inside the carbon electrode, as the GBL solvent evaporates extremely slowly because heat is supplied from all directions. The importance of the even formation of perovskite inside the carbon electrode is emphasized, and the feasibility of oven annealing is confirmed for PSCs with carbon electrodes.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.73-80
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• 1987

The present study was designed to help elucidate the effect of glass ionomer cements on the exposed dental pulp by means of histologic examination. A total of 40 cavities of class V were prepared on the teeth of 4 dogs with exposure of 1mm in diameter on the bases of them. 20 cavities were filled with glass ionomer cement as the experimental group and the other 20 cavities were filled with zinc oxide eugenol cement as the control group. The dogs were sacrificed at one, two, three, and four weeks after filling, and the specimens were routinely prepared and stained with Hematoxylin-Eosin. The obtained microscopic findings were as follows: Inflammatory cell infiltrations were observed in control in 1 week, which decreased markedly with time. In all control groups, hemorrhage around exposed pulp tissue and coagulation change of pulp were observed. Secondary dentin formation and thickened predentin were observed in 4 week cases, and the recovery of pulp tissue was favorable on the whole. Inflammatory cell infiltration was observed in all GIC groups. Proliferation of blood vessel and congestion were observed with coagulation changes around the exposed pulp tissue. Secondary dentin formation and thickened predentin were observed in 3 weeks. In the experimental 4 week case, secondary dentin formation was evident. On the whole, pulpal irritation of glass ionomer cement was relatively severe. Recovery of pulp tissue in GIC groups was less favorable compared with that of ZOE groups.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.229-235
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• 2018

Polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1) has been known to be a critical element in cell division including centrosome maturation, cytokinesis and spindle formation in somatic, cancer, and mammalian embryonic cells. In particular, Plk1 is highly expressed in cancer cells. Plk1 inhibitors, such as BI2536, have been widely used to prevent cell division as an anticancer drug. In this study, the fertilized murine oocytes were treated with BI2536 for 30 min after recovery from the oviduct to investigate the effect of down-regulation of Plk1 in the in vivo-fertilized murine embryos. Then, the localization and expression of Plk1 was observed by immunofluorescence staining. The sperm which had entered into the oocyte cytoplasm did not form male pronuclei in BI2536-treated oocytes. The BI2536-treated oocytes showed significantly lower expression of Plk1 than non-treated control group. In addition, alpha-tubulin and Plk1 gathered around sperm head in non-treated oocytes, while BI2536-treated oocytes did not show this phenomenon. The present study demonstrates that the Plk1 inhibitor, BI2536, hinders fertilization by inhibiting the formation of murine male pronucleus.

• BMB Reports
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• v.55 no.7
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• pp.336-341
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• 2022

Narrowing of arteries supplying blood to the limbs provokes critical hindlimb ischemia (CLI). Although CLI results in irreversible sequelae, such as amputation, few therapeutic options induce the formation of new functional blood vessels. Based on the proangiogenic potentials of stem cells, in this study, it was examined whether a combination of dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) could result in enhanced therapeutic effects of stem cells for CLI compared with those of DPSCs or HUVECs alone. The DPSCs+ HUVECs combination therapy resulted in significantly higher blood flow and lower ischemia damage than DPSCs or HUVECs alone. The improved therapeutic effects in the DPSCs+ HUVECs group were accompanied by a significantly higher number of microvessels in the ischemic tissue than in the other groups. In vitro proliferation and tube formation assay showed that VEGF in the conditioned media of DPSCs induced proliferation and vessel-like tube formation of HUVECs. Altogether, our results demonstrated that the combination of DPSCs and HUVECs had significantly better therapeutic effects on CLI via VEGF-mediated crosstalk. This combinational strategy could be used to develop novel clinical protocols for CLI proangiogenic regenerative treatments.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.137-147
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• 2023

Pharyngeal pouches are an important epithelial structure controlling facial skeletal development in vertebrates. A series of pouches arise sequentially in the pharyngeal endoderm through collective cell migration followed by rearrangement of pouch-forming cells. While crucial transcription factors and signaling molecules have been identified in pouch formation, a role for Neuropilins (Nrps) in pouch development has not yet been analyzed in any vertebrates. Nrps are cell surface receptors essential for angiogenesis and axon guidance. In all vertebrates, the two Nrp family members, Nrp1 and Nrp2, are conserved in the genome, with two paralogs for Nrp1 (Nrp1a and Nrp1b) and Nrp2 (Nrp2a and Nrp2b) being identified in zebrafish. Here, I report a potential requirement of Nrp signaling in pouch development in zebrafish. nrp1a and nrp2b were expressed in the developing pouches, with sema3d, a ligand for Nrps, being expressed in the pouches. Knocking down Nrps signaling in the pharyngeal endoderm led to severe defects in pouches and facial cartilages. In addition, blocking Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activities, a downstream effector of Nrp signaling, in the pharyngeal endoderm caused similar defects in pouches and facial skeleton to those by knocking down Nrps signaling. My results suggest that Nrp signaling acts for pouch formation through MAPK.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.9
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• pp.4363-4368
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• 2012

The epidermal differentiation complex (EDC) contains a large number of gene products which are crucial for the maturation of the human epidermis and can contribute to skin diseases, even carcinogenesis. It is generally accepted that activation of oncogenes and/or inactivation of tumor suppressor genes play pivotal roles in the process of carcinogenesis. Here, NICE-3, a novel EDC gene, was found to be up-regulated in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by quantitative real-time RT-PCR. Furthermore, overexpression of exogenous NICE-3 by recombinant plasmids could significantly promote cell proliferation, colony formation and soft agar colony formation in Focus and WRL-68 HCC cell lines. Reversely, NICE-3 silencing by RNA interference could markedly inhibit these malignant phenotypes in YY-8103 and MHCC-97H cells. Moreover, cell cycle analysis of MHCC-97H transfected with siRNA by flow cytometry showed that NICE-3 knockdown may inhibit cell growth via arrest in G0/G1 phase and hindering entry of cells into S phase. All data of our findings indicate that NICE-3 may contribute to human hepatocellular carcinoma by promoting cell proliferation.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.212-217
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• 1993

Since discovery of X-rays, radiotherapy has evolved into one of the most scientific branches of medicine and has established its role as the primary line or the secondary line of attack, after surgery, in the treatment of malignant cancers. Nowadays its importance is illustrated by the fact that as many as 70 per cent of all pastients with cancer will receive radiation therapy at sometime during their disease process. Biologic effects of X-rays began to be apparant soon after the discovery by Roentgen in 1895. In clinical radiotherapy, the biologic endpoint of most importance is loss of cellular reproductive ability or clonogenicity. One of the commonest ways to assess cell survival is to use an in vitro plating assay. We analyzed radiation effect on colony formation of HaLa.S3(SC) cell line and obtained results are as follows: The plating efficiency is 0.464. The shape of cell survival curve is similar to multi-target plus single hit component model. Estimated values of Do, Dq, and extrapolation number are 150 cGy, 80 cGy and 1.7 respectively. We reported these experimental data with review of literature.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.565-573
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• 1992

We isolated Actinomycetes strain No. 1882-5, which produces the inhibitor on the bleb formation of K562 cell induced by phorbol ester, from soil sample. Through solvent extraction, Amberlite XAD-4, silica and Lobar low pressure LC, antifungal antibiotic MT 1882-1 and bleb forming inhibitor MT 1882-II were purified from strain No. 1882-5. MT 1882-1 was identified as piericidin $A_{1}$($C_{25}H_{37}0_4N$, M.W. 415) and MT 1882-11 as glucopiericidin A($C_{31}H_{47}0_9N$, M.W. 577) from the analysis of physico-chemical properties and UV, $^1H-NMR$, $^13C-NMR$, and mass spectra of these compounds.

• Proceedings of the Materials Research Society of Korea Conference
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• 2011.05a
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• pp.53.1-53.1
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• 2011

Bioactive glass powders were synthesized by hydrothermal chemical route by the use of ultrasonic energy irradiation. We used sodalime, calcium nitrate tetra hydrate and di ammonium hydrogen phosphate as the precursor material to synthesize $SiO_2$ rich bio-active glass materials. The $SiO_2$ content was varied in the precursor mixture to 60, 52 and 45 mole%. Dense compacts were obtained by microwave sintering at $1,100^{\circ}C$. Mechanical properties were characterized for the fabricated dense bioactive glasses and were found to be comparable with conventional CaO-$SiO_2$-$Na_2O$-$P_2O_5$ bioactive glass. Detailed biocompatibility evaluation of the glass composition was investigated by in-vitro culture of MG-63 cell and mesenchyme stem cell. Cell adhesion behavior was investigated for both of the cell by one cell morphology for 30, 60 and 90 minutes. Cell proliferation behavior was investigated by culturing both of the cells for 1, 3 and 7 days and was found to be excellent. Both SEM and confocal laser scanning microscopy were used for the investigation. Western blot analysis was performed to evaluate the bimolecular level interaction and extent and rate of specific protein expression. The ability to form biological apatite in physiological condition was observed with simulated body fluid (SBF). In-vivo bone formation behavior was investigated after implanting the materials inside rabbit femur for 1 and 3 month. The bone formation behavior was excellent in all the bioglass compositions, specially the composition with 60% $SiO_2$ content showed most promising trend.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.387-392
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• 2013

Objective: The aim of the present study was to explore mechanisms by which let-7c suppresses NSCLC cell proliferation. Methods: The expression level of let-7c was quantified by qRT-PCR. A549 and H1299 cells were transfected with let-7c mimics to restore the expression of let-7c. The effects of let-7c were then assessed by cell proliferation, colony formation and cell cycle assay. Mouse experiments were used to confirm the effect of let-7c on tumorigenicity in vivo. Luciferase reporter assays and Western blotting were performed to identify target genes for let-7c. Results: HOXA1 was identified as a novel target of let-7c. MTS, colony formation and flow cytometry assays demonstrated that forced expression of let-7c inhibited NSCLC cell proliferation by inducing G1 arrest in vitro, consistent with inhibitory effects induced by knockdown of HOXA1. Mouse experiments demonstrated that let-7c expression suppressed tumorigenesis. Furthermore, we found that let-7c could regulate the expression of HOXA1 downstream effectors CCND1, CDC25A and CDK2. Conclusions: Collectively, these results demonstrate let-7c inhibits NSCLC cell proliferation and tumorigenesis by partial direct targeting of the HOXA1 pathway, which suggests that restoration of let-7c expression may thus offer a potential therapeutic intervention strategy for NSCLC.