• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.64 no.6
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• pp.1173-1183
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• 2022

Adipogenesis is a complex process comprising commitment and a differentiation stages. Through research, many different transcriptional factors were found to mediate preadipocyte commitment and differentiation. Lysine has a potential of regulating the commitment and differentiation of preadipocytes. In the present study, intramuscular stromal vascular cells (SVC) isolated from Hanwoo beef cattle were used to elucidate the effects of low lysine level on adipogenesis. SVC were isolated and incubated with various concentrations of lysine (0, 37.5, 75, 150 and 300 µg/mL). No significant difference were observed in the proliferation of SVC after 24 and 48 h of incubation with different concentration of lysine. On preadipocyte determination, reducing the level of lysine significantly increased the expression of preadipocyte commitment gene Zinc finger protein 423 and Preadipocyte factor-1. Upon differentiation, Oil Red O staining revealed that lipid accumulation and triglyceride content significantly increased with the decreasing lysine levels in the media. Expression levels of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ, CCAAT enhancer binding protein-α, sterol regulatory element binding protein-1c, Fatty Acid Binding Protein 4 and stearoyl CoA desaturase were upregulated by the decreased level of lysine. These data suggest the potential mechanism of action for the improved preadipocyte commitment and adipocyte differentiation in bovine intramuscular SVC upon treatment with low levels of lysine. These findings may be valuable in developing feed rations that promote deposition of intramuscular fat in beef cattle through lysine level modification.

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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• 2023.05a
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• pp.519-519
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• 2023

Estuarine dams are a recent and global phenomenon. While estuarine dams can provide the benefit of improved freshwater resources, they can also alter estuarine processes. Due to the wide range of estuarine types and estuarine dam configurations, the effect of estuarine dams on estuaries is not well understood in general. To develop a systematic understanding of the effect of estuarine dam location and freshwater discharge interval on a range of estuarine types (strongly stratified, partially mixed, periodically stratified, and well-mixed), this study used a coupled hydrodynamic-sediment dynamic numerical model (COAWST) and compared flow, sediment transport, and morphological conditions in the pre- and post-dam estuaries. For each estuarine type, scenarios with dam locations at 20, 55 and 90 km from the mouth and discharge intervals of a discharge every 0.5, 3, and 7 days were investigated. The results were analyzed in terms of change in tide, river discharge, estuarine classification, and sediment flux mechanism. The estuarine dam location primarily affected the tide-dominated estuaries, and the resonance length was an important length scale affecting the tidal currents and Stokes return flow. When the location was less than the resonance length, the tidal currents and Stokes return flow were most reduced due to the loss of tidal prism, the dead-end channel, and the shift from mixed to standing tides. The discharge interval primarily affected the river-dominated estuaries, and the tidal cycle period was an important time scale. When the interval was greater than the tidal cycle period, notable seaward discharge pulses and freshwater fronts occurred. Dams located near the mouth with large discharge interval differed the most from their pre-dam condition based on the estuarine classification. Greater discharge intervals, associated with large discharge magnitudes, resulted in scour and seaward sediment flux in the river-dominated estuaries, and the dam located near the resonance length resulted in the greatest landward tidal pumping sediment flux and deposition in the tide-dominated estuaries.

• Journal of Adhesion and Interface
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.60-63
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• 2023

The AlGaN/GaN heterostructure has high electron mobility due to the two-dimensional electron gas (2-DEG) layer, and has the characteristic of high breakdown voltage at high temperature due to its wide bandgap, making it a promising candidate for high-power and high-frequency electronic devices. Despite these advantages, there are factors that affect the reliability of various device properties such as current collapse. To address this issue, this paper used metal-organic chemical vapor deposition to continuously deposit AlGaN/GaN heterostructure and SiN passivation layer. Material and electrical properties of GaN HEMTs with/without SiN cap layer were analyzed, and based on the results, low-frequency noise characteristics of GaN HEMTs were measured to analyze the conduction mechanism model and the cause of defects within the channel.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2003.06a
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• pp.533-537
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• 2003

Compared to sintered polycrystalline diamond (PCD), the deposited thin film diamond has a great advantage on the fabrication of cutting tools with complex geometries such as drills. Because of high performance in high speed machining non-ferrous difficult-to-cut materials in the field of automobiles industry, aeronautics and astronautics industry, diamond-coated drills find large potentialities in commercial applications. However, the poor adhesion of the diamond film on the substrate and high surface roughness of the drill flute adversely affect the tool lift and machining quality and they become the main technical barriers for the successful development and commercialization of diamond-coated drills. In this paper, diamond thin films were deposited on the commercial WC-Co based drills by the electron aided hot filament chemical vapor deposition (EACVD). A new multiple coating technology based on changing gas pressure in different process stages was developed. The large triangular faceted diamond grains may have great contribution to the adhesive strength between the film and the substrate, and the overlapping ball like blocks consisted of nanometer sized diamond crystals may contribute much to the very low roughness of diamond film. Adhesive strength and quality of diamond film were evaluated by scanning electron microscope (SEM), atomic force microscope (AFM), Raman spectrum and drilling experiments. The ring-block tribological experiments were also conducted and the results revealed that the friction coefficient increased with the surface roughness of the diamond film. From a practical viewpoint, the cutting performances of diamond-coated drills were studied by drilling the SiC particles reinforced aluminum-matrix composite. The good adhesive strength and low surface roughness of flute were proved to be beneficial to the good chip evacuation and the decrease of thrust and consequently led to a prolonged tool lift and an improved machining quality. The wear mechanism of diamond-coated drills is the abrasive mechanical attrition.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.434-445
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• 2023

We investigated whether FTY-720 might have an effect on bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis through inhibiting TGF-β1 pathway, and up-regulating autophagy. The pulmonary fibrosis was induced by bleomycin. FTY-720 (1 mg/kg) drug was intraperitoneally injected into mice. Histological changes and inflammatory factors were observed, and EMT and autophagy protein markers were studied by immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence. The effects of bleomycin on MLE-12 cells were detected by MTT assay and flow cytometry, and the related molecular mechanisms were studied by Western Blot. FTY-720 considerably attenuated bleomycin-induced disorganization of alveolar tissue, extracellular collagen deposition, and α-SMA and E-cadherin levels in mice. The levels of IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6 cytokines were attenuated in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, as well as protein content and leukocyte count. COL1A1 and MMP9 protein expressions in lung tissue were significantly reduced. Additionally, FTY-720 treatment effectively inhibited the expressions of key proteins in TGF-β1/TAK1/P38MAPK pathway and regulated autophagy proteins. Similar results were additionally found in cellular assays with mouse alveolar epithelial cells. Our study provides proof for a new mechanism for FTY-720 to suppress pulmonary fibrosis. FTY-720 is also a target for treating pulmonary fibrosis.

• Advances in nano research
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.49-57
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• 2023

As composite materials are used in many applications, the modern world looks forward to significant progress. An overview of the application of composite fiber materials in sports equipment is provided in this article, focusing primarily on the advantages of these materials when applied to sports equipment, as well as an Analysis of the influence of sports equipment of fiber-reinforced composite material on social sports development. The present study investigated surface morphology and physical and mechanical properties of S-glass fiber epoxy composites containing Al₂O₃ nanofillers (for example, 1 wt%, 2 wt%, 3 wt%, 4 wt%). A mechanical stirrer and ultrasonication combined the Al₂O₃ nanofiller with the matrix in varying amounts. A compression molding method was used to produce sheet composites. A first physical observation is well done, which confirms that nanoparticles are deposited on the fiber, and adhesive bonds are formed. Al₂O₃ nanofiller crystalline structure was investigated by X-ray diffraction, and its surface morphology was examined by scanning electron microscope (SEM). In the experimental test, nanofiller content was added at a rate of 1, 2, and 3% by weight, which caused a gradual decrease in void fraction by 2.851, 2.533, and 1.724%, respectively, an increase from 2.7%. The atomic bonding mechanism shows molecular bonding between nanoparticles and fibers. At temperatures between 60 ℃ and 380 ℃, Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) analysis shows that NPs deposition improves the thermal properties of the fibers and causes negligible weight reduction (percentage). Thermal stability of the composites was therefore presented up to 380 ℃. The Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer (FTIR) spectrum confirms that nanoparticles have been deposited successfully on the fiber.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.345-356
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• 2023

This study aimed to assess the effects of exogenous hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) on abdominal aorta coarctation (AAC) induced myocardial fibrosis (MF) and autophagy in rats. Forty-four Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into control group, AAC group, AAC + H₂S group, and H₂S control group. After a model of rats with AAC was built surgically, AAC + H₂S group and H₂S group were injected intraperitoneally with H₂S (100 µmol/kg) daily. The rats in the control group and the AAC group were injected with the same amount of PBS. We observed that H₂S can improve left ventricular function and the deposition of myocardial collagen fibers, inhibit pyroptosis, down-regulate the expression of P-eif2α in myocardial tissue, and inhibit cell autophagy by activating the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT1 signaling pathway (p < 0.05). In addition, angiotensin II (1 µM) H9c2 cardiomyocytes were injured in vitro experiments, and it was also observed that pyroptosis was inhibited after H₂S (400 µmol/kg) intervention, the expression of P-eif2α in cardiomyocytes was significantly down-regulated, and the PI3K/AKT1 signaling pathway was activated at the same time. Therefore, increasing the expression of P-eif2α reverses the activation of the PI3K/AKT1 signaling pathway by H₂S. In conclusion, these findings suggest that exogenous H₂S can ameliorate MF in rats with AAC by inhibiting pyroptosis, and the mechanism may be associated with inhibiting the phosphorylation of eif2α and activating the PI3K/AKT1 signaling pathway to inhibit excessive cell autophagy.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Building Construction
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.559-570
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• 2023

The corrosion of structural steel used in the construction industry is increasing due to the industrialization where many aggressive ions released in the atmosphere. Therefore, in the present study Al coating was deposited by arc and plasma arc thermal spray process and compared their effectiveness in simulated weathering condition i.e. Society of Automotive Engineers(SAE) J2334 solution which mostly contain Cl^- and CO₃^2- ions. Different analytical techniques have been used to characterize the coating and draw the corrosion mechanism. The Al coating deposited by plasma arc thermal spray process exhibited uniform, dense and layer by layer deposition resulting higher bond adhesion values. The open circuit potential(OCP) of Al coating deposited this process is exhibited more electropositive values than arc thermal spray process in SAE J2334 solution with immersion periods. The total impedance of plasma arc thermal spray process exhibited higher than arc thermal spray process. The corrosion rate of the plasma arc thermal sprayed Al coating is reduced by 20% compared to arc thermal spray process after 23 days of immersion in SAE J2334 solution.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.94-102
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• 2024

The exact mechanism of sialolith formation has yet to be determined. Recurrence of sialolithiasis is rare, affecting only 1%-10% of patients. The current study presents a case of recurrent stones that occurred twice on the right submandibular gland 6 months postoperative and 7 months after reoperation in a 48-year-old female patient. The stones were analyzed using histology, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The first stone showed a three-layered structure with a poorly mineralized peripheral multilayered zone, highly mineralized middle layer, and the central nidus. The stones were composed of Ca, C, O, Cu, F, N, P, Si, Zn, and Zr. In TEM, compact bi-layered bacterial cell membrane was found on the peripheral layer and the central nidus of the stone as well as exosomes in the central nidus. The results demonstrated the essential components of sialolith formation, including bacteria, inflammatory exosomes, and exfoliated salivary epithelial cells that cooperatively underwent the pathogenetic progresses of central nidus formation, induction of compact zone calcification of the middle layer, and repeated subsequent deposition in the peripheral multilayer zone. The rapid recurrence could have resulted from residual pieces of a sialolith acting as the nidus of bacterial infection.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.39-48
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• 2024

Wogonin, extracted from the roots of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, has been shown to suppress collagen deposition in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). This study was performed to investigate the role and mechanism of wogonin underlying vascular remodeling in SHRs. After injection of SHRs with 40 mg/kg of wogonin, blood pressure in rats was measured once a week. Masson's trichrome staining was conducted to observe the changes in aortas and mesenteric arteries. Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) isolated from rat thoracic aortas were treated with Angiotensin II (Ang II; 100 nM) in the presence or absence of varying concentrations of wogonin. The viability and proliferation of VSMCs were examined using Cell Counting Kit-8 assay and 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine assay, respectively. The migration of VSMCs was examined using wound healing assay and transwell assay. We found that wogonin administration alleviated hypertension, increased lumen diameter, and reduced the thickness of the arterial media in SHRs. Ang II treatment enhanced the viability of VSMCs, which was inhibited by wogonin in a concentration-dependent manner. Wogonin reversed Ang II-induced increases in the viability, proliferation, and migration of VSMCs. Moreover, wogonin inhibited Ang II-induced activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling in VSMCs. Overall, wogonin repressed the proliferative and migratory capacity of VSMCs by regulating the MAPK signaling pathway, thereby attenuating vascular remodeling in hypertensive rats, indicating that wogonin might be a therapeutic agent for the treatment of vascular diseases.