• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• 제2권4호
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• pp.171-177
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• 2003

The electronic properties of the passive film formed on Fe-20Cr ferritic stainless steel in pH 8.5 buffer solution containing 0.05 M EDTA (ethylene diammine tetraacetic acid) were examined by the photocurrent measurements and Mott-Schottky analysis for the film. XPS depth profile for the film demonstrated that Cr content in the outermost layer of the passive film was higher in the solution with EDTA than that in the solution without EDTA, due to selective dissolution of Fe by EDTA. In the solution with EDTA, the passive film showed characteristics of an amorphous or highly disordered n-type semiconductor. The band gap energies of the passive film are estimated to be ~ 3.0 eV, irrespective of film formation potential from 0 to 700 $mV_SCE$ and of presence of EDTA. However, the donor density of the passive film formed in the solution with EDTA is much higher than that formed in the solution without EDTA, due to an increase in oxygen vacancy resulted from the dissolution of Fe-oxide in the outermost layer of the passive film. These results support the proposed model that the passive film formed on Fe-20Cr in pH 8.5 buffer solution mainly consists of Cr-substituted $\gamma$-$Fe_2O_3$.

• 대한의생명과학회지
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• 제15권1호
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• pp.61-66
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• 2009

Leflunomide is an immunomodulatory agent used for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Leflunomide known as a regulator of iNOS synthesis which largely decreases NO production in diverse cell type. However, the effect of leflunomide on chondrocyte is still poorly understood. In our previous studies, we have shown that direct production of Nitric oxide (NO) by treating chondrocytes with NO donor, sodium nitroprusside (SNP), causes apoptosis via p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase in association with elevation of p53 protein level, caspase-3 activation. In this study, we characterized the molecular mechanism by which A77 1726 inhibit apoptosis. We found that A77 1726 inhibit NO-induced apoptosis as determined by MTT (Thiazolyl Blue Tetrazolium Bromide) assay and DNA fragmentation. The inhibition of apoptosis by A77 1726 was accompanied by increased PI-3 kinase and AKT activities. So, inhibition of phosphatidylinositol (PI)-3kinase with LY294002 rescued apoptosis. Triciribine, the specific inhibitor of AKT, also abolished anti-apoptotic effect. Our results indicate that A77 1726, the active metabolite of leflunomide, mediates NO-induced apoptosis in chondrocytes by modulating up-regulation of PI-3 kinase and AKT.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제32권1호
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• pp.154-161
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• 2024

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal motor neuron disorder that causes progressive paralysis. L-Citrulline is a nonessential neutral amino acid produced by L-arginine via nitric oxide synthase (NOS). According to previous studies, the pathogenesis of ALS entails glutamate toxicity, oxidative stress, protein misfolding, and neurofilament disruption. In addition, L-citrulline prevents neuronal cell death in brain ischemia; therefore, we investigated the change in the transport of L-citrulline under various pathological conditions in a cell line model of ALS. We examined the uptake of [¹⁴C]L-citrulline in wild-type (hSOD1wt/WT) and mutant NSC-34/ SOD1^G93A (MT) cell lines. The cell viability was determined via MTT assay. A transport study was performed to determine the uptake of [¹⁴C]L-citrulline. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis was performed to determine the expression levels of rat large neutral amino acid transported 1 (rLAT1) in ALS cell lines. Nitric oxide (NO) assay was performed using Griess reagent. L-Citrulline had a restorative effect on glutamate induced cell death, and increased [¹⁴C]L-citrulline uptake and mRNA levels of the large neutral amino acid transporter (LAT1) in the glutamate-treated ALS disease model (MT). NO levels increased significantly when MT cells were pretreated with glutamate for 24 h and restored by co-treatment with L-citrulline. Co-treatment of MT cells with L-arginine, an NO donor, increased NO levels. NSC-34 cells exposed to high glucose conditions showed a significant increase in [¹⁴C]L-citrulline uptake and LAT1 mRNA expression levels, which were restored to normal levels upon co-treatment with unlabeled L-citrulline. In contrast, exposure of the MT cell line to tumor necrosis factor alpha, lipopolysaccharides, and hypertonic condition decreased the uptake significantly which was restored to the normal level by co-treating with unlabeled L-citrulline. L-Citrulline can restore NO levels and cellular uptake in ALS-affected cells with glutamate cytotoxicity, pro-inflammatory cytokines, or other pathological states, suggesting that L-citrulline supplementation in ALS may play a key role in providing neuroprotection.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국신재생에너지학회 2010년도 추계학술대회 초록집
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• pp.80.1-80.1
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• 2010

A strontium titanate ($SrTiO_3$)-based material with a perovskite structure is considered to be one of the promising alternatives to $LaCrO_3$-based materials since $SrTiO_3$ perovskite shows a high chemical stability under both oxidizing and reducing atmospheres at high temperatures. $SrTiO_3$ materials exhibit an n-type semiconducting behavior when it is donor-doped and/or exposed to a reducing atmosphere. In this work, $Sr_{1-x}La_xTi_{1-y}M_yO_3$ materials doped with $La^{3+}$ in A-sites and aliovalent transition metal ions ($M^{n+}$) in B-sites were synthesized by the modified Pechini method. The X-ray diffraction analysis indicated that the materials synthesized by the Pechini process exhibited a single curbic perovskite-type structure without any impurity phases, and are tolerant, to some extent, to cation doping. The sintering behaviors of $Sr_{1-x}La_xTi_{1-y}M_yO_3$ in $H_2/N_2$ and air were characterized by dilatometry and microstructural observations. The electrical conduction mechanism and the dopant effect are discussed based on the defect structures and the electrical conductivities measured at various oxygen partial pressures and temperatures.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제20권5호
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• pp.917-924
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• 2010

The practicability of transgenic tobacco engineered to express bacterial native mercuric reductase (MerA), responsible for the transport of $Hg^{2+}$ ions into the cell and their reduction to elemental mercury ($Hg^0$), without any codon modification, for phytoremediation of mercury pollution was evaluated. Transgenic tobacco plants reduce mercury ions to the metallic form; take up metallic mercury through their roots; and evolve the less toxic elemental mercury. Transformed tobacco produced a large amount of merA protein in leaves and showed a relatively higher resistance phenotype to $HgCl_2$ than wild type. Results suggest that the integrated merA gene, encoding mercuric reductase, a key enzyme of the bacterial mer operon, was stably integrated into the tobacco genome and translated to active MerA, which catalyzes the bioconversion of toxic $Hg^{2+}$ to the least toxic elemental $Hg^0$, and suggest that MerA is capable of reducing the $Hg^{2+}$, probably via NADPH as an electron donor. The transgenic tobacco expressing merA volatilized significantly more mercury than wild-type plants. This is first time we are reporting the expression of a bacterial native merA gene via the nuclear genome of Nicotiana tabacum, and enhanced mercury volatilization from tobacco transgenics. The study clearly indicates that transgenic tobacco plants are reasonable candidates for the remediation of mercurycontaminated areas.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• 제21권5호
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• pp.503-507
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• 1998

Percutaneous absorption and model membrane variations of melationin (MT) in aqueous-based propylene glycol and $2-hydroxypropyl-{\beta}-cyclodextrin $vehicles were investigatted. the excised hairless mouse skin (HMS) and two synthetic ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) and microporous polyethylene (MPE) were selected as a model membrane. the solubility of MT was determined by phase equilibrium study. the vertical $Franz{\circledR}$ type cell was used for diffusion study. The concentration of MT was determined using reverse phse HPLC system. The MT solubility was the highest in a mixture of PG and $2-HP{\beta}CD$. The percutaneous absorption of MT through excised HMS increased as the solubility increased. However, the permeability coefficient decreased and then slightly increased in mixture of PG and $2-HP{\beta}CD$. On the other hand, both flux and permeability coefficient through EVA membrane decreased as the solubility increased. No MT was detected over 12 h after starting diffusion through MPE membrane. The flux of MT was dependent on the type of membrane selected. Flux of MT was greatest in excised HMS followed by EBA and MPE membrane. Flux of MT through EVA membrane was 5-20 times lower when compared to excised HMS. Interestingly, volumes of donor phase when MPE membrane was used, significantly increased during the study period. the HMS might be applicable to expect plasma concentration of MT in human subjects based on flux and pharmacokinetic parameters as studied previously. the current studies may be applied to deliver MT transdermally using aqueous-based vehicles and to fabricate MT dosage forms.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제4권1호
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• pp.33-40
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• 2000

This study was designed to clarify the mechanism of the inhibitory action of a nitric oxide (NO) donor, 3-morpholino-sydnonimine (SIN-1), on contraction, cytosolic $Ca^{2+}$ level $([Ca^{2+}]_i)$ and ionic currents in guinea-pig ileum. SIN-1 $(0.01{\sim}100\;{\mu}M)$ inhibited 25 mM KCl- or histamine $(10\;{\mu}M)-induced$ contraction in a concentration-dependent manner. SIN-1 reduced both the 25 mM KCl- and the histamine-stimulated increases in muscle tension in parallel with decreased $[Ca^{2+}]_i.$ Using the patch clamp technique with a holding potential of -60 mV, SIN-1 $(10\;{\mu}M)$ decreased peak Ba currents $(I_{Ba})$ by $30.9{\pm}5.4%$ (n=6) when voltage was stepped from -60 mV to +10 mV and this effect was blocked by ODQ $(1\;{\mu}M),$ a soluble guanylyl cyclase inhibitor. Cu/Zn SOD (100 U/ml), the free radical scavenger, had little effect on basal $I_{Ba},$ and SIN-1 $(10\;{\mu}M)$ inhibited peak $I_{Ba}$ by $32.4{\pm}5.8%$ (n=5) in the presence of Cu/Zn SOD. In a cell clamped at a holding-potential of -40 mV, application of $10\;{\mu}M$ histamine induced an inward current. The histamine-induced inward current was markedly and reversibly inhibited by $10\;{\mu}M$ SIN-1, and this effect was abolished by ODQ $(1\;{\mu}M).$ In addition, SIN-1 markedly increased the depolarization-activated outward $K^+$ currents in the all potential ranges. We concluded that SIN-1 inhibits smooth muscle contraction mainly by decreasing $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ resulted from the inhibition of L-type $Ca^{2+}$ channels and the inhibition of nonselective cation currents and/or by the activation of $K^+$ currents via a cGMP-dependent pathway.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• 제27권1호
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• pp.16-23
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• 2005

It is commonly acknowledged that bone morphogenic protein (BMP-2) functions as a potential osteogenic inducer in bone formation. Recently, several papers reported that bone marrow-derived stem cell (BMSC) from human is not responsive to BMP-2 in comparison to high capacity of BMP-2 in the osteoinduction of stromal cell derived from bone marrow of rodent animals such as rat or mouse. In this study, we characterized BMSC derived from 11 years old donor for the responsiveness to rhBMP-2, dexamethasone (Dex) and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (vitamin D), in order to analyze their function in the early osteogenesis. The effect of over mentioned agents was evaluated by means of assessing alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity/staining, RT-PCR analysis and von Kossa staining. In addition, we analyzed the meaning of expressed several osteoblastic markers such as alkaline phosphatase, collagen typeI, osteopontin, bone sialoprotein and osteocalcin with relation to either differentiation or mineralization. Only in the presence of Dex, human BMSC could commit osteoblastic differentiation and matrix mineralization, and either BMP-2 or vitamin D treatment was not able to induce. But BMP-2 or Vitamin D showed potential synergy effect with Dex. ALP and bone sialoprotein were clearly expressed in response of Dex treatment compared to weak expression of osteopontin in early osteogenesis. Therefore, we expect that this study will contribute partly to elucidiating early osteogenesis mechanism in human, but variations among bone marrow donors must be considered through further study.

• 한국균학회지
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• 제24권2호통권77호
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• pp.111-126
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• 1996

표고 Lentinus edodes의 균사체로부터 핵을 분리하여 사철느타리 Pleurotus florida 원형질체에 폴리에틸렌 글라이콜로 전이하여 속간(屬間) 핵전이체(核轉移體)를 16균주 얻었다. 주된 핵전이주는 합핵체(合核體) synkaryon 또는 이질핵체로 꺽쇠연결체 clamp connections가 없었다. 그러나 톱밥배지를 이용하여 일정한 저온상태에서 광을 조사하여 꺽쇠연결체를 가진 균사가 다시 생장하여 사철느타리와 유사한 자실체를 형성하였으나 갓색택은 다소 달랐다. 꺽쇠연결체 형성에 영향을 주는 주요한 요인으로는 광, 온도, 배지의 영양, 배지의 생리적 상태로 나타났다. 핵치환체(核置換體) reconstituted cell는 꺽쇠연결체를 가진 표고와 유사한 균총형태로 자실체도 표고와 거의 유사하였다. 핵융합체(核融合體) nuclear hybrid는 이질배수체(異質倍數體) heteroploid로 균총생장이 빠르고 benormyl 첨가배지에서 균총분리가 나타나며 꺽쇠연결체와 자실체를 형성하지 않았다. 동위효소 esterase, leucine aminopeptidase 분석결과 핵융합체는 전혀 새로운 벤드양상이었으나 합핵체는 사철느타리의 주된 밴드를 형성하면서 양친에 없는 다소의 새로운 밴드를 형성하여 구분되었다. PCR에 의한 RAPD 벤드의 크기는 0.25-4.0 Kb였으며 유전유사도 분석으로 5군으로 구분할 수 있었는데 표고와 핵치환체, 핵합체 p669, 사철느타리와 12 핵합체, 핵융합체 p674, 핵융합체 p678이었다. 합핵체의 담자포자로 2 핵전이체를 유전분석한 결과 원영양형(原營養型) prototroph과 영양요구형(營養要求型) riboflavine으로 분리되었는데 그 비는 1 : 1, 1 : 2였다.

• 폴리머
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• 제37권6호
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• pp.694-701
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• 2013

프탈이미드 유도체와 티오펜 단량체들을 이용하여 새로운 고분자인 poly((5,5-(2-butyl-5,6-bisdecyloxy-4,7-dithiophen-2-yl-isoindole-1,3-dione))-alt-(2,5-thiophene))(T-TI24T)를 Stille법을 이용하여 합성하였다. T-TI24T의 수평균 분자량은 86500 g/mol로 매우 높으며 클로로포름, 1,2-디클로로벤젠, 톨루엔과 같은 용매에 매우 잘 용해된다. 또한 $380^{\circ}C$까지 매우 우수한 열적 안정성을 갖고 있다. T-TI24T는 꽤 낮은 호모에너지 준위(-5.33 eV)를 갖고 있다. 서로 다른 T-TI24T와 (6)-1-(3-(methoxycarbonyl)-{5}-1-phenyl[5,6]-fullerene(PCBM)의 무게비를 갖는 블렌드를 광활성층으로 하는 태양전지를 제작하여 특성을 살펴본 결과 고분자와 PCBM의 비율이 1:3일 때 가장 최적화된 결과를 보였으며, 이 때 광전변환 효율과 개방전압은 각각 0.199%와 0.99였다. T-TI24T 기반 태양전지들은 비록 매우 작은 광전변환 효율을 갖지만 잘 알려진 P3HT:PC61BM으로 구성된 태양전지와 비교해 큰 매우 큰 개방전압을 갖는다(약 0.5 V).