• Kidney Research and Clinical Practice
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.145-157
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• 2017

Background: Vitamin D is considered to exert a protective effect on various renal diseases but its underlying molecular mechanism remains poorly understood. This study aimed to determine whether paricalcitol attenuates inflammation and apoptosis during lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced renal proximal tubular cell injury through the prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$) receptor EP4. Methods: Human renal tubular epithelial (HK-2) cells were pretreated with paricalcitol (2 ng/mL) for 1 hour and exposed to LPS ($1{\mu}g/mL$). The effects of paricalcitol pretreatment in relation to an EP4 blockade using AH-23848 or EP4 small interfering RNA (siRNA) were investigated. Results: The expression of cyclooxygenase-2, $PGE_2$, and EP4 were significantly increased in LPS-exposed HK-2 cells treated with paricalcitol compared with cells exposed to LPS only. Paricalcitol prevented cell death induced by LPS exposure, and the cotreatment of AH-23848 or EP4 siRNA offset these cell-protective effects. The phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of p65 nuclear factor-kappaB ($NF-{\kappa}B$) were decreased and the phosphorylation of Akt was increased in LPS-exposed cells with paricalcitol treatment. AH-23848 or EP4 siRNA inhibited the suppressive effects of paricalcitol on p65 $NF-{\kappa}B$ nuclear translocation and the activation of Akt. The production of proinflammatory cytokines and the number of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling-positive cells were attenuated by paricalcitol in LPS exposed HK-2 cells. The cotreatment with an EP4 antagonist abolished these anti-inflammatory and antiapoptotic effects. Conclusion: EP4 plays a pivotal role in anti-inflammatory and antiapoptotic effects through Akt and $NF-{\kappa}B$ signaling after paricalcitol pretreatment in LPS-induced renal proximal tubule cell injury.

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.386-390
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• 2001

Monolayers such as self-assembled monolayer (SAM) have received considerable attention to reduce stiction and friction in micro-devices and microelectromechanical systems (MEMS). Various organic molecular films were investigated to obtain better understanding of their tribological behaviors and adhesion property. The organic molecular films studied in this work are: epoxysilane SAMs, octadecyltricholosilane (OST), multi-layers composed of epoxysilane SAMs, poly[styrene-b-(ethylene-co-butylene)-b-styrene](SEBS) and compound of epoxy resin and poly (paraphenylene)(EP/PPP). The pull-off forces of these films were also obtained from force-distance curves measured in static mode of operation of atomic force microscope(AFM). Tribological tests were conducted with a ball-on-flat reciprocating friction tester. The OST showed the lowest pull-off force, indicating its low adhesion property. It was revealed that, the OST, EP/PPP and the multi-layer of epoxysilane SAMs, SEBS and EP/PPP exhibited good tribological properties at the lower load (0.3 N) whereas the OST showed best performance at the higher load (1.8 N).

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.1225-1231
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• 2013

A novel class of hyperbranched polyesters, HPpEP and HPmEP, were prepared via a facile one-pot polymerization of a phloroglucinol (as a $B_3$ monomer) with a phthaloyl dichloride (as an $A_2$ monomer) for replacing a problematic BPA developer in thermal printing system. The resulting polymers, HPpEP and HPmEP, had highly branched structures and met well the requirements for high performance developer materials such as colorlessness, easy and inexpensive synthesis, high thermal stability, etc. In addition, these polymers exhibited an efficient reaction with leuco dyes (ODB-2) for a coloring process by releasing protons from linear and terminal phenol groups of polymers when heated.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.490-492
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• 2004

We report a new method using a heating medium for the thermal decomposition of epoxy resin (EP) at temperatures ranging from 50 to 200$^{\circ}C$. EP decomposition also occurred below 50$^{\circ}C$ during a 6-day period to generate bisphenol A (BPA) at concentrations as high as 5 ppm. When polyethylene glycol was used as a heating medium, we determined the kinetics of the EP decomposition at low temperature. We determined the apparent activation energy of the overall decomposition to be 40.8 kJ/mol and the frequency factor to be 2.3${\times}$10$^3$ by monitoring the rate of BPA formation. Thus, EP is clearly unstable upon the application of heat.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.54 no.3
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• pp.182-187
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• 2019

To improve the mechanical properties of glass-fiber-reinforced polypropylene (PP) composites through interfacial adhesion control between the PP matrix and glass fiber, the surface of the glass fiber was modified with PP-graft-maleic anhydride (MAPP). Surface modification of the glass fiber was carried out through the well-known hydrolysis-condensation reaction using 3-aminopropyltriethoxy silane, and then subsequently treated with MAPP to produce the desired MAPP-anchored glass fiber (MAPP-a-GF). The glass-fiber-reinforced PP composites were prepared by typical melt-mixing technique. The effect of chemical modification of the glass fiber surface on the mechanical properties of composites was investigated. The resulting mechanical and morphological properties showed improved interfacial adhesion between the MAPP-a-GF and PP matrix in the composites.

• Proceedings of the Korea Information Processing Society Conference
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• 2011.04a
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• pp.1274-1277
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• 2011

단백질 1차 서열로부터 DISORDER와 ORDER지역을 예측하기 위해서 이 논문에서는 EP-tree에 기반한 출현패턴 발견 알고리즘을 제안하였다. EP-tree 알고리즘을 적용함으로서 기존의 단백질 특징 추출을 통한 방법과 달리 서열 자체에서 발견되는 출현패턴만을 이용하여 분류 모델을 생성하므로 기존의 신경망이나 SVM 보다 분류모델 생성 및 예측 속도가 빠르다. 또한 Disprot 4.9과 CASP7 테스트 데이터로 DISORDER/ORDER 지역을 예측한 결과, 73.4%의 높은 정확성을 보였다.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.801-809
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• 2014

This study was conducted to compare an experimental extruded pellet (EP) and raw fish-based moist pellet (MP) on growth performance, whole-body and dorsal muscle composition, and textural properties of dorsal muscle for olive flounder Paralichthys olivaceus. Four groups of 8,000 fish (initial mean weight $27.1{\pm}0.05g$) per concrete tank ($10{\times}10m$) were fed the experimental diets for 16 months. After the feeding trial, no significant differences were observed in final mean body weight, weight gain, specific growth rate, feed intake, survival, and condition factor between EP and MP groups. However, feed efficiency of fish fed the EP was significantly higher than that of fish fed the MP. Moisture content in the whole-body of fish fed the MP was significantly higher than that of fish fed the EP. Significantly higher contents of polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) in whole-body and dorsal muscle were observed in fish fed the EP compared with fish fed the MP. Any notable differences in amino acid contents or textural properties of the dorsal muscle were not observed in fish fed either the EP or the MP. The results of this study indicated that the EP could be developed to replace MP for the market size of production in olive flounder without the adverse effects on growth performance. Formulation of the EP could be used as a practical feed for olive flounder.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.1-5
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• 2001

A total of 92 unfertilized human oocytes were treated with ethanol (EtOH), calcium ionophore A23187 (CI) or electric pulse (EP) for activating pronuclear formation and subsequent development. In Experiment 1, there was a significant (P=0.0001) treatment effect on the activation of unfertilized oocytes. No spontaneous activation was occurred in the control, but activation treatments induced PN formation with various efficacy. More unfertilized oocytes (UFOs) were activated after EtOH or EP treatment than after CI treatment. EP was as effective (63.6 %) as EtOH, but fragmentation was observed in 43% of UFOs activated by EP. Proportion of UFOs that formed presumptive haploid PN (2 PNs+1 PB or 1 PN +2 PBs) was 33.3, 0 and 28.6% after EtOH, CI and EP treatments, respectively. In Experiment 2, a significant (P=0.0362) effect of immature oocytes (IOs) status on activation was fecund. IOs at the GVBD-MI oocytes had higher potential to form PN than those at the GV stage or with abnormal morphology (25 vs. 77.8%). The results of this study clearly demonstrated that the treatment of 10% ethanol for 5 min effectively induced the activation of UFOs. IOs could form pronucleus with high efficacy by ethanol treatment, as long as they grew beyond the GVBD stage.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.519-529
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• 2021

This study aims to investigate the impact of Human Resource Management Practices (HRMP) on improving Employee Performance (EP). The study is accomplished by hypothesizing the impact of HRMP on EP, additionally, this impact is theorized to be mediated through job satisfaction. Employee engagement is also taken into account because of the potential moderating effect it has within the theorized model. Data was collected from 480 questionnaires which were distributed among commercial banks' workers in Jordan and were analyzed using structural equation modeling techniques (SEM), path analysis, and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Analysis of a moment structures (AMOS) software version 24 was applied to complete our analysis. The results show that HRMP had a positive impact on EP, as well as job satisfaction and its components (job stability and job enrichment). The mediating role of job satisfaction (enrichment and stability) was discovered. Finally, employee engagement emerged as a moderating variable linking HRMP and EP. The findings of this study show the importance of the role played by job satisfaction and employee engagement in achieving human resources performance goals. Future analysis is recommended to gain deeper insight into the relationship between HRMP, job satisfaction, worker training, and performance appraisal.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.554-561
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• 2001

Immunostimulating exopolysaccharides with anticancer activity produced by Enterobacter sp. SSYL(KCTC 0687BP), isolated from Chinese elm(Ulmus sp.) were investigated. The exopolysaccharide contains molecular weight 100,000 to 1,000,000 Da and total carbohydrates 43.0 to 70.8%, total uronic acid 7.1 7o 12.4%, and total proteins 15.4 to 20.6%. Compositions and contents of sugars in the exopolysaccharides are 10-30% glucose, less than 1% fructose, 10-15% galactose, 8-12% fucose, and 40-70% glucuronic acid. The anticancer immunostimulating activities were examined and proved with regard to both in vitro and in vivo bioassays. In vivo assay, the glycoprotein at the concentration of 0.3 mg/kg showed the best result that median survival time in creased to ca. 138.1% in contrast to control groups.