• BMB Reports
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• v.53 no.6
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• pp.323-328
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• 2020

Matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MMP-1), a calcium-dependent zinccontaining collagenase, is involved in the initial degradation of native fibrillar collagen. Tissue necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine that is rapidly produced by dermal fibroblasts, monocytes/macrophages, and keratinocytes and regulates inflammation and damaged-tissue remodeling. MMP-1 is induced by TNFα and plays a critical role in tissue remodeling and skin aging processes. However, the regulation of the MMP1 gene by TNFα is not fully understood. We aimed to find additional cis-acting elements involved in the regulation of TNFα-induced MMP1 gene transcription in addition to the nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) and activator protein 1 (AP1) sites. Assessments of the 5'-regulatory region of the MMP1 gene, using a series of deletion constructs, revealed the requirement of the early growth response protein 1 (EGR-1)-binding sequence (EBS) in the proximal region for proper transcription by TNFα. Ectopic expression of EGR-1, a zinc-finger transcription factor that binds to G-C rich sequences, stimulated MMP1 promoter activity. The silencing of EGR-1 by RNA interference reduced TNFα-induced MMP-1 expression. EGR-1 directly binds to the proximal region and transactivates the MMP1 gene promoter. Mutation of the EBS within the MMP1 promoter abolished EGR-1-mediated MMP-1 promoter activation. These data suggest that EGR-1 is required for TNFα-induced MMP1 transcriptional activation. In addition, we found that all three MAPKs, ERK1/2, JNK, and p38 kinase, mediate TNFα-induced MMP-1 expression via EGR-1 upregulation. These results suggest that EGR-1 may represent a good target for the development of pharmaceutical agents to reduce inflammation-induced MMP-1 expression.

• Journal of Power System Engineering
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.18-23
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• 2004

The direct injection diesel engine is one of the most efficient thermal engines. For this reason DI diesel engines are widely used for heavy-duty applications. But the world is faced with very serious problems related to the air pollution due to the exhaust emissions of diesel engine. So, that is air pollution related to exhaust gas resulted from explosive combustion should be improved. Exhaust Gas Recirculation(EGR) is a proven method to reduce NOx emissions. In this study, the experiments-were performed at various engine loads while the EGR rates were set from 0% to 20%. The emissions trade-off and combustion of diesel engine are investigated. Hot and cooled EGR are achieved without cooling and with cooling respectively. It was found that the exhaust emissions with the EGR system resulted in a very large reduction in oxides of nitrogen at the expense of higher smoke emissions. Also, the reduction rates of NOx emissions for hot and cooled EGR are similar at load 20%.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Automotive Engineers
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.89-94
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• 2011

The EGR system is one of important components in diesel engine. The regulation on NOx emission has been tightened up. Therefore, it is a significant issue to develop and commercialize the high efficient EGR cooler system that reduces NOx emission in DI diesel engine. Key performance factor of the EGR cooler system is how to properly design both wavy cooling fins and gas tubes. This paper proposes a high efficient EGR cooler that has been upgraded with both the optimized wavy cooling fins and the improved shape of structure. The evaluation of the heat exchange efficiency, outlet temperature, and gas pressure drop of the EGR cooler is performed with the prototype of the proposed EGR cooler. The result shows a good solution and will be implemented to the model of a clean diesel engine being developed for both domestic and overseas market.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Automotive Engineers
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• v.8 no.6
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• pp.79-86
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• 2000

The effects of recirculated exhaust gas on the wears of piston and piston rings were investigated by the experiment with a two-cylinder, four cycle, indirect injection diesel engine operating at an engine load of 75% and an engine speed of 1600 rpm. For the purpose of comparison between the wear rates of two cylinders with and without EGR, the recirculated exhaust gas was sucked into one of two cylinders after the soot contenets in exhaust emissions were removed by an intentionally designed cylinder-type scrubber equipped with 6 water injectors(A water injector has 144 nozzles of 1.0 mm diameter), while only the fresh air was inhaled into the other cylinder. These experiments were carried out on the fuel injection timing fixed at 15.3$^{\circ}$ BTDC. It was found that the wear rate of piston skirt with EGR increased a little bit, but the piston head diameter increased, rather than decreased, owing to soot adhesion and erosion wear, and especially larger with EGR, and that the wear rates of the top and second piston ring(compression ring)thickness with EGR were more than twice the wear rate of top ring in case of no EGR, but the wear rate of oil rings thickness without EGR increased greater than that with EGR.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Automotive Engineers
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.87-95
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• 2009

EGR(Exhaust gas recirculation) provides an important contribution in achieving the development targets of low fuel consumption and low exhaust emission levels on gasoline engine for hybrid vehicles while allowing stoichiometric fuelling to be retained for applications using the three-way catalysts. However, the occurrence of excessive cyclic variation with high EGR normally prevents substantial fuel economy improvements from being achieved in practice. Therefore, the optimum EGR rate in gasoline engine for hybrid vehicles should be carefully determined in order to achieve low fuel consumption and low exhaust emission. In this study, 2 liters gasoline engine with E-EGR system was used to investigate the effects of EGR with optimum EGR rate on fuel economy, combustion stability, engine performance and exhaust emissions. As the engine load becomes higher, the optimum EGR rate tends to increase. The increase in engine load and reduction in engine speed make the fuel consumption better. The fuel consumption was improved by maximum 5.5% at low speed, high load operating condition. As the simulated EGR variation on a cylinder is increased, due to the increase in cyclic variation, the fuel consumption and emissions characteristics were deteriorated simultaneously. To achieve combustion stability without a penalty in fuel consumption and emissions, the cylinder-to-cylinder variations must be maintained under 10%.

• BMB Reports
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• v.44 no.7
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• pp.452-457
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• 2011

The Egr-1 is an immediate early response gene encoding a transcription factor that functions in the regulation of cell growth, differentiation, and apoptosis. Estrogen has diverse physiological effects, including cellular proliferation and neuroprotection against brain injury. There are two types of estrogen receptors (ERs), $ER{\alpha}$ and $ER{\beta}$. $ER{\alpha}$-induced Egr-1 expression has been extensively studied; however, the role of $ER{\beta}$ is yet not known. In the present study, we investigated whether or not $ER{\beta}$ induces Egr-1 expression in C6 rat glioma cells, which express $ER{\beta}$ but not $ER{\alpha}$. Our results show that $ER{\beta}$ promoted up-regulation of Egr-1 expression via a non-genomic mechanism involving the Raf/MEK1/Erk/Elk-1 signaling cascade.

• Journal of the korean Society of Automotive Engineers
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.29-39
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• 1986

The purpose of this study is to develop an exhaust gas recirculation valve for reduction of the NOx emission of the gasoline engine. In this study the back pressure modulated(BPM) EGR system was developed and tested for the 1.6$\ell$ gasoline engine. By this system 50% of NOx emission was reduced at 7% EGR rate. Fuel consumption and CO emission were not affected by EGR but HC was increased up to the level of allowable limit. Overall operation was satisfactory. As a result of this study, the technics for developing EGR valve and adjusting the engine for EGR have been established.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.173-178
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• 2011

The amphetamine derivative 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is a potent monoaminergic neurotoxin with the potential to cause serotonergic neurotoxicity, but has become a popular recreational drug. Little has been known about the cellular effects induced by MDMA. This report shows that MDMA inhibits neuronal cell growth and differentiation. MDMA suppressed neuronal cell growth. The results of quantitative real-time PCR analysis showed that Egr-1 expression is elevated in mouse embryo and neuroblastoma cells after MDMA treatment. Transiently transfected Egr-1 interfered with the neuronal differentiation of neuroblastoma cells such as SH-SY5Y and PC12 cells. These findings provide evidence that the abuse of MDMA during pregnancy may impair neuronal development via an induction of Egr-1 over-expression.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Automotive Engineers
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.105-110
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• 2011

Through this study, the performance evaluation on the addition of low-pressure loop EGR(Exhaust Gas Recirculation) in a 6.0 L commercial diesel engine was carried out using WAVE modeling and simulation. Since the key technology of advanced diesel engine combustion such as low-temperature combustion is to steadily supply high rates of EGR in a wide operating range, the current study could be effectively contribute to the design and development processes of up-to-date diesel engine systems as real-world reference data. The current simulation results show that the system in which low-pressure loop EGR is added shows almost 2.3 times increase in maximum EGR rate at 1000 rpm as well as almost 1.6 times increase at 2200 and 1600 rpm in comparison with an engine system employing high-pressure loop EGR only. Also, both turbocharger axis speed and charging pressure level did not deteriorate due to the addition of low-pressure loop EGR at 2200 and 1000 rpm, but they were fairly decreased at 1600 rpm.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Automotive Engineers
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• v.22 no.7
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• pp.90-97
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• 2014

The effects of high pressure and low pressure exhaust gas recirculation (HP/LP EGR) portion on diesel engine combustion and emissions characteristics were investigated in a 2.2 L passenger-car diesel engine. The po3rtion of HP/LP EGR was varied from 0 to 1 while fixing the mass flow rate of fresh air. The intake manifold temperature was lowered with the increasing of the portion of LP EGR, which led to the retardation of heat release by pilot injection. The lowered intake manifold temperature also resulted in low nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions due to decreased in-cylinder temperature and prolonged ignition delay, however, the carbon monoxide (CO) emission showed opposite trend to NOx emissions. The brake specific fuel consumption (BSFC) was decreased as the portion of LP EGR increased due to lowered exhaust manifold pressure by wider open of turbocharger vane. Consequently, the trade-off relationship between NOx and BSFC could be improved by increasing the LP EGR portion.