• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2003.10b
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• pp.103.3-104
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• 2003

Activation of hepatic stellate cell has been identified as a critical step in hepatic fibrogenesis and is regulated by several factors including cytokines and oxidative stress. In this study, we assayed effects of saponin (CKS), inulin (CKI) and oligo-sugars (CKO) isolated from Platycodon grandiflorum A. DC, changkil (CK) on experimental cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in hepatic stellate cell line (HSC-T6). CKS induced cell arrest at G$_1$. CKS also reduced intercellular reactive oxygen species and collagen synthesis in hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative stress and acetaldehyde-stimulated collagen synthesis, respectively, in HSC-T6 cells. (omitted)

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Toxicology Conference
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• 2003.10b
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• pp.167-167
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• 2003

Hepatic stellate cells (HSC) and the derived myofibroblasts are known to playa central role in liver fibrosis. Rhus verniciflua Strokes (RVS) has traditionally been used in Korea herbal medicine for a stomachic tonic. In this study, we observed the effect of RVS acetone extract (Ra) on the proliferation, the collagen synthesis, and hepatic fibrosis related proteins mRNA levels in HSC-T6 cells which is a fully acivated rat hepatic stellate cell line.(omitted)

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.74.1-74.1
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• 2019

We present the distance measurements of two spiral galaxies NGC 4517, NGC 4592, and neighboring dwarf galaxies found in Hyper Suprime-Cam Subaru Strategic Program (HSC-SSP) wide field survey data. Distances to NGC 4517 and NGC 4592 are measured by the Tip of the Red Giant Branch method from archival Hubble Space Telescope data; 9.00^+0.094_-0.260 Mpc for NGC 4517 and 8.90^+0.256_-0.060 Mpc for NGC 4592. The spatial distance between NGC 4517 and NGC 4592 is 300 kpc, which is close enough for them to be considered as a group (NGC 4517 group). Using resolved stellar photometry and Surface Brightness Fluctuation (SBF) method with HSC-SSP data, we estimate the distances to three other dwarf galaxies and confirm that they are members of the group. Velocities of three of the galaxies in the NGC 4517 group show that this group is one of the galaxy groups in the near side of the Virgo Cluster infall region.

• BMB Reports
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.749-758
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• 2006

The cytosolic members of the HSP70 family of proteins play key roles in the molecular chaperone machinery of the cell. In the study we cloned and sequenced the full-length cDNA of Delia antiqua HSP70 gene, which is 2461 bp long and encodes 643 a.a. with a calculated molecular mass of 70,787 Da. We investigated gene copies of cytosolic HSP70 members of 4 insect species with complete genome available, and found that they are quite variable with species. In order to characterize this protein we carried out an alignment and a phylogenetic analysis with 41 complete protein sequences from insects. The analysis divided the cytosolic members of the family into two classes, HSP70 and HSC70, distinguishable on the basis of 15 residues. HSP70 class members were slightly shorter in length and smaller in molecular mass relative to the HSC70 class members, and the conservative and functional regions in these sequences were documented. Mainly, we investigated the expression of Delia antiqua HSP70 gene, in response to diapauses and thermal stresses. Both summer and winter diapauses elevated HSP70 transcript levels. Cold-stress led to increased HSP70 expression levels in summer- and winter-diapausing pupae, but heat-stress elevated the levels only in the winter-diapausing pupae. In all cases, the expression levels, after being elevated, gradually decreased with time. HSP70 expression was low in non-diapausing pupae but was up-regulated following cold- and heat-stresses. Heat-stress gradually increased the mRNA level with time whereas cold-stress gradually decreased levels after an initial increase.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.342-351
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• 2021

Liver colonization is initiated through the interplay between tumor cells and adhesion molecules present in liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs). This crosstalk stimulates tumor COX-2 upregulation and PGE2 secretion. To elucidate the role of the LSEC intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in the prometastatic response exerted by tumor and stromal COX-2, we utilized celecoxib (CLX) as a COX-2 inhibitory agent. We analyzed the in vitro proliferative and secretory responses of murine C26 colorectal cancer (CRC) cells to soluble ICAM-1 (sICAM-1), cultured alone or with LSECs, and their effect on LSEC and hepatic stellate cell (HSC) migration and in vivo liver metastasis. CLX reduced sICAM-1-stimulated COX-2 activation and PGE2 secretion in C26 cells cultured alone or cocultured with LSECs. Moreover, CLX abrogated sICAM-1-induced C26 cell proliferation and C26 secretion of promigratory factors for LSECs and HSCs. Interestingly, CLX reduced the protumoral response of HSC, reducing their migratory potential when stimulated with C26 secretomes and impairing their secretion of chemotactic factors for LSECs and C26 cells and proliferative factors for C26 cells. In vivo, CLX abrogated the prometastatic ability of sICAM-1-activated C26 cells while reducing liver metastasis. COX-2 inhibition blocked the creation of a favorable tumor microenvironment (TME) by hindering the intratumoral recruitment of activated HSCs and macrophages in addition to the accumulation of fibrillar collagen. These results point to COX-2 being a key modulator of processes initiated by host ICAM-1 during tumor cell/LSEC/HSC crosstalk, leading to the creation of a prometastatic TME in the liver.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.50 no.6
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• pp.627-641
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• 2024

This paper presents an experimental and numerical study to investigate the behavior of the precast segmental concrete beams (PSCBs) utilizing high-strength concrete (HSC) connected in the zone of the maximum bending moment using steel extended endplate connections (EECs). The experimental study consisted of five beams as follows: The first beam was the control beam for comparison, which was an unconnected one-piece beam made of HSC. The other four other beams consisted of two identical pieces of precast concrete. An important point to be noted is that at the end of each piece, a steel plate was used with a thickness of 10 mm. Moreover, this steel plate was welded to the lower and upper reinforcing bars of the beam. Furthermore, the steel plate was made to connect the two pieces using the technique of EECs. Several variables were taken in these four beams, whether from the shape of the connection or enhancing the behavior of the connection using the post-tensioning technique. EECs without stiffeners were used for some of the tested beams. The behavior of these connections was improved using stiffeners and shear bolts. To get accurate results, a comparison was made between the behaviors of the five beams. Another important point to be noted is that Abaqus and SAP2000 programs were used to investigate the behavior of PSCBs and to ensure the accuracy of the modeling process which showed a good agreement with the experimental results. Additionally, the simplified modeling using SAP2000 was able to model the nonlinear behavior of PSCBs connected using steel EECs. It was found that the steel pre-tensioned bolted EECs, reinforced with steel stiffeners and shear anchors, could be used to connect the precast HSC segmental beams via the internal pre-stressing technique.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.1-14
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• 2024

Widespread damages from extreme winds have attracted lots of attentions of the resilience assessment of power distribution systems. With many related environmental parameters as well as numerous power infrastructure components, such as poles and wires, the increased challenge of power asset management before, during and after extreme events have to be addressed to prevent possible cascading failures in the power distribution system. Many extreme winds from weather events, such as hurricanes, generate widespread damages in multiple areas such as the economy, social security, and infrastructure management. The livelihoods of residents in the impaired areas are devastated largely due to the paucity of vital utilities, such as electricity. To address the challenge of power grid asset management, power system clustering is needed to partition a complex power system into several stable clusters to prevent the cascading failure from happening. Traditionally, system clustering uses the Binary Decision Diagram (BDD) to derive the clustering result, which is time-consuming and inefficient. Meanwhile, the previous studies considering the weather hazards did not include any detailed weather-related meteorologic parameters which is not appropriate as the heterogeneity of the parameters could largely affect the system performance. Therefore, a fragility-based network hierarchical spectral clustering method is proposed. In the present paper, the fragility curve and surfaces for a power distribution subsystem are obtained first. The fragility of the subsystem under typical failure mechanisms is calculated as a function of wind speed and pole characteristic dimension (diameter or span length). Secondly, the proposed fragility-based hierarchical spectral clustering method (F-HSC) integrates the physics-based fragility analysis into Hierarchical Spectral Clustering (HSC) technique from graph theory to achieve the clustering result for the power distribution system under extreme weather events. From the results of vulnerability analysis, it could be seen that the system performance after clustering is better than before clustering. With the F-HSC method, the impact of the extreme weather events could be considered with topology to cluster different power distribution systems to prevent the system from experiencing power blackouts.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.500-511
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• 2008

The aim of this study was to investigate the inhibitory effect of Saengangeonbitang-gasamchilgn(SGGBTGSCG) on collagen production in rat hepatic stellate cells(HSC) and on the TAA-induced chronic liver injury model in rats. Methods : 1) HSCs were treated with SGGBTGSCG extract powder(50% EtOH SGGBTGSCG, dw SGGBTGSCG). After the treatment, MTT assay, BrdU assay and procollagen assay were done. In addition, gene expressions of collagen type $1{\alpha}2$, ASMA, TIMP1, and TIMP2, all of which are known to be associated with liver fibrosis, were analyzed by RT-PCR. 2) Liver fibrosis was developed in rats by injection of TAA 3 times a week for 5 weeks. After the SGGBTGSCG-treatment, body weight, liver & spleen weight, liver function test, the complete blood cell count and the change of portal pressure were studied. Results : In MTT assay, SGGBTGSCG significantly decreased the viability of HSCs in a dose-dependent manner. In BrdU assay, SGGBTGSCG significantly inhibited the HSC proliferation in a dose-dependant manner. In procollagen assay, SGGBTGSCG decreased procollagen production by HSC. In the change of rats' liver and spleen weight, TAA+SGGBTGSCG groups showed little difference compared with TAA-only group. In the liver function test, SGGBTGSCG decreased the serum level of ALT, AST, and Alp elevated by TAA. In the complete blood cell count, SGGBTGSCG significantly decreased WBC elevated by TAA and increased RBC and Hct lowered by TAA. In the change of portal pressure, SGGBTGSCG decreased portal pressure elevated by TAA. Conclusions : These results suggest that SGGBTGSCG is beneficial in the treatment of cirrhotic patients as well as for patients with chronic hepatitis.

• Fibers and Polymers
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.367-371
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• 2006

Thermal properties of copolyetherester/silica nanocomposites were examined by using DSC and TGA. The segmented block copolyetheresters with various hard segment structures and hard segment contents (HSC) were synthesized and their silica nanocomposite films were prepared by solution casting method. The nano-sized fumed silica particles were found to act as a nucleating agent of the copolyetheresters. The nanocomposites always showed reduced degree of supercooling or faster crystallization than the corresponding copolyetheresters. The nanocomposites also showed increased hard segment crystallinity except HSC 35 sample which had short hard segment length. In case of 2GT [poly(ethylene terephthalate)] copolyetheresters, which were not developed commercially because of their low crystallization rate, the hard segment crystallinity increased considerably. The copolyetherester/silica nanocomposites showed better thermal stability than copolyetheresters.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 2006.05b
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• pp.529-532
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• 2006

This paper presents results from creep and shrinkage tests performed on different High Strength Concrete (HSC) mixes (with compressive strengths up to 90 MPa). Results were compared with those from various Code prediction models. The effects of pozzolanic materials on the creep and shrinkage were also investigated. Results show that while fly ash increases the compressive creep of concrete, silica fume decreases it. Moreover, current creep and shrinkage prediction models need to be revised for the HSC mixture.