• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.547-551
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• 2013

We recently reported a Philyra pisum lectin (PPL) that exerts mitogenic effects on human lymphocytes, and its molecular characterization. The present study provides a more detailed characterization of PPL based on the results from a monosaccharide analysis indicating that PPL is a glycoprotein, and circular dichroism spectra revealing its estimated ${\alpha}$-helix, ${\beta}$-sheet, ${\beta}$-turn, and random coil contents to be 14.0%, 39.6%, 15.8%, and 30.6%, respectively. These contents are quite similar to those of deglycosylated PPL, indicating that glycans do not affect its intact structure. The binding properties to different pathogen-associated molecular patterns were investigated with hemagglutination inhibition assays using lipoteichoic acid from Gram-positive bacteria, lipopolysaccharide from Gram-negative bacteria, and both mannan and ${\beta}$-1,3-glucan from fungi. PPL binds to lipoteichoic acids and mannan, but not to lipopolysaccharides or ${\beta}$-1,3-glucan. PPL exerted no significant antiproliferative effects against human breast or bladder cancer cells. These results indicate that PPL is a glycoprotein with a lipoteichoic acid or mannan-binding specificity and which contains low and high proportions of ${\alpha}$-helix and ${\beta}$-structures, respectively. These properties are inherent to the innate immune system of P. pisum and indicate that PPL could be involved in signal transmission into Gram-positive bacteria or fungi.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.507-514
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• 2013

Recent reports about Mt. Baekdusan indicate an increasing potential of lahar generation due to volcanic activity around Lake Cheonji. In this study, we model lahar assuming volcanic activity underneath the caldera located at the top of Mt. Baekdusan. Lahar-inundation hazard zones (LAHARZ), software that runs within a Geographic Information System (GIS), was used for lahar modeling in various conditions of digital terrain resolution and model parameters. The sensitivity analysis of model parameters shows that both sink threshold and terrain resolution have limited impact on the modeling result. Combinations of stream threshold and resolution indicate distinctive distributions in stream delineation. The limitations of LAHARZ seem to largely be associated with the assumption of an existing flow generation algorithm. However, the impact of different resolutions on the final lahar extent was found to be small.

• Atmosphere
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.577-598
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• 2016

Observational and numerical studies have been carried out to understand the cause and development processes of the heavy rainfall over the middle Korean Peninsula during 0300 LST-1500 LST 29 June 2011 (LST = UTC + 0900). The heavy rainfall event occurred as the synoptic-scale ridge extended from Western Pacific Subtropical High (WPSH) was maintained over East Asia. Observational analysis indicates that the heavy rainfall is mainly due to scattered convective systems, formed over the Yellow Sea, traveling northeastward across the middle peninsula without further organization into larger systems during 0300 LST-0800 LST, and mesoscale convective systems (MCSs) over the Yellow Sea, transformed into a squall line, traveling eastward during 0800 LST-1500 LST. Organization of convective systems into MCSs can be found over the area of mesoscale trough and convergence zone in the northern end of the low-level jet (LLJ) after 0600 LST. Both observational and numerical investigations indicate that a strong LLJ extended from the East China Sea to the Yellow Sea plays an essential role for the occurrence of heavy rainfall. The strong LLJ develops in between the WPSH and a pressure trough over eastern China. Numerical experiments indicate that the land-sea contrast of solar heating of surface and latent heating due to convective developments are the major factors for the development of the pressure trough in eastern China. Numerical study has also revealed that the mountainous terrain including the mountain complex in the northern Korean Peninsula contributes to the increase of rainfall amount in the middle part of the peninsula.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.713-723
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• 2017

Steel plate shear walls (SPSWs) are effective lateral systems which have high initial stiffness, appropriate ductility and energy dissipation capability. Recently, steel plate shear walls with low yield point strength (LYP), were introduced and they attracted the attention of designers. Structures with this new system, besides using less steel, are more stable. In the present study, the effects of plates with low yield strength on the seismic design parameters of steel frames with steel plate shear walls are investigated. For this purpose, a variety of this kind of structures with different heights including the 2, 5, 10, 14 and 18-story buildings are designed based on the AISC seismic provisions. The structures are modeled using ANSYS finite element software and subjected to monotonic lateral loading. Parameters such as ductility (${\mu}$), ductility reduction ($R_{\mu}$), over-strength (${\Omega}_0$), displacement amplification ($C_d$) and behavior factor (R) of these structures are evaluated by carrying out the pushover analysis. Analysis results indicate that the ductility, over-strength and behavior factors decrease by increasing the number of stories. Also, the displacement amplification factor decreases by increasing the number of stories. Finally, the results were compared with the suggestions provided in the AISC code for steel plate shear walls. The results indicate that the values for over-strength, behavior and displacement amplification factors of LYP steel plate shear wall systems, are larger than those proposed by the AISC code for typical steel plate shear wall systems.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.9 no.1_2
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• pp.25-35
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• 1994

Many nephrotoxic agents exert their effect primarily on the cells of the proximal tubules. We used the LLC-$PK_1$, kidney epithelial cell line as a model system for studies on nephrotoxicity and investigated whether the uptake of $\alpha$-methylglucose($\alpha$-MG) could serve as a parameter to assess effects of nephrotoxicants on the functional integrity of the cells at an early time of toxicity. The enzyme leakage test which has been used to be as a conventional cytotoxic parameter in vitro, was conducted to compare with $\alpha$-MG uptake. Treatment with cisplatin for 24 and 48 hours significantly increased activities of lactate dehydrogenase and $\gamma$-glutamyltransferase in culture medium at a concentration of 50$\mu$M. However, above 100$\mu$M of concentration, activities of these enzymes in media were dramatically decreased by cisplatin. These observations indicate that cisplatin has direct inhibitory effect on the activities of these enzymes and make it doutful to use enzyme leakage test to demonstrate damage of kidney cells by chemicals such as cisplatin over the appropriate range of concentration. Cisplatin inhibited $\alpha$-MG uptake at a low concentration which enzymes were not leaked. Also cadmium chloride and mercuric chloride which are acutely nephrotoxic in vivo, significantly inhibited $\alpha$-MG uptake at a low concentration. These results indicate that the uptake of $\alpha$-methylglucose in LLC-$PK_1$cell line is a useful biomarker for the study of nephrotoxicity.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.93-99
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• 2005

Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) derived from the inner cell mass of blastocysts have the ability to renew themselves and to differentiate into cell types of all lineage. The present study was carried out to investigate whether the Wnt signaling pathway is related to maintaining self-renewal of hESCs. Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 (GSK-3) inhibitor, BIO ((2'Z,3'E)-6-Bromoindirubin-3'-oxime) was treated to Miz-hES1 line for activation of Wnt signaling pathway. BIO-nontreated hESCs (control) and BID-treated hESCs were cultured for 5 days in the modified feeder-free system. During the culture of hESCs, differences were observed in the colony morphology between 2 groups. Controls were spread outwards whereas BIO-nontreated hESCs were clumped in the center and the differentiated cells were spreading outwards in the edges. The results of stem cell specific marker staining indicated that control were differentiated in large part whereas BIO-treated hESCs maintain self-renewal in the center of the colony. The results of lineage marker staining suggested that outer cells of the hESC colony were differentiated to the neuronal progenitor cells in both control and BIO-treated hESC. These results indicate that Wnt signaling is related to self-renewal in hESCs. In addition, control group showed higher composition of apoptotic cells $(23.76\%)$ than the BID-treated group $(5.59\%)$. These results indicate that BIO is effective on antapoptosis of hESCs.

• 한국지구물리탐사학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2003.11a
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• pp.255-261
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• 2003

Tunnelling in poor and heterogeneous ground is a difficult task. Even with a good geological investigation, uncertainties with respect to the local rock mass structure will remain. Especially for such conditions, a reliable short-term prediction of the conditions ahead and outside the tunnel profile are of paramount importance for the choice of appropriate excavation and support methods. The information contained in the absolute displacement monitoring data allows a comprehensive evaluation of the displacements and the determination of the behaviour and influence of an anisotropic rock mass. Case histories and with numerical simulations show, that changes in the displacement vector orientation can indicate changing rock mass conditions ahead of the tunnel face (Schubert & Budil 1995, Steindorfer & Schubert 1997). Further research has been conducted to quantify the influence of weak zones on stresses and displacements (Grossauer 2001). Sellner (2000) developed software, which allows predicting displacements (GeoFit$\circledR$). The function parameters describe the time and advance dependent deformation of a tunnel. Routinely applying this method at each measuring section allows determining trends of those parameters. It shows, that the trends of parameter sets indicate changes in the stiffness of the rock mass outside the tunnel in a similar way, as the displacement vector orientation does. Three-dimensional Finite Element simulations of different weakness zone properties, thicknesses, and orientations relative to the tunnel axis were carried out and the function parameters evaluated from the results. The results are compared to monitoring results from alpine tunnels in heterogeneous rock. The good qualitative correlation between trends observed on site and numerical results gives hope that by a routine determination of the function parameters during excavation the prediction of rock mass conditions ahead of the tunnel face can be improved. Implementing the rules developed from experience and simulations into the monitoring data evaluation program allows to automatically issuing information on the expected rock mass quality ahead of the tunnel.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.609-623
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• 2013

Fluctuation patterns of groundwater level as a factor that reflects the characteristics of groundwater system can be categorized as the various types of aquifer with the time-series data. Time-series data on groundwater level obtained from 115 monitoring wells in Jeju Island were classified according to variation types, which were largely affected by rainfall(Dr), rainfall and pumping(Drp), and unknown cause(De). Analysis results indicate that 106 wells belong to Dr and Drp and the ratio of the wells with the wide range of fluctuation in the western and northern regions was higher than that in the eastern and southern regions. From the results that Drp is relatively higher than Dr in the western region which has the largest agricultural areas, groundwater level fluctuations may be affected significantly due to the intensive agricultural use. Non-parametric trend analysis results for 115 monitoring wells show that the increasing and decreasing trends as the ratio of groundwater levels were 14.8% and 22.6%, respectively, and groundwater levels revealed to be increased in the western, southern and northern regions excluding eastern region. Results of correlation analysis that cross-correlation coefficients and the time lags in the eastern and western regions are relatively high and short, respectively, indicate that the rainfall recharge effect in these regions is relatively larger due to the gentle slope of topography compared to that in the southern and northern regions.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.234-238
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• 2012

Propofol is an anesthetic commonly used to provide sedation or to induce and maintain an anesthetic stated. However, there are reports which indicate propofol may cause psychological dependence or be abused. In the present study, we used various behavioral tests including climbing test, jumping test, conditioned place preference, and self-administration test to assess the dependence potential and abuse liability of propofol compared to a positive control (methamphetamine) or a negative control (saline or intralipid). Among the tests, the conditioned place preference test was conducted with a biased method, and the selfadministration test was performed under a fixed ratio (FR) 1 schedule, 1 h per session. No difference was found in the climbing test and jumping test, but propofol (30 mg/kg, i.p.) increased the rewarding effect in the conditioned place preference test, and it showed a positive reinforcing effect compared to the vehicle. These results indicate that propofol tends to show psychological dependence rather than physical dependence, and it seems not to be related with dopaminergic system.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 1996.11a
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• pp.71-74
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• 1996

Ta$_2$O$_{5}$ film ale recognized as promising capacitor dielectric for future DRAM\`s. The electrical properties of Ta$_2$O$_{5}$films greatly depend on the heating condition. In the practical fabrication process, several annealing process, such as the annealing of Al in H$_2$(about 40$0^{\circ}C$) and reflow of BPSG (borophosphosilicate glass) film in $N_2$(about 80$0^{\circ}C$), exist after deposition of Ta$_2$O$_{5}$ film. In this paper, we describe the temperature effect on the electrical properties of W/Ta$_2$O$_{5}$/Si structure. The thin film of Ta$_2$O$_{5}$ and tungsten have been deposited on p-si(100) wafer using the sputtering system. The heating temperature was varied from 500 to 90$0^{\circ}C$ in $N_2$for 30min and The degree of temperature is 100\`C. In a log(J/E$^2$) Vs 1/E plot of typical I-V data, we find a linear relationship for the temperature of 500, $600^{\circ}C$ and as deposition. This could indicate Fowler-Nordheim tunneling as the dominant mode of current transports. However, we can not find a linear relationship for the temperature above $700^{\circ}C$. This could not indicate Fowler-Nordheim tunneling as the dominant mode of current transport. The high frequency (1MHz) capacitance-voltage (C-V) of W/Ta$_2$O$_{5}$/Si Capacitor were investigated on the basis of shift in the threshold voltage and dielectric constant. The magnitude of the threshold voltage and dielectric constant depends on the heating temperature, and increases with heating temperature.temperature.