• Carbon letters
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• 제24권
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• pp.73-81
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• 2017

Interconnected meso/microporous activated carbons were prepared from pumpkin seeds using a simple chemical activation method. The porous carbon materials were prepared at different temperatures (PS-600, PS-700, PS-800, and PS-900) and demonstrated huge surface areas ($645-2029m^2g^{-1}$) with excellent pore volumes ($0.27-1.30cm^3g^{-1}$). The well-condensed graphitic structure of the prepared activated carbon materials was confirmed by Raman and X-ray diffraction analyses. The presence of heteroatoms (O and N) in the carbon materials was confirmed by X-ray photoemission spectroscopy. High resolution transmission electron microscopic images and selected area diffraction patters further revealed the porous structure and amorphous nature of the prepared electrode materials. The resultant porous carbons (PS-600, PS-700, PS-800, and PS-900) were utilized as electrode material for supercapacitors. To our delight, the PS-900 demonstrated a maximum specific capacitance (Cs) of $303F\;g^{-1}$ in 1.0 M $H_2SO_4 $ at a scan rate of 5 mV. The electrochemical impedance spectra confirmed the poor electrical resistance of the electrode materials. Moreover, the stability of the PS-900 was found to be excellent (no significant change in the Cs even after 6000 cycles).

• BMB Reports
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• 제49권6호
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• pp.303-304
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• 2016

Myoblast fusion is important for skeletal muscle formation. Even though the knowledge of myoblast fusion mechanism has accumulated over the years, the initial signal of fusion is yet to be elucidated. Our study reveals the novel function of a phosphatidylserine (PS) receptor, stabilin-2 (Stab2), in the modulation of myoblast fusion, through the recognition of PS exposed on myoblasts. During differentiation of myoblasts, Stab2 expression is higher than other PS receptors and is controlled by calcineurin/NFAT signaling on myoblasts. The forced expression of Stab2 results in an increase in myoblast fusion; genetic ablation of Stab2 in mice causes a reduction in muscle size, as a result of impaired myoblast fusion. After muscle injury, muscle regeneration is impaired in Stab2-deficient mice, resulting in small myofibers with fewer nuclei, which is due to reduction of fusion rather than defection of myoblast differentiation. The fusion-promoting role of Stab2 is dependent on its PS-binding motif, and the blocking of PS-Stab2 binding impairs cell-cell fusion on myoblasts. Given our previous finding that Stab2 recognizes PS exposed on apoptotic cells for sensing as an "eat-me" signal, we propose that PS-Stab2 binding is required for sensing of a "fuse-me" signal as the initial signal of myoblast fusion.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• 제19권2호
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• pp.116-121
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• 1996

Antisense oligonucleotides seem to provide a promising new tool for the therapy. Choi et al. (1995) reported antisense phosphorothioate oligonucleotides (PS-ODN, 25 mer) complementary to TGF-.betha. mRNA designed for scar formation inhibitor to eliminate scars, which was caused by undesired collagen deposition due to overexpression of TGF-.betha., in wounded skin. PS-ODN were evaluated in vitro for skin penetration using normal and tape-stripped damaged rat skin. The in vitro skin transports were carried out with partially modified PS-ODN (6S) and fully modified PS-ODN (25S). The cumulative amount of PS-ODN (6S) penetrated through normal rat skin was $0.234{\pm}0.041{\mu}g/cm^2$ and that of tape-stripped damaged rat skin was $1.077{\pm}0.301{\mu}g/cm^2$ over 8 hrs. PS-ODN (25S) can not be found in receptor medium through normal skin due to high molecular weight (Mol.Wt.=8,000) and polyanionic charge. However, the cumulative amount of PS-ODN (25S) penetrated across damaged rat skin in PBS was $0.340{\pm}0.296{\mu}g/cm^2$ over 8 hrs. The absense of dermis raised the cumulative amount of PS-ODN (6S) penetrated through rat skin. And the fluxes of PS-ODN (6S) and PSODN (25S) at 8hrs across damaged rat skin were $134.63{\pm}37.67{\mu}g/cm^2$ h, and $42.50{\pm}36.95ng/cm^2$ h, respectively. While PS-ODN (25S) was stable in 10% heat inactivated fetal bovine serum (FBS) during 24 hrs, PS-ODN (6S) was less stable than PS-ODN (25S), but was markedly stable than unmodified phosphodiester. It is suggested that the cumulative amount of PS-ODN (6S) penetrated through damaged rat skin is larger than that of PS-ODN (25S) since the former is easier to degrade by nuclease than the latter and then is apt to penetrate into skin. Thus, PS-ODN represents a logical candidate for further evaluation due to the potential for delivery into the wounded skin.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• 제37권5호
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• pp.343-348
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• 1994

Ti plasmid of A. tumefaciens was labeled with $^3H-thymidine$, purified and encapsulated into phosphatidylserine (PS) and PS-cholesterol (Chol; 1 : 1 molar ratio) liposomes by lyophilization-rehydration method. PS was supplemented with 1 mole percent octadecyl rhodamine B for fluorometric measurement of PS. Liposomes entrapping $^3H-Ti plasmid$ were fused with Nicotiana sanderae protoplasts by treating with 5 mM $CaCl_2$ and 10% PEG. The fusion was evidenced by fluorescence microscopic technique. The amounts of Ti plasmid and PS associated with protoplasts were assayed by the radioactivity of $^3H-Ti plasmid$ and by the fluorescence of rhodamine B. About 7.9% of the PS liposome and 7.2% of PS-Chol liposome were fused with protoplasts. During the fusion process, about 30% of the liposomal contents of PS-Chol liposome was leaked, in contrast to about 60% leakage of its contents in PS liposome. Accounting the number of liposomes fused with protoplasts together with the encapsulation efficiency and the leakage of liposomal contents, it was calculated that ca. 1,700 Ti plasmid was transfered into one protoplast by the present method. This result may indicates that the present method transfers enough Ti plasmid into plant protoplast to elicit genetic transformation of plants.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• 제17권2호
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• pp.107-116
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• 1998

In an effort to reduce artifically the residual pesticides on crop and soil by accelerated photolysis,some 40 among the naturally occurring and synthetic coumpound were screened for photosensitization and/or photocatalysis and six promising chemicals were selected.The fungicides and the four selected photosensitizers and/or photocatalyst (PS) were applied to each crop.The results obtained are summarized as follows. 1. The wavelengths of maximum absortion (${\lambda}$max) and the molar absorptivites (${\varepsilon}$max) of procymidone,vinclozolin,and carbendazim in acentone were all 209 nm and 853,854,and 8740 respectively. 2. Of the 40 naturally-occuring and synthetic compounds screened,six promising ones were selected and designated as PS-1 (aromatic ketone),PS-2(aromatic amine)PS-3(quinone) ,PS-4 (inorganic compound),PS-5(organic acid salt) and PS-6(semiconductor photocatalyst). 3. In the accelerated photolysis of pesticide in soil by applying PS ,procymidone was decoposed rapidly by virtue of PS-2,being 59% of the control 3 days after application. 4. The vinclozolin residue in soil was reduced to 71% and 21% of the control 1 and 15 days,respectively,after PS-2 application. 5. The photolysis of carbendazim in soil was not accelerated by any of the PS tested. 6. The pesticide residues on the crop were prominently reduced by PS application.The procymidone residue on tomato was reduced to 47% of the control 15 days after PS-1 application and that on red pepper reduced to 57% 15 days after PS-2 application. 7. Vincrozolin residus remaining on tomato 1 and 15 days after PS-2 application were 38% and 56% of the control whereas those on the red pepper were 82% and 64%,respectively. 8. PS-2 was the most effective for the accelerated photolysis of carbendazim residues remaining on tomato, whereas on red pepper, the four of PS tested were all effective, but did not make much difference between them. This might be due to the shielding of sunlight by the leaves of red pepper not to exert the photosensitizing effect of PS-2 to the full.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• 제33권1호
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• pp.69-75
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• 2019

In this study, the combustibility of five types of plastic plates, fiber reinforced plastic (FRP), polystyrene (PS), polycarbonate (PC), polypropylene (PP), and polyvinyl chloride (PVC), were tested using a cone calorimeter (ISO 5660). The PVC plate showed a $44.65kW/m^2$ lower peak heat release rate (HRR) and a $30.97kW/m^2$ lower maximum average rate of heat emission than the other four types of plastics, whereas the PS plate showed a $773.44kW/m^2$ higher peak HRR and $399.14kW/m^2$ higher maximum average rate of heat emission. The PC plate and PS plate showed the highest HRR by a maximum of 3.88 times in $CO_{mean}$ yields, while the PS pate and PP plate showed the highest HRR by a maximum 4.88 times in $CO_{2mean}$ yields. In addition, the smoke performance index (SPI) of the PS plate decreased by 74.81%~95.99%; the smoke growth index (SGI) increased to 76%~300%; the smoke intensity (SI) also increased to 917.73% ~ 9607.57%, and the danger of smoke increased. The PS plate was found to have the highest risk of life damage due to smoke on the thermal and smoke sides.

• Journal of Life Science
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• 제19권6호
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• pp.744-750
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• 2009

A bacterial strain producing highly viscous extracellular polysaccharide was isolated from soil. Through morphological, physiological and chemotaxonomical studies, it was identified as a Bacillus sp. and named Bacillus sp. PS-12. The extracellular polysaccharide, named PS-12 was purified by ethanol precipitation, cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) precipitation and gel permeation chromatography. The purified polysaccharide was found to consist of glucose, mannose, galactose, and fucose, with a molar ratio of approximately 7:3.2:2:1, respectively. PS-12 was investigated for its immunostimulating activity on murine macrophage RAW264.7 cells using an ELISA assay. PS-12 stimulated the production of TNF-${\alpha}$ to a level 50 times greater than the control and also induced 1L-6 secretion in a dose-dependent manner. The cytotoxicity on RAW264.7 cells by PS-12 was relatively low with 10% cytotoxicity at 2 ${\mu}g$/ml. These results indicate that PS-12 is less cytotoxic to immune cells and possess immunomodulating activity in which it can produce cytokines including TNF-${\alpha}$ and 1L-6 from macrophages.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제19권11호
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• pp.1482-1489
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• 2009

In this study, we investigated the anti-proliferative effect of polysaccharides from Salicornia herbacea on HT-29 human colon cancer cells. Crude polysaccharides from S. herbacea (CS) were prepared by extraction with hot steam water, and fine polysaccharides from S. herbacea (PS) were obtained through further size exclusion chromatography. The anti-proliferative effect of CS and PS were measured using the MTS assay, apoptosis analysis, cell cycle analysis, and RT-PCR. HT-29 cells were treated with CS or PS at different dosages (0.5, 1, 2, 4 mg $ml^{-1}$) for 24 or 48 h. CS and PS inhibited proliferation and stimulated apoptosis of cells in a dose-dependent manner. Flow cytometric analysis after Annexin V-FITC and PI staining revealed that treatment with CS or PS increased total apoptotic death of cells to 24.99% or 91.59%, respectively, in comparison with the control (13.51 %). PS increased early apoptotic death substantially - up to 12 times more than the control. Treatment with CS or PS resulted in a concentration-dependent increase of the G2/M cell population of the cell cycle as determined by flow cytometry. G2/M arrest was induced significantly with the highest concentration (4 mg $ml^{-1}$) of PS. RT-PCR was performed to study the correlation between G2/M arrest and transcription of cell cycle control genes. The anti-proliferative activity of CS and PS was accompanied by inhibition of cyclin B1, and Cdc 2 mRNA. Moreover, both CS and PS induced expression of the p53 tumor suppressor gene and the Cdk inhibitor p21. These results suggest that polysaccharides from S. herbacea have anti-cancer activity in human colon cancer cells.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• 제26권8호
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• pp.1260-1264
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• 2005

Three new quaternary tantalum thiophosphates, $K_{0.18}TaPS_6,\;K_{0.28}TaPS_6,\;and\;Rb_{0.09}TaPS_6$ have been synthesized by using reactive alkali metal halide fluxes and structurally characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction techniques. The crystal structures of $K_{0.18}TaPS_6,\;K_{0.28}TaPS_6,\;and\;Rb_{0.09}TaPS_6$ contain 3-dimensional open framework anions, $[TaPS_6]^{x-}$(x = 0.09, 0.18, 0.28) with the empty channel which disordered alkali metal cations, $K^+\;and\;Rb^+$ are located in. Crystal data: $K_{0.18}TaPS_6$, tetragonal, space group$I4_1$/acd (no. 142), a=15.874(3) $\AA$, c=13.146(4) $\AA$, V=3312.7(12) ${\AA}^3$, K, Z=16, R1=0.0545. Crystal data: $K_{0.28}TaPS_6$, tetragonal, space group $I4_1$/acd (no. 142), a=15.880(2) $\AA$, c=13.134(3) $\AA$, V=3312.1(10) ${\AA}^3$, Z=16, R1=0.0562. Crystal data: $Rb_{0.09}TaPS_6$, tetragonal, space group I41/acd (no. 142), a=15.893(3) $\AA$, c=13.163(4) $\AA$, V=3324.7(15) ${\AA}^3$, Z=16, R1=0.0432.

• Structural Monitoring and Maintenance
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• 제5권2호
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• pp.189-204
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• 2018

This paper examines the seismic responses of a reinforced concrete (RC) frame core-tube building with pre-pressed spring self-centering energy dissipation (PS-SCED) braces. The PS-SCED brace system consists of friction devices for energy dissipation, pre-pressed combination disc springs for self-centering and tube members as guiding elements. A constitutive model of self-centering flag-shaped hysteresis for PS-SCED brace is developed to better simulate the seismic responses of the RC frame core-tube building with PS-SCED braces, which is also verified by the tests of two braces under low cyclic reversed loading. Results indicate that the self-centering and energy dissipation capabilities are well predicted by the proposed constitutive model of the PS-SCED brace. The structure with PS-SCED braces presents similar peak story drift ratio, smaller peak acceleration, smaller base shear force and much smaller residual deformations as compared to the RC frame core-tube building with bucking-restrained braces (BRBs).