• Hanyang Medical Reviews
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.130-136
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• 2014

Animals find nutritious foods to survive, while avoiding aversive and toxic chemicals through the chemosensory faculties of olfaction and taste. The olfaction is comparatively well characterized, but the studies of taste are only recently developing since after 2000. Genetic, immunohistochemistry, and electrophysiological studies with knock-out transgenic mice opened up the taste field in mammals. Taste in insects has been only recently been studied after mammalian taste receptors were identified. Flies also discriminate the differences of sweet, salty and sour food, while being able to detect and reject potential foods contaminated with toxins or detrimental chemicals. These discriminatory abilities indicate that flies house basic taste receptors in their taste organs like humans. For the last decade, the sweet and bitter gustatory receptors in Drosophila have been characterized. In this review, we compare the taste anatomy between humans and insects. We also introduce five canonical taste sensations in Drosophila. In addition, we introduce new taste repertoires, that fruit flies can sense water and fatty acids as well as the carbonation buffer in beverage. These studies on simple model organisms will open up a new potential for scientists to further investigate these characteristics in vertebrates.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.31 no.8
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• pp.672-679
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• 2007

The combustion characteristics of a liquefied petroleum gas-di-methyl ether (LPG-DME) compression ignition engine was investigated under homogeneous charge and stratified charge conditions. LPG was used as the main fuel and injected into the combustion chamber directly. DME was used as an ignition promoter and injected into the intake port. Different LPG injection timings were tested to verify the combustion characteristics of the LPG-DME compression ignition engine. The combustion was divided into three region which are homogeneous charge, stratified charge, and diffusion flame region according to the injection timing of LPG. The hydrocarbon emission of stratified charge combustion was lower than that of homogeneous charge combustion. However, the carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxide emission of stratified charge combustion were slightly higher than those of the homogeneous charge region. The indicated mean effective pressure was reduced at stratified charge region, while it was almost same level as the homogeneous charge combustion region at diffusion combustion region. The start of combustion timing of the stratified charge combustion and diffusion combustion region were advanced compared to the homogeneous charge combustion. It attributed to the higher cetane number and mixture temperature distribution which locally stratified. However, the knock intensity was varied as the homogeneity of charge was increased.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.165-170
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• 2017

Pigs have been extensively used as mediators of xenotransplantation research. Specifically, the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) miniature pig was developed to fix major histocompatibility antigens for use in xenotransplantation studies. We generated transgenic pigs for xenotransplantation using MGH pigs. However, it has not been studied yet whether these pigs show similarity of reproductive physiological characteristics to wild types of MGH miniature pig. In this study we analyzed the estrous cycles and pregnancy characteristics of wild type (WT) and transgenic MGH miniature pigs, which were ${\alpha}1,3$-galactosyltransferase (GalT) heterozygous and homozygous knock-out, and membrane cofactor protein (MCP) inserted in its locus, $GalT^{-MCP/+}$ and $GalT^{-MCP/-MCP}$ pigs. Estrous cycles of WT, $GalT^{-MCP/+}$ and $GalT^{-MCP/-MCP}$ pigs were $20.9{\pm}0.74$, $20.1{\pm}1.26$, and $17.3{\pm}0.87days$, respectively, and periods of estrous were $3.2{\pm}0.10$, $3.1{\pm}0.12$, and $3.1{\pm}0.11days$. The periods of gestation of WT, $GalT^{-MCP/+}$ and $GalT^{-MCP/-MCP}$ pigs were $114.2{\pm}0.37$, $113.3{\pm}0.67$, and $115.4{\pm}0.51days$, respectively. Litter sizes of WT, $GalT^{-MCP/+}$ and $GalT^{-MCP/-MCP}$ pigs were $4.8{\pm}0.35$, $4.8{\pm}1.11$ and $3.0{\pm}0.32$ respectively. There were no significant differences on estrous cycle, periods of estrous and gestation, and litter size among WT, $GalT^{-MCP/+}$ and $GalT^{-MCP/-MCP}$ pigs, meaning that GalT knock-out and additional expression MCP of the MGH miniature pig did not effect on reproduction traits. These results provide relevant information to establish breeding system for MGH transgenic pig, and for propagation of $GalT^{-MCP/-MCP}$ pig to supply for xenotransplantation research.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.274-284
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• 2009

Background: Swiprosin-1 was identified in human CD8+ lymphocytes, mature B cells and non-lymphonoid tissue. We have recently reported that swiprosin-1 is expressed in mast cells and up-regulated in both in vitro and in vivo. Methods: The expression of cytokines and swiprosin-1 were determined by by real time PCR and conventional PCR. Pharmacological inhibitors were treated to investigate potential mechanism of swiprosin-1 in mast cell activation. Actin content was evaluated by confocal microscopy and flow cytometry. Results: The swiprosin-1 augmented PMA/A23187-induced expression of cytokines and release of histamine. However, knock-down of swiprosin-1 showed only a modest effect on PMA/A23187-induced cytokine expression, suggesting that swiprosin-1 has gain-of-function characteristics. Swiprosin-1 was found in microvilli-like membrane protrusions and highly co-localized with F-actin. Importantly, either disruption of actin by cytochalasin B or inhibition of PI3 kinase, an enzyme involved in actin remodeling, by wortmannin blocked cytokine expression only in swiprosin-1-overexpressing cells. Conclusion: These results suggest that swiprosin-1 modulates mast cell activation potentially through actin regulation.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.633-636
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• 2012

Purpose: PRIL (proliferation-inducing ligand) is a newly identified member of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) family and modulates death ligand-induced apoptosis. Here, we investigated the effect of PRIL on cellular characteristics relating to tumor progression in human gastric cancer. Method: Recombinant lentivirus containing PRIL siRNA was constructed and then infected MGC803 and SGC7901 gastric cancer cells. MTT [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide] colony formation and cell cycle analysis were used to study the effect of PRIL knockdown on gastric cancer cell proliferation. Results: PRIL expression in lentivirus infected cells was significantly reduced as evidenced by quantitative real-time PCR. Cell viability and colony formation of MGC803 and SGC7901 cells were significantly hampered in PRIL knock-down cells. Moreover, the cell cycle was arrested at G2/M phase, elucidating the mechanism underlying the inhibitory effect of siRNA on cell proliferation. Conclusions: Our study indicated that PRIL functions in promoting cell growth, and lentivirus-mediated PRIL gene knockdown might be a promising strategy in the treatment of gastric cancer.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Automotive Engineers
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.9-16
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• 2006

Variable valve timing is one of the attractive ways to control homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) engine. Hot internal residual gas which can be controlled by variable valve timing(VVT) device, makes fuel evaporated easily, and ignition timing advanced. Regular gasoline was used as main fuel and di-methyl ether(DME) was used as ignition promoter in this research. HCCI engine operating range is limited by high combustion peak pressure and engine noise. High combustion pressure can damage the engine during operation. To avoid engine damage, the rich limits have to define using various methods. Peak combustion pressure, rate of cylinder pressure rise was considered to determine rich limit of engine operating range. Knock probability was correlated with the rate of cylinder pressure rise as well as the peak combustion pressure.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2006

The free-piston hydrogen fueled engine is estimated as the next generation power system which can obtain high efficiency and low emission, simultaneously. In order to develop the free-piston hydrogen fueled engine, it is necessary to stable the combustion. The engine combustion, backfire and knock phenomenons were studied by using RICEM for researching combustion characteristics of free-piston engine. As the results, backfire occurrence was not observed in the free-piston engine under limited experimental condition. And knocking occurred in case of higher cylinder wall temperature.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Automotive Engineers
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.32-39
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• 2009

The HCCI engine is a next generation engine, with high efficiency and low emissions. The engine may be an alternative to SI and DI engines; however, HCCI's operating range is limited by an excessive rate of pressure rise during combustion and the resulting engine knock in high-load. The purpose of this study was to gain a understanding of the effect of only initial temperature and thermal stratification for reducing the pressure-rise rate in HCCI combustion. And we confirmed characteristics of combustion, knocking and emissions. The engine was fueled with Di-Methyl Ether. The computations were conducted using both a single-zone model and a multi-zone model by CHEMKIN and modified SENKIN.

• Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology
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• v.15 no.10
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• pp.1442-1450
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• 2001

The EGR system has been widely used to reduce nitrogen oxides (NO$\_$x/) emission, to improve fuel economy and suppress knock by using the characteristics of charge dilution. However, as the EGR rate at a given engine operating condition increases, the combustion instability increases. The combustion instability increases cyclic variations resulting in the deterioration of engine performance and emissions. Therefore, the optimum EGR rate should be carefully determined in order to obtain the better engine performance and emissions. An experimental study has been performed to investigate the effects of EGR on combustion stability, engine performance,70x and the other exhaust emissions from 1.5 liter gasoline engine. Operating conditions are selected from the test result of the high speed and high acceleration region of SFTP mode which generates more NO$\_$x/ and needs higher engine speed compared to FTP-75 (Federal Test Procedure) mode. Engine power, fuel consumption and exhaust emissions are measured with various EGR rate. Combustion stability is analyzed by examining the variation of indicated mean effective pressure (COV$\_$imep/) and the timings of maximum pressure (P$\_$max/) location using pressure sensor. Engine performance is analyzed by investigating engine power and maximum cylinder pressure and brake specific fuel consumption (BSFC)

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.227-233
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• 2006

A free-piston hydrogen fueled engine is considered as one of the next power systems which is able to obtain high efficiency and low emission, simultaneously. In this study, in order to ensure the possibility as the next generation power system, the combustion characteristics and the performance of the free-piston hydrogen fueled engine are analyzed by using the linear RICEM for the change of injection pressure and equivalence ratio. As the results, in-cylinder maximum pressure is shown at injection pressure $P_{inj}$=6bar. Backfire phenomenon is not observed under experimental condition and knock occurs over ${\Phi}=0.8$. The thermal efficiency is the highest at injection pressure, $P_{inj}$=6bar and equivalence ratio, ${\Phi}=0.7$, respectively.