• Molecules and Cells
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.375-381
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• 2016

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs (~22 nucleotides) regulating gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. By directing the RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC) to bind specific target mRNAs, miRNA can repress target genes and affect various biological phenotypes. Functional miRNA target recognition is known to majorly attribute specificity to consecutive pairing with seed region (position 2-8) of miRNA. Recent advances in a transcriptome-wide method of mapping miRNA binding sites (Ago HITS-CLIP) elucidated that a large portion of miRNA-target interactions in vivo are mediated not only through the canonical "seed sites" but also via non-canonical sites (~15-80%), setting the stage to expand and determine their properties. Here we focus on recent findings from transcriptome-wide non-canonical miRNA-target interactions, specifically regarding "nucleation bulges" and "seed-like motifs". We also discuss insights from Ago HITS-CLIP data alongside structural and biochemical studies, which highlight putative mechanisms of miRNA target recognition, and the biological significance of these non-canonical sites mediating marginal repression.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.227-244
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• 2011

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNA molecules that negatively regulate gene expression via degradation or translational repression of their target messenger RNAs (mRNAs). Recent studies have clearly demonstrated that miRNAs play critical roles in several biologic processes, including cell cycle, differentiation, cell development, cell growth, and apoptosis and that miRNAs are highly expressed in regulatory T (Treg) cells and a wide range of miRNAs are involved in the regulation of immunity and in the prevention of autoimmunity. It has been increasingly reported that miRNAs are associated with various human diseases like autoimmune disease, skin disease, neurological disease and psychiatric disease. Recently, the identification of miRNAs in skin has added a new dimension in the regulatory network and attracted significant interest in this novel layer of gene regulation. Although miRNA research in the field of dermatology is still relatively new, miRNAs have been the subject of much dermatological interest in skin morphogenesis and in regulating angiogenesis. In addition, miRNAs are moving rapidly center stage as key regulators of neuronal development and function in addition to important contributions to neurodegenerative disorder. Moreover, there is now compelling evidence that dysregulation of miRNA networks is implicated in the development and onset of human neruodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, Tourette's syndrome, Down syndrome, depression and schizophrenia. In this review, I briefly summarize the current studies about the roles of miRNAs in various autoimmune diseases, skin diseases, psychoneurological disorders and mental stress.

• Advances in nano research
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.133-145
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• 2020

In this study, nonlinear vibrations and dynamic instabilities of a smart embedded micro shell conveying varied fluid flow and subjected to the combined electro-thermo-mechanical loadings are investigated. With the aim of designing new hydraulic sensors and actuators, the piezoelectric materials are employed for the body and the effects of applying electric field on the stability of the system as well as the induced voltage due to the dynamic behavior of the system are studied. The nonlocal piezoelasticity theory and the nonlinear cylindrical shell model in conjunction with the energy approach are utilized to mathematically modeling of the structure. The fluid flow is assumed to be isentropic, incompressible and fully develop, and for more generality of the problem both steady and time dependent flow regimes are considered. The mathematical modeling of fluid flow is also carried out based on a scalar potential function, time mean Navier-Stokes equations and the theory of slip boundary condition. Employing the modified Lagrange equations for open systems, the nonlinear coupled governing equations of motion are achieved and solved via the state space problem; forth order numerical integration and Bolotin's method. In the numerical results, a comprehensive discussion is made on the dynamical instabilities of the system (such as divergence, flutter and parametric resonance). We found that applying positive electric potential field will improve the stability of the system as an actuator or vibration amplitude controller in the micro electro mechanical systems.

• ETRI Journal
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.275-282
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• 2018

Flash reduction of graphene oxide is an efficient method for producing high quality reduced graphene oxide under room temperature ambient conditions without the use of hazardous reducing agents (such as hydrazine and hydrogen iodide). The entire process is fast, low-cost, and suitable for large-scale fabrication, which makes it an attractive process for industrial manufacturing. Herein, we present a simple fabrication method for a flexible in-plane graphene micro-supercapacitor using flash light irradiation. All carbon-based, monolithic supercapacitors with in-plane geometry can be fabricated with simple flash irradiation, which occurs in only a few milliseconds. The thinness of the fabricated device makes it highly flexible and thus useful for a variety of applications, including portable and wearable electronics. The rapid flash reduction process creates a porous graphene structure with high surface area and good electrical conductivity, which ultimately results in high specific capacitance ($36.90mF\;cm^{-2}$) and good cyclic stability up to 8,000 cycles.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.33 no.8
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• pp.2489-2493
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• 2012

A new fluorescent system (acridine/RTIL hybrid gel) confined in the 3D micro-structure of a poly(lactic acid) membrane were prepared from 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium-based ionic liquids ([bmim]X (X = $SbF_6$, $NTf_2$, Cl); RTILs), poly(lactic acid) (PLA), and acridine via the sol-gel route. SEM images showed that, in the presence of [bmim]$SbF_6$ and [bmim]$NTf_2$, 3D-ly paticulated structures were created inside the PLA membranes and acridine/RTIL hybrid gels were confined in gabs of particulates. However, the use of [bmim]Cl induced the formation of a 3D-ly porous structure containing the hybrid gel of acridine/[bmimCl in the micropores. The three fluorescent systems exhibited different fluorescence behaviors (fluorescence maximum and intensity) depending on the C2-H acidity scale of the RTILs (or their anion type). Acridine gels hybridized with [bmim]$SbF_6$ and [bmim]$NTf_2$ showed blue fluorescence with relative high intensity, whereas the hybrid gel with [bmim]Cl exhibited almost no fluorescence under dry conditions. However, the acridine/[bmim]Cl hybrid system in the micro-porous PLA membrane started to emit fluorescent light under humid conditions and showed a possible response, indicating that it could be applied as a humidity sensor.

• BMB Reports
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• v.51 no.11
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• pp.563-571
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• 2018

Colorectal cancer (CRC), the third most common cancer in the world, has no specific biomarkers that facilitate its diagnosis and subsequent treatment. The miRNAs, small single-stranded RNAs that repress the mRNA translation and trigger the mRNA degradation, show aberrant levels in the CRC, by which these molecules have been related with the initiation, progression, and drug-resistance of this cancer type. Numerous studies show the microRNAs influence the cellular mechanisms related to the cell cycle, differentiation, apoptosis, and migration of the cancer cells through the post-transcriptionally regulated gene expression. Specific patterns of the upregulated and down-regulated miRNA have been associated with the CRC diagnosis, prognosis, and therapeutic response. Concretely, the downregulated miRNAs represent attractive candidates, not only for the CRC diagnosis, but for the targeted therapies via the tumor-suppressing microRNA replacement. This review shows a general overview of the potential uses of the miRNAs in the CRC diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment with a special focus on the downregulated ones.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.33 no.11
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• pp.1202-1208
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• 2009

An inverse finite element (FE) model parameter estimation algorithm can be used to characterize mechanical properties of biological tissues. Using this algorithm, we can consider the influence of material nonlinearity, contact mechanics, complex boundary conditions, and geometrical constraints in the modeling. In this study, biomechanical experiments on macro and micro samples are conducted and characterized with the developed algorithm. Macro scale experiments were performed to measure the force response of porcine livers against mechanical loadings using one-dimensional indentation device. The force response of the human liver cancer cells was also measured by the atomic force microscope (AFM). The mechanical behavior of porcine livers (macro) and human liver cancer cells (micro) were characterized with the algorithm via hyperelastic and linear viscoelastic models. The developed models are suitable for computing accurate reaction force on tools and deformation of biomechanical tissues.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.7
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• pp.3313-3317
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• 2012

Prostate cancer is a highly prevalent disease in older men of the western world. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small RNA molecules that regulate gene expression via posttranscriptional inhibition of protein synthesis. To identify the diagnostic potential of miRNAs in prostate cancer, we downloaded the miRNA expression profile of prostate cancer from the GEO database and analysed the differentially expressed miRNAs (DE-miRNAs) in prostate cancerous tissue compared to non-cancerous tissue. Then, the targets of these DE-miRNAs were extracted from the database and mapped to the STRING and KEGG databases for network construction and pathway enrichment analysis. We identified a total of 16 miRNAs that showed a significant differential expression in cancer samples. A total of 9 target genes corresponding to 3 DE-miRNAs were obtained. After network and pathway enrichment analysis, we finally demonstrated that miR-20 appears to play an important role in the regulation of prostate cancer onset. MiR-20 as single biomarker or in combination could be useful in the diagnosis of prostate cancer. We anticipate our study could provide the groundwork for further experiments.

• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
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• 2008.11a
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• pp.222-227
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• 2008

This study is focused on an integrated numerical modeling enabling one to investigate the dynamic behavior and failure of 2-D textile composite and 3-D orthogonal woven composite structures weakened by micro-cracks and subjected to an impact load. The integrated numerical modeling is based on: I) determination of governing equations via a three-level hierarchy: micro-mechanical unit cell analysis, layer-wise analysis accounting for transverse strains and stresses, and structural analysis based on anisotropic plate layers, II) development of an efficient computational approach enabling one to perform transient response analyses of 2-D plain woven and 3-D orthogonal woven composite structures featuring the matrix cracking and exposed to time-dependent loads, III) determination of the structural characteristics of the textile-layered composites and their degraded features under various geometrical yarn shapes, and finally, IV) assessment of the implications of stiffness degradation on dynamic response to impact loads.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.54 no.10
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• pp.3919-3927
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• 2022

This study presents an optimal design of the coolant system of a non-refueling full-life small reactor by analyzing the space-integrated geometrical and electromagnetic variables of an extra vessel electromagnetic pump (EVEMP) for the circulation of a lead-bismuth eutectic (LBE) coolant. The EVEMP is an ideal alternative to the thermal-hydraulic system of non-refueling full-life micro reactors as it possesses no internal structures, such as impellors or sealing structures, for the transportation of LBE. Typically, the LBE passes through the annular flow channel of a reactor, is cooled by the heat exchanger, and then circulates back to the EVEMP flow channel. This thermal-hydraulic flow method is similar to natural circulation, which enhances thermal efficiency, while providing a golden time for cooling cores in the event of an emergency. When the forced circulation technology of the EVEMP was applied, the non-refueling full-life micro reactor achieve an output power of 60 MWt, which is higher than that achievable via the natural circulation method (30 MWt). Accordingly, an optimized EVEMP for Micro URANUS with a flow rate of 4196 kg/s and developed pressure of 73 kPa under a working temperature of 250 ℃ was designed.