• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.481-490
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• 2005

Surface sediments and seawater were sampled at Masan and Haengam Bays of Korea, to evaluate contamination by sewage-derived organic matter using fecal sterols, Six stream-water samples into Masan and Haengam Bays were also sampled. Total concentrations of eight sterols (coprostanol, epichloestanol, epicoprostanol, cholesterol, cholestanol, brassicasterol, stigmasterol and $\beta-sitosterol$) were in the range of $1,274\~4,768{\mu}g/g$ dry weight in suspended particulate from the stream-water, $292\~2,244{\mu}g/g$ dry weight in suspended particulate from the seawater and $4.5\~27.2{\mu}g/g$ dry weight in the sediments. Although sterol compositions in sediments, seawater and stream-water were different, cholesterol was the predominant sterol in all samples. The proportion and concentration of coprostanol, a sewage tracer, in stream-water was much higher than those in sediment and seawater. The sterol levels including coprostanol in the sediments and seawater were higher at inner basin than at the outer bay. Some molecular indices and multivariate statistical analysis were used to assess the origin of these sterols and sewage contamination in the study area. The sterol composition patterns in stream-water were mainly associated with contamination by sewage-derived organic matters and those of seawater were associated with the activities of marine-originated organisms. Sterol levels in the sediments were both from the sewage input through stream-water and the marine- originated organisms. This survey suggests that the main source/route of sewage-derived organic matters in Masan Bay is the input of stream-water into the bay.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.360-368
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• 2013

Objectives: Phthalates are used in a large variety of products including as coatings of pharmaceutical tablets, film formers, stabilizers, dispersants, emulsifying agents, and suspending agents. They have been the subject of great public concern in recent years. The extensive uses of this material have attracted attention and issues regarding its safety have been raised. Methods: In this study, three types of phthalate skin permeation were studied using matrixes such as ointments, creams and lotions in vitro. The absorption of phthalate diesters [Dimethyl phthalate (DMP), Di-n-propyl phthalate (DPP) and Di-n-pentyl phthalate (DNPP)] using film former has been measured in vitro through rat skin. Epidermal membranes were set up in Franz diffusion cells and their permeability to PBS measured in order to establish the integrity of the skin before the phthalates were applied to the epidermal surface. Results: Absorption rates for each phthalate ester were determined and permeability assessment made to quantify any irreversible alterations in barrier function due to contact with the esters. Types of phthalate in vitro experimental results quickly appeared in the following order DMP > DPP ${\geq}$ DNPP. Conclusions: In the experimental results, lotion> cream> ointment, and the permeation rate of lotion with a great amount of moisture was the fastest. Skin permeation rate is generally influenced by the chemical characteristics of a given chemical, such as molecular weight and lipophilicity. As the esters became more lipophilic and less hydrophilic, the rate of absorption decreased.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.43.3-43.3
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• 2017

NGC 6822 is a dwarf irregular galaxy in the Local Group and it is located in 500 kpc, further than the Large Magellanic Cloud and the Small Magellanic Cloud. Therefore, we can study star-forming processes by local condition in NGC 6822 instead of tidal force of the Galactic gravitational field. Hubble V is the brightest of several H II complexes in this galaxy. We observed Hubble V by using IGRINS attached on the 2.7 m telescope at the McDonald Observatory in Texas, US in May 2016. We performed a spectral mapping of $15^{{\prime}{\prime}}{\times} 7^{{\prime}{\prime}}$area on H and K bands, and detected emission lines of bright $Br{\gamma}\;{\lambda}2.1661{\mu}m$ and weak He I ${\lambda}2.0587{\mu}m$. Molecular hydrogen lines of 1-0S(1) ${\lambda}2.1218{\mu}m$, 2-1 S(1) ${\lambda}2.2477{\mu}m$, and 1-0 S(0) ${\lambda}2.2227{\mu}m$ was also detected. These emission lines show the structure of an ionized core and excited surface of clouds by far-ultraviolet photons, photodissociation region (PDR). We present three-dimensional maps of emission line distributions through multi slit scanning data and compare these results with the previous study. This presentation shows the physical structure of the star-forming regions and we discuss a PDR model and an evolution of Hubble V complex.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Manufacturing Process Engineers
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.88-95
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• 2015

The thickness of adsorbed molecular layers is the most critical factor in studying thin-film lubrication, and it is the most essential parameter that distinguishes thin-film from thick-film lubrication analysis. The thin film between the shaft and bearing surface within a very narrow gap was considered. The general Reynolds equation has been derived for calculating thin-film lubrication parameters affecting the performance of the circular journal bearing. Investigation of the load-carrying capacity and pressure distribution for the journal bearing considering the adsorbed layer thickness has been carried out. A Reynolds equation appropriate for the journal bearing is used in this paper for the analysis, and it is discussed using the finite difference method of the central difference scheme. The parameters, such as eccentricity and attitude angle, are used for discussing the load-carrying capacity of the journal bearing. The results reported in this paper should be applied to analysis of the journal bearing with different lubrication factors. The steady-state analysis of the journal bearing is conducted using the Reynolds model under thin-film lubrication conditions. For a journal bearing, several parameters, such as a pressure, load capacity, and pressure components of the bearing can be obtained, and these results can be stored in a sequential data file for later analysis. Finally, their distribution can be displayed and analyzed easily by using the MATLAB GUI technique. The load-carrying capability of the journal bearing is observed for the specified operating conditions. This work could be helpful for the understanding and research of the mechanism of thin-film lubrication.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.145-151
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• 2006

Leukotactin-l (Lkn-l )/CCL15 has been known as a potent chemoattractant of leukocytes. However, the precise function of Lkn-l in human neutrophils has not been explained well. In the present study, we investigated the contribution of Lkn-1 in chemotactic activity of human neutrophils. Both CCR1 and CCR3 mRNA expressions are strongly expressed in human neutrophils but CCR2 protein expression was uniquely detected on the cell surface. Lkn-l binding to CCR1 and CCR3 induced chemotactic activity of neutrophils. Chemotactic index of Lkn-l was comparable to that of IL-8. $MIP-1{\alpha}/CCL3$ binding to CCR1 and CCR5 has no effect on neutrophil migration. Cell migration, in response to Lkn-l, was blocked by pertussis toxin (Ptx), a $G_o/G_i$ protein inhibitor, and U73122, a phospholipase C(PLC) inhibitor but not by protein kinase C inhibitor such as rottlerin, and Ro-31-8425. Taken together, our results demonstrate that Lkn-l transduces the chemotaxis signal through $G_o/G_i$ protein and PLC. This finding provides the molecular mechanism by which Lkn-l may contribute to neutrophil movement into the site of inflammation.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.51 no.5
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• pp.503-510
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• 2013

Toxoplasma gondii is an apicomplexan parasite with a broad host range of most warm-blooded mammals including humans, of which one-thirds of the human population has been infected worldwide which can cause congenital defects, abortion, and neonatal complications. Here, we developed a rapid diagnostic test (RDT) for T. gondii infection. Antigenic N-terminal half of the major surface antigen (SAG1) was linked with intrinsically unstructured domain (IUD) of dense granule protein 2 (GRA2). The recombinant GST-GRA2-SAG1A protein was successfully expressed and purified as 51 kDa of molecular weight. Furthermore, antigenicity and solubility of the rGST-GRA2-SAG1A protein were significantly increased. The overall specificity and sensitivity of GST-GRA2-SAG1A loaded RDT (TgRDT) were estimated as 100% and 97.1% by comparing with ELISA result which uses T. gondii whole cell lysates as the antigen. The TgRDT tested with Uganda people sera for field trial and showed 31.9% of seroprevalence against T. gondii antibody. The TgRDT is proved to be a kit for rapid and easy to use with high accuracy, which would be a suitable serodiagnostic tool for toxoplasmosis.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.157-162
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• 2009

High frequency plant proliferation system via direct frond regeneration of endemic duckweed plants Lemna paucicostata and Spirodela polyrhiza was established. Fronds of L. paucicostata and S. polyrhiza were able to multiply half-strength MS basal medium without plant growth regulators. However, addition of BA at a range of 1 to 3 mg/L was more effective than high concentration of BA treatments for fronds proliferation. Also half-strength MS salts was suitable for the fronds proliferation. Increase of salts concentration had inhibitory effect on fronds proliferation. Also the frequency of callus formation from fronds of L. paucicostata was 3.3%, when they cultured onto 1/2 MS medium supplemented with 1 mg/L of BA. Similarly the frequency of callus formation from S. polyrhiza was very low. After subculture of white globular structures derived from fronds of L. paucicostata, numerous globular somatic embryos and calluses were developed onto the surface of fronds. However these somatic embryos did not fully develop into normal plants when transferred to 1/2 MS basal medium. Therefore direct frond regeneration system was more efficient for mass proliferation of L. paucicostata and S. polyrhiza. The plant regeneration system of L. paucicostata and S. polyrhiza established in this study, might be applied to mass proliferation and genetic transformation for molecular breeding.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.583-589
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• 2008

In the present study, we investigated whether rosmarinic acid, which has been suggested to exhibit anti-inflammatory properties, can suppress the expressions of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and macrophage inflammatory protein-$1{\alpha}$ ($MIP-1{\alpha}$) via the MAPK pathway in LPS-stimulated bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs) in the presence of GM-CSF and IL-4 in media. The effects of rosmarinic acid were investigated in BMDCs with respect to the following; cytotoxicity, surface molecule expression, dextran-FITC uptake, cell migration, chemokine gene expression, and the MAPK signaling pathway. Rosmarinic acid was found to significantly inhibit the expressions of CD80, CD86, MHC class I, and MHC class II in LPS-stimulated mature BMDCs, and rosmarinic acid-treated BMDCs were found to be highly efficient with regards to antigen capture via mannose receptor-mediated endocytosis. In addition, rosmarinic acid reduced cell migration by inducing the expression of a specific chemokine receptor on LPS-induced mature BMDCs. Rosmarinic acid also significantly reduced the expressions of MCP-1 and $MIP-1{\alpha}$ induced by LPS in BMDCs and inhibited LPS-induced activation of MAPK and the nuclear translocation of $NF-{\kappa}B$. These findings broaden current perspectives concerning our understanding of the immunopharmacological functions of rosmarinic acid, and have ramifications that concern the development of therapeutic drugs for the treatment of DC-related acute and chronic diseases.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.418-425
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• 2017

Interferon-${\gamma}$-inducible protein 10 (IP-10), also known as chemokine C-X-C motif ligand (CXCL) 10, is closely associated with antiviral immunity and the progression of chronic hepatitis B (CHB). However, the value of baseline serological and histological IP-10 expression levels in predicting the efficacy of the antiviral response to nucleoside/nucleotide analogues (NAs) is still unknown. In our research, intrahepatic and peripheral IP-10 expression levels were systemically examined before and after treatment with entecavir (ETV). Baseline serological and histological IP-10 expression levels were significantly increased in patients with CHB, particularly in patients with higher degrees of liver inflammation and liver fibrosis. Moreover, higher baseline intrahepatic IP-10 levels indicated better prognoses in patients with CHB after entecavir therapy. The baseline IP-10 level was also positively associated with several clinical parameters, including baseline levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA, and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), and with the decrease in HBsAg levels after treatment. In addition, monocyte-derived IP-10 was expressed at higher levels in patients with CHB than in patients with liver cirrhosis (LC) and healthy controls (HC). According to the results of our in vitro experiments, IP-10 directly promoted hepatocyte apoptosis. Based on these findings, baseline serological and histological IP-10 levels might predict CHB severity and the decrease in HBsAg levels after entecavir therapy.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.401-409
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• 2017

The primary cilium is a non-motile microtubule-based organelle that protrudes from the surface of most human cells and works as a cellular antenna to accept extracellular signals. Primary cilia assemble from the basal body during the resting stage ($G_0$ phase) and simultaneously disassemble with cell cycle re-entry. Defective control of assembly or disassembly causes diverse human diseases including ciliopathy and cancer. To identify the effective compounds for studying primary cilium disassembly, we have screened 297 natural compounds and identified 18 and 17 primary cilium assembly and disassembly inhibitors, respectively. Among them, the application of KY-0120, identified as Brefeldin A, disturbed Dvl2-Plk1-mediated cilium disassembly via repression of the interaction of $CK1{\varepsilon}-Dvl2$ and the expression of Plk1 mRNA. Therefore, our study may suggest useful compounds for studying the cellular mechanism of primary cilium disassembly to prevent ciliopathy and cancer.