• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.338-343
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• 2017

Activated carbon has lower electrical conductivity and reliability than other carbonaceous materials because of the oxygen functional groups that form during the activation process. This problem can be overcome by doping the material with heteroatoms to reduce the number of oxygen functional groups. In the present study, N, F co-doped activated carbon (AC-NF) was successfully prepared by a microwave-assisted hydrothermal method, utilizing commercial activated carbon (AC-R) as the precursor and ammonium tetrafluoroborate as the single source for the co-doping of N and F. AC-NF showed improved electrical conductivity ($3.8\;S\;cm^{-1}$) with N and F contents of 0.6 and 0.1 at%, respectively. The introduction of N and F improved the performance of the pertinent supercapacitor: AC-NF exhibited an improved rate capability at current densities of $0.5-50mA\;cm^{-2}$. The rate capability was higher compared to that of raw activated carbon because N and F codoping increased the electrical conductivity of AC-NF. The developed method for the co-doping of N and F using a single source is cost-effective and yields AC-NF with excellent electrochemical properties; thus, it has promising applications in the commercialization of energy storage devices.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.40-42
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• 2014

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is an autosomal dominant disease characterized by neurological, cutaneous, and ophthalmological manifestations. A 33-year-old woman with typical symptoms of NF1 visited Ajou University Hospital. Screening of the whole-messenger RNA region of NF1 at the complementary DNA level by polymerase chain reaction-direct sequencing confirmed the presence of an NF1 mutation at the genomic level. The mutation analysis revealed an in-frame skipping of exon 46 (c.6757_6858del) caused by a point mutation (c. 6792C>A) in exon 46. In this report, we have described the first Korean case of a proband with NF1 that carries an allele with an exon 46 deletion caused by an exonic splicing enhancer site mutation, leading to the skipping of the whole of exon 46 (c.6757_6858del).

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.380-386
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• 2005

Optimal conditions of ultrafiltration (UF) and nanofiltration (NF) were investigated for separation and concentration of isoflavones and oligosaccharides from Sunmul. Levels of COD, BOD, and suspended solids (SS) in UF and NF permeates were also determined to evaluate effectiveness of these processes for reducing water pollution. Optimal UF operation conditions to achieve minimal fouling and maximal flux were $33-34^{\circ}C$ operating temperature and 2.3-2.4 bar trans-membrane pressure. Recovery yields of isoflavones and oligosaccharides in UF retentate were 11.49-28.16% and 12.77-27.57%, respectively. Increase in volumetric concentration factor (VCF) resulted in more functional compounds of isoflavones and oligosaccharides passing through UF membrane. Total isoflavone and oligosaccharide yields decreased by 3% as VCF increased from 6.0 to 8.0 and from 8.0 to 10.0, while decreased significantly by 10% as VCF decreased from 4.0 to 6.0. Optimal NF operating conditions were 192-195 psig operating pressure at $30-33^{\circ}C$. Total yields of isoflavones and oligosaccharides significantly decreased at VCF 8.0, whereas did not decrease up to VCF 6.0 during NF operation. Therefore, VCF 6.0 was recommended for economical process. COD and BOD decreased by more than 98% after NF process, and SS were not detected after UF process. These results indicated sequential filtration process was useful for separation of isoflavones and oligosaccharides from Sunmul and for reducing water contaminants.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.10-23
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• 2012

Objectives: Gagamyanggyeoksan (G-YGS) has been used to suppress allergic reaction, however, the cellular target of G-YGS and its mode of action remain unclear. The present study was designed to investigate the effect of extracted G-YGS on the PMA and lonomycin (PI)-induced activation of RBL-2H3. Methods: For this investigation, We examined IL-4, IL-13 mRNA expression by Real-Time PCR, IL-4, IL-13 production by ELISA analysis and manifestations of GATA-1, GATA-2, NF-AT1, NF-AT2, AP-1 and NF-${\kappa}B$ p65 transcription factors by western blotting, OVA-specific IgE, IL-4, IL-13 by mouse be sensitive to OVA. Results: Here we showed that treatment of RBL-2H3 mast cells with G-YGS, suppressed PI-induced production of Th2 cytokines including IL-4 and IL-13 in a dose dependent manner. The mRNA expression of IL-4 were completely abolished by G-YGS at the concentration of $100{\mu}g/ml$. Data from a stable cell lines consistently expressing IL-4. And the mRNA expression of IL-13 were abolished by G-YGS at the $200{\mu}g/ml$. But there is no difference between the $50{\mu}g/ml$, the $100{\mu}g/ml$ and the comparison. Results from the western blot analysis of transcription factors involving IL-4 and IL-13 expression indicated that it prominently decreased the expression of mast cell specific transcricption factors including GATA-1, GATA-2, NF-AT2, c-Jun, NF-${\kappa}B$ p65 but not c-Fos. And G-YGS suppressed IgE, IL-4, IL-13 in mouse be sensitive to OVA. Conclusions We suggested the anti-allergic activities of G-YGS might be mediated by down-regulation of Th2 cytokines such as IL-4 and IL-13 through the regulation of transcription factors as GATA-1, GATA-2, NF-AT2, c-Jun, NF-${\kappa}B$ p65.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.27 no.9
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• pp.954-960
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• 2004

Expression of the NF-$textsc{k}$B-dependent genes responsible for inflammation, such as TNF-$\alpha$, IL-1$\beta$, and nitric oxide synthase (NOS), contributes to chronic inflammation which is a major cause of neurodegenerative diseases (i.e. Alzheimer＇s disease). Although NF-$textsc{k}$B plays a biphasic role in different cells like neurons and microglia, controlling the activation of NF-$textsc{k}$B is important for its negative feedback in either activation or inactivation. In this study, we found that ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) inhibited I$textsc{k}$B$\alpha$ degradation to block expression of the NF-$textsc{k}$B-dependent genes in microglia when activated by $\beta$-amyloid peptide (A$\beta$). We also showed that when microglia is activated by $A\beta$42, the expression of A20 is suppressed. These findings place A20 in the category of ' protective ' genes, protecting cells from pro-inflammatory reper-toires induced in response to inflammatory stimuli in activated microglia via NF-$textsc{k}$B activation. In light of the gene and proteins for NF-$textsc{k}$B-dependent gene and inactivator for NF-$textsc{k}$B (I$textsc{k}$B$\alpha$), the observations now reported suggest that UDCA plays a role in supporting the attenuation of the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and NO via inactivation of NF-$textsc{k}$B. Moreover, an NF-$textsc{k}$B inhibitor such as A20 can collaborate and at least enhance the anti-inflammatory effect in microglia, thus giving a potent benefit for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases such as AD.uch as AD.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.57 no.9
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• pp.410-415
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• 2014

Purpose: Neurofibromatosis 1 (NF1) is an autosomal dominant condition caused by an NF1 gene mutation. NF1 is also a multisystem disorder that primarily affects the skin and nervous system. The goal of this study was to delineate the phenotypic characterization and assess the NF1 mutational spectrum in patients with NF1. Methods: A total of 42 patients, 14 females and 28 males, were enrolled in this study. Clinical manifestations and results of the genetic study were retrospectively reviewed. Results: Age of the patients at the time of NF1 diagnosis was $15.8{\pm}14.6$ years (range, 1-62 years). Twelve patients (28.6%) had a family history of NF1. Among the 42 patients, $Caf\acute{e}$-au-lait spots were shown in 42 (100%), neurofibroma in 31 (73.8%), freckling in 22 (52.4%), and Lisch nodules in seven (16.7%). The most common abnormal finding in the brain was hamartoma (20%). Mental retardation was observed in five patients (11.9%), seizures in one patient (2.4%), and plexiform neurofibromas (PNFs) in four patients (9.5%). One patient with PNFs died due to a malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor in the chest cavity. Genetic analysis of seven patients identified six single base substitutions (three missense and three nonsense) and one small deletion. Among these mutations, five (71.4%) were novel (two missense mutations: p.Leu1773Pro, p.His1170Leu; two nonsense mutations: $p.Arg2517^*$, $p.Cys2371^*$; one small deletion: $p.Leu1944Phefs^*6$). Conclusion: The clinical characteristics of 42 Korean patients with NF1 were extremely variable and the mutations of the NF1 gene were genetically heterogeneous with a high mutation-detection rate.

• BMB Reports
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.507-514
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• 2004

Gamma irradiation ($\gamma$-IR) is reported to have diverse effects on immune cell apoptosis, survival and differentiation. In the present study, the immunomodulatory effect of a low dose $\gamma$-IR (5~10 Gy) was investigated, focusing on the role of NF-${\kappa}B$ in the induction of the B cell differentiation molecule, CD23/FceRII. In the human B cell line Ramos, $\gamma$-IR not only induced CD23 expression, but also augmented the IL-4-induced surface CD23 levels. While $\gamma$-IR did not cause STAT6 activation in these cells, it did induce both DNA binding and the transcriptional activity of NF-${\kappa}B$ in the $I{\kappa}B$ degradation-dependent manner. It was subsequently found that different NF-${\kappa}B$ regulating signals modulated the $\gamma$-IR-or IL-4-induced CD23 expression. Inhibitors of NF-${\kappa}B$ activation, such as PDTC and MG132, suppressed the $\gamma$-IR-mediated CD23 expression. In contrast, Ras, which potentiates $\gamma$-IR-induced NF-${\kappa}B$ activity in these cells, further augmented the $\gamma$-IR- or IL-4-induced CD23 levels, The induction of NF-${\kappa}B$ activation and the subsequent up-regulation of CD23 expression by $\gamma$-IR were also observed in monocytic cells. These results suggest that $\gamma$-IR, at specific dosages, can modulate immune cell differentiation through the activation of NF-${\kappa}B$, and this potentially affects the immune inflammatory response that is mediated by cytokines.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.256-262
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• 1999

Latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1) of the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is an integral membrane protein with six transmembrane domains, which is essential for EBV-induced B cell transformation. LMP1 functions as a constitutively active tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR) like membrane receptor, whose signaling requires recruitment of TNFR-associated factors (TRAFs) and leads to NF-${\kappa}B$ activation. NF-${\kappa}B$ activation by LMP1 is critical for B cell transformation and has been linked to many phenotypic changes associated with EBV-induced B cell transformation. Deletion analysis has identified two NF-${\kappa}B$ activation regions in the carboxy terminal cytoplasmic domains of LMP1, termed CTAR1 (residues 194-232) and CTAR2 (351-386). The membrane proximal C-terminal domain was precisely mapped to a PXQXT motif (residues 204-208) involved in TRAF binding as well as NF-${\kappa}B$ activation. In this study, we dissected the CTAR2 region, which is the major NF-${\kappa}B$ signaling effector of LMP1, to determine a minimal functional sequence. A series of LMP1 mutant constructs systematically deleted for the CTAR2 region were prepared, and NF-${\kappa}B$ activation activity of these mutants were assessed by transiently expressing them in 293 cells and Jurkat T cells. The NF-${\kappa}B$ activation domain of CTAR2 appears to reside in a stretch of 6 amino acids (residues 379-384) at the end of the carboxy terminus.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.38 no.9
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• pp.759-764
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• 2015

Tripartite motif protein 25 (TRIM25), mediates K63-linked polyubiquitination of Retinoic acid inducible gene I (RIG-I) that is crucial for downstream antiviral interferon signaling. Here, we demonstrate that TRIM25 is required for melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (MDA5) and MAVS mediated activation of NF-${\kappa}B$ and interferon production. TRIM25 is required for the full activation of NF-${\kappa}B$ at the downstream of MAVS, while it is not involved in IRF3 nuclear translocation. Mechanical studies showed that TRIM25 is involved in TRAF6-mediated NF-${\kappa}B$ activation. These collectively indicate that TRIM25 plays an additional role in RIG-I/MDA5 signaling other than RIG-I ubiquitination via activation of NF-${\kappa}B$.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.21-31
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• 2007

This study is aimed at the development of a runoff forecasting model by using the Fuzzy inference system and Neural Network model to solve the uncertainties occurring in the process of rainfall-runoff modeling and improve the modeling accuracy of the stream runoff forecasting. The Neuro-Fuzzy (NF) model were used in this study. The NF model, recently received a great deal of attention, improve the existing Neural Networks by the aid of the Fuzzy theory applied to each node. The study area is the downstreams of Naeseung-chun. Therefore, time-dependent data was obtained from the Wolpo water level gauging station. 11 and 2 out of total 13 flood events were selected for the training and testing set of model respectively. The schematic diagram method and the statistical analysis are conducted to evaluate the feasibility of rainfall-runoff modeling. The model accuracy was rapidly decreased as the forecasting time became longer. The NF model can give accurate runoff forecasts up to 4 hours ahead in standard above the Determination coefficient $(R^2)$ 0.7. In the comparison of the runoff forecasting using the NF and TANK models, characteristics of peak runoff in the TANK model was higher than ones in the NF models, but peak values of hydrograph in the NF models were similar.