• Proceedings of the Materials Research Society of Korea Conference
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• 2012.05a
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• pp.97.2-97.2
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• 2012

This study examined the utility of two zwitterions, nitrile-functionalized zwitterions and a zwitterion without a nitrile group (MF-ZI), were used as additives along with 1 M $LiPF_6$ in ethylene carbonate (EC):diethylene carbonate (DEC) (3:7 V/V) (E-0) to form an electrolyte solution for use in lithium ion batteries comprising graphite and $LiCoO_2$ electrodes. The presence of NF-ZI (E-NF-ZI) in the electrolyte produced an ion conductivity comparable to that of E-0 and higher than that of an electrolyte containing MF-ZI (E-MF-ZI). Linear sweep voltammetry data revealed that the intensity of the E-NF-ZI reduction peak was lower than that of E-0. Furthermore, the successful formation of an SEI layer in the E-NF-ZI over graphite was confirmed by cyclic voltammetry data. These results were attributed to the adsorption of NF-ZI on the electrode surface, as verified by differential capacity measurements.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.69-80
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• 1975

Relationships between yield and various nitrogen efficiencies, between efficiencies and between efficiency and nitrogen uptake amount of rice plant were proposed and tested using data from N.P.K simple trials about 30 to 50 locations, for three years. Established relationships are well in accordance with experimental results by showing highly significant correlations between them. The overall indications are that high yielding capacity of fields with fertilizer application, depends primarily on high fertilizer nitrogen uptake by increasing fertilizer use efficiency (Eu), secondly the efficiency (Ef) of absorbed fertilizer nitrogen (Nf) and fertilization efficiency (Fe) and also depends much on nitrogen efficiency for grain yield (E) to great extend and that the efficiency (Es) of soil nitrogen (Ns) contributes to E more than Ef does. All nitrogen efficiencies are negatively correlated with the uptake amount of corresponding nitrogen and counterpart efficiency. Es and Ef could be determined firstly by difference method and secondly E versus Cs (Cs=Ns/Ns+Nf) plotting and thirdly E-Cs plotting with labelled fertilizermethod using the equation E=Es Cs+B where B=Ef Cf but a constant under the given condition and at last Y-Ns plotting with labelled fertilizer using Eq Y=$Es{\cdot}Ns+B$ where B=$Ef{\cdot}Nf$. Es which seems not much variable from field to field is mostly greater (about 80% of tested fields) than Ef which is much variable and depends much on fertilizer form. The relationships tested and well agreed are as follows: 1. Y=$Es{\cdot}Ns+Ef{\cdot}Nf$ (Y is yield) 2. E=$Es{\cdot}Cs+Ef{\cdot}Cf$ where Cf=Nf/Nf+Ns 3. E=b-aN where E=E, Es or Ef and N=N, Ns or Nf respectively, (E=Y/N, N=Nf+Ns), b is theoretical maximum under the given system and a is tangent at N=O of the curve, Y=EN. 4. Fe=Ef Eu and Se=$Es{\cdot}Eu$ where Se is efficiency of soil available nitrogen. 5. E=$(Se{\cdot}Cs+Fe{\cdot}Cf)/Eu$ 6. Y=$Es{\cdot}Eu{\cdot}Sf+Ef{\cdot}Eu{\cdot}Fn$or Y=$Es{\cdot}Eu{\cdot}Ea{\cdot}Sn+Ef{\cdot}Eu{\cdot}Fn $where Sf=$Ea{\cdot}Sn$, Ea is soil available nitrogen equivalent to fertilizer(Sf) divided by total soil nitrogen (Sn).

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.52 no.5
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• pp.459-469
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• 2014

Entamoeba histolytica is a tissue-invasive protozoan parasite causing dysentery in humans. During infection of colonic tissues, amoebic trophozoites are able to kill host cells via apoptosis or necrosis, both of which trigger IL-8-mediated acute inflammatory responses. However, the signaling pathways involved in host cell death induced by E. histolytica have not yet been fully defined. In this study, we examined whether calpain plays a role in the cleavage of pro-survival transcription factors during cell death of colonic epithelial cells, induced by live E. histolytica trophozoites. Incubation with amoebic trophozoites induced activation of m-calpain in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Moreover, incubation with amoebae resulted in marked degradation of STAT proteins (STAT3 and STAT5) and NF-${\kappa}B$ (p65) in Caco-2 cells. However, $I{\kappa}B$, an inhibitor of NF-${\kappa}B$, was not cleaved in Caco-2 cells following adherence of E. histolytica. Entamoeba-induced cleavage of STAT proteins and NF-${\kappa}B$ was partially inhibited by pretreatment of cells with a cell-permeable calpain inhibitor, calpeptin. In contrast, E. histolytica did not induce cleavage of caspase-3 in Caco-2 cells. Furthermore, pretreatment of Caco-2 cells with a calpain inhibitor, calpeptin (but not the pan-caspase inhibitor, z-VAD-fmk) or m-calpain siRNA partially reduced Entamoeba-induced DNA fragmentation in Caco-2 cells. These results suggest that calpain plays an important role in E. histolytica-induced degradation of NF-${\kappa}B$ and STATs in colonic epithelial cells, which ultimately accelerates cell death.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.405-410
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• 2011

High-performance of an electric double layer capacitance (EDLC) electrode was prepared by the amino-fluorination of activated carbon by using $NF_3$ gas. The pore structure and surface chemistry were investigated based on the specific capacitance of EDLC. The amino-fluorination of activated carbon introduced functional groups of nitrogen and fluorine which are beneficial for the specific capacitance of EDLC without the change of pore structures. The E-NF100AC electrode, which has nitrogen and fluorine functional groups less than 1 at%, showed the highly improved specific capacitance of 528 (${\pm}9$) F/g at 2 mV/s showing 122% improved value when comparing with that of non-functionalized E-RAC electrodes. Whereas, the E-NF200AC electrode, which has nitrogen and fluorine functional groups over 1 at%, showed the decreased specific capacitance because of perfluorinated introduction. So, it is concluded that the proper contents of nitrogen and fluorine groups improved the specific capacitance of EDLC.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.168-172
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• 2013

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) play an important role for host defense against invading pathogens. TLR4 has been identified as the receptor for lipopolysaccharide (LPS), which is a cell wall component of gram-negative bacteria. The activation of TLR4 signaling by LPS leads to the activation of NF-${\kappa}B$ and the expression of pro-inflammatory gene products such as cytokines, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). To evaluate the therapeutic potential of (E)-1-(2-(2-nitrovinyl)phenyl)pyrrolidine (NVPP), previously synthesized in our laboratory, NF-${\kappa}B$ activation and iNOS and COX-2 expression induced by LPS were examined. NVPP inhibited the activation of NF-${\kappa}B$ induced by LPS. NVPP also suppressed the iNOS expression induced by LPS but it did not suppress COX-2 expression induced by LPS. These results suggest that NVPP has the specific mechanism for anti-inflammatory responses.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.1-27
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• 2011

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of Yijungtang(YJT) on atopic dermatitis in an in-vitro and in-vivo experiment using a RBL-2H3 mast cells and a NC/Nga atopic dermatitis mouse. Methods: In-vitro experiment, IL-4, IL-13 mRNA expression were evaluated by a real-time PCR, IL-4, IL-13 production by ELISA and transcription factor as GATA-1, GATA-2, NF-AT1, NF-AT2, AP-1 and NF-kB by western blotting. In-vivo experiment, clinical skin score we evaluated by, hematology and Serum total IgE and IgG1 of NC/Nga atopic dermatitis mouse, cytokine level, total number of cell, Immunohistochemical staining and Histological features of auxiliary lymph node(ALN), draining lymph node(DLN), peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMCs) and dorsal skin tissue in NC/Nga mouse. Results: YJT decreased IL-4, IL-13 mRNA expression, IL-4, IL-13 production and prominently decreased the expression of mast cell specific transcription factors including GATA-2, NF-AT2, c-Fos and NF-kB. YJT oral administration reduced the levels of skin severity scores. It also decreased the level of inflammatory cytokines such as IL-5, IL-13, histamine and IgE in the serum. It elevated IFN-gamma level in the spleenocyte culture supernatant but decreased. $CD3e^+$, $CD19^+$, $CD4^+$, $CD8^+$, $CD3e^+CD69^+$, $CD11b^+Gr-1^+$, $CCR3^+$ in the PBMCs, $CD4^+$, $CD8^+$, $CD3e^+CD69^+$, $B220^+CD23^+$ in the ALN, $CD4^+$, $CD3e^+CD69^+$ in the ALN and $CD4^+$, $CD11b^+Gr-1^+$ in the dorsal skin. Histological examination showed that infiltration levels of immune cells in the skin of AD-induced NC/Nga mice were much improved by YJT oral administration. Conclusions: The anti-allergic activities of YJT may be mediated by down-regulation of Th2 cytokines, such as IL-4 and IL-13, through the regulation GATA-2, NF-AT2 and NF-kB transcription factors in mast cells. YJT would be regulate molecular mediators and immune cells which are functionally associated with atopic dermatitis induced in NC/Nga mice, and may play an important role in recovering AD symptoms.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.12
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• pp.1689-1697
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• 2011

In this study, we investigated the anti-inflammation effect of Persicaria thunbergii (P. thunbergii) on RAW 264.7 murine macrophage cells. The anti-inflammatory activity of P. thunbergii was determined by measuring expression of the LPS-induced inflammatory proteins, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$ (NF-${\kappa}B$), and the production of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$). Methanol extract of P. thunbergii decreased the expression of iNOS, COX-2 and NF-${\kappa}B$, and increased the expression of HO-1 in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Methanol extract was fractioned by n-butanol, hexane and ethyl acetate (EtOAc) and each fraction was tested for inhibitory effects on inflammation. Among the sequential solvent fractions, the EtOAc soluble fraction was investigated by the expression of prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$), and showed decreasing form to the dose-dependent manner. EtOAc extract showed the most effective inhibitory activity of the expression of iNOS, COX-2 and NF-${\kappa}B$, and the production of NO. The study showed that P. thunbergii has anti-inflammatory activity through the decrease of NO and inhibition of iNOS, COX-2, $PGE_2$ and NF-${\kappa}B$ expression, and by the increase of HO-1 enzyme. This study needs for more investigation to find out the most effective single compound with anti-inflammatory activity.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.249-265
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• 2014

The mechanical characteristics of materials are very essential in structural analysis for the accuracy of structural calculations. The estimation modulus of elasticity of concrete ($E_c$), one of the most important mechanical characteristics, is a very complex area in terms of analytical models. Many attempts have been made to model the modulus of elasticity through the use of experimental data. In this study, the neuro-fuzzy (NF) technique was investigated in estimating modulus of elasticity of concrete and a new simple NF model by implementing a different NF system approach was proposed. A large experimental database was used during the development stage. Then, NF model results were compared with various experimental data and results from several models available in related research literature. Several statistic measuring parameters were used to evaluate the performance of the NF model comparing to other models. Consequently, it has been observed that NF technique can be successfully used in estimating modulus of elasticity of concrete. It was also discovered that NF model results correlated strongly with experimental data and indicated more reliable outcomes in comparison to the other models.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.12
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• pp.5001-5007
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• 2014

The acetyltransferase inhibitor garcinol, a polyisoprenylated benzophenone, is extracted from the rind of the fruit of Garcinia indica, a plant found extensively in tropical regions. Anti-cancer activity has been suggested but there is no report on its action via inhibiting acetylation against cell proliferation, cell cycle progression, and apoptosis-inhibtion induced by estradiol ($E_2$) in human breast cancer MCF-7 cells. The main purposes of this study were to investigate the effects of the acetyltransferase inhibitor garcinol on cell proliferation, cell cycle progression and apoptosis inhibition in human breast cancer MCF-7 cells treated with estrogen, and to explore the significance of changes in acetylation levels in this process. We used a variety of techniques such as CCK-8 analysis of cell proliferation, FCM analysis of cell cycling and apoptosis, immunofluorescence analysis of NF-${\kappa}B$/p65 localization, and RT-PCR and Western blotting analysis of ac-H3, ac-H4, ac-p65, cyclin D1, Bcl-2 and Bcl-xl. We found that on treatment with garcinol in MCF-7 cells, $E_2$-induced proliferation was inhibited, cell cycle progression was arrested at G0/G1 phase, and the cell apoptosis rate was increased. Expression of ac-H3, ac-H4 and NF-${\kappa}B$/ac-p65 proteins in $E_2$-treated MCF-7 cells was increased, this being inhibited by garcinol but not ac-H4.The nuclear translocation of NF-${\kappa}B$/p65 in $E_2$-treated MCF-7 cells was also inhibited, along with cyclin D1, Bcl-2 and Bcl-xl in mRNA and protein expression levels. These results suggest that the effect of $E_2$ on promoting proliferation and inhibiting apoptosis is linked to hyperacetylation levels of histones and nonhistone NF-${\kappa}B$/p65 in MCF-7 cells. The acetyltransferase inhibitor garcinol plays an inhibitive role in MCF-7 cell proliferation promoted by $E_2$. Mechanisms are probably associated with decreasing ac-p65 protein expression level in the NF-${\kappa}B$ pathway, thus down-regulating the expression of cyclin D1, Bcl-2 and Bcl-xl.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.410-415
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• 1998

Procine pepsin hydrolysis of hexapeptide L-S-pNF-Nle-A-OMe in the presence of dipeptide L-L generates a new peak on HPLC analysis of reaction mixtures that is not seen when enzyme is incubated with either peptide alone. The peaks can be detected spectroscopically at either 214 or 254 nm, the latter consistent with a new peptide containing the p-nitro-F residue. The data suggest acyl transpeptidation between E(L-S-pNF) and L-L to form L-S-pNF-L-L. Consistent with this inference are (1) the ability of L-L-NH$_{2}$ and inability of Boc-L-L to undergo a similar transpeptidation reaction, and (2) the data from electrospray mass spectrum. This synthesis requires that Nle-A-L-OMe be released before L-S-pNF, an order opposite to that proposed on the basis of product inhibition kinetics. Consistent with this inference are reciprocal solvent isotope effects ; normal isotope effects of 1.736$\pm$0.121 on the formation of Nle-A-L-OMe and 2.281$\pm$0.184 in the formation of L-S-pNF, coupled to an inverse isotope effects of 0.576$\pm$0.045 on the formation of L-S-pNF-L-L. Because transpeptidation precedes faster in D$_{2}$O, the isotopically-sensitive step must occur after release of Nle-A-L-OMe. Isotopically-enhanced transpeptidation is consistent with the Uni-Bi iso memchanism postulated on the basis of an isotope effects on Vmax but not on Vmax/Km$^{1)}$ and confirmed by isotope effects on the onset of inhibition by pepstatin$^{2)}$.