• Molecules and Cells
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.551-571
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• 2020

Nuclear receptor-related 1 (Nurr1) protein has been identified as an obligatory transcription factor in midbrain dopaminergic neurogenesis, but the global set of human NURR1 target genes remains unexplored. Here, we identified direct gene targets of NURR1 by analyzing genome-wide differential expression of NURR1 together with NURR1 consensus sites in three human neural stem cell (hNSC) lines. Microarray data were validated by quantitative PCR in hNSCs and mouse embryonic brains and through comparison to published human data, including genome-wide association study hits and the BioGPS gene expression atlas. Our analysis identified ~40 NURR1 direct target genes, many of them involved in essential protein modules such as synapse formation, neuronal cell migration during brain development, and cell cycle progression and DNA replication. Specifically, expression of genes related to synapse formation and neuronal cell migration correlated tightly with NURR1 expression, whereas cell cycle progression correlated negatively with it, precisely recapitulating midbrain dopaminergic development. Overall, this systematic examination of NURR1-controlled regulatory networks provides important insights into this protein's biological functions in dopamine-based neurogenesis.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Surface Engineering Conference
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• 2016.11a
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• pp.122.2-122.2
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• 2016

Surface topographical cues has been highlighted to control the fate of neural stem cells (NSCs). Herein we developed a hierarchically patterned substrate (HPS) platform for regulating NSC differentiation. The HPS induced cytoskeleton alignment and highly activated focal adhesion in hNSCs as indicated by enhanced expression of focal adhesion proteins such as focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and vinculin. hNSCs cultured on HPS exhibited enhanced neuronal differentiation compared to flat group. We also developed a graphene oxide (GO)-based hierarchically patterned substrates (GPS) that promote focal adhesion formation and neuronal differentiation of hNSCs. Enhanced focal adhesion and differentiation of hNSCs on the HPS was reversed by blocking the ${\beta}1$ integrin binding and mechanotransduction-associated signals including Rho-associated protein kinase (ROCK) and extracellular-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway, which may suggest a potential mechanism of beneficial effects of HPS. In addition, hNSCs on the HPS differentiated into functional neurons exhibiting sodium currents and action potentials as confirmed by whole cell patch-clamping analysis. The hierarchical topography can direct differentiation of NSCs towards functional neurons, and therefore would be an important element for the design of functional biomaterials for neural tissue regeneration applications.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.274-283
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• 2011

The vacuum die casting is a promising candidate of the stamping process for fabrication of fuel cell bipolar plate due to its advantages, such as precision casting, mass production and short production time. This study proposes vacuum die casting process to fabricate bipolar plates in fuel cell. Bipolar plates were fabricated under various injection conditions such as molten metal temperature and injection velocity. Also, according to injection velocity conditions, simulation results of MAGMA soft were compared to the experimental results. In case of melt temperature $650^{\circ}C$, misrun occurred. When the melt temperature was $730^{\circ}C$, mechanical properties were low due to dendrite microstructure. Injection velocity has to set at more than 2.0 m/s to fabricate the sound sample. When melt temperature, injection velocity (Fast shot), and vacuum pressure are $700^{\circ}C$, 2.5 m/s and 30 kPa respectively, sample had good formability and few casting defects. Simulation results are mostly in agreement with experimental results.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.77-84
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• 2017

In this study, the structural performance of high strength concrete (HSC) column-normal strength concrete (NSC) slab connection was investigated according to confinement effects, aspect ratio (h/c) and strength ratio ($f^{\prime}_{cc}/f_{cs}$). The study was conducted by using finite element analysis. To verify the analysis methods, the experiments and analyses results were compared. The specimens were classified by connection types including interior column, edge column, corner column and isolated column. As a result, ultimate strength of interior column was larger than other specimens. Also, the axial stresses of connection were decreased when the aspect ratio was increased. As the strength ratio between column and slab was increased, the ultimate strength of specimens was also increased until the strength ratio was reached to 1.83.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.211-227
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• 2020

To explore the feasibility of eliminating the longitudinal rebars and stirrups by using ultra-high-performance fiber reinforcement concrete (UHPFRC) in concrete encased steel composite stub column, compressive behavior of UHPFRC encased steel stub column has been experimentally investigated. Effect of concrete types (normal strength concrete, high strength concrete and UHPFRC), fiber fractions, and transverse reinforcement ratio on failure mode, ductility behavior and axial compressive resistance of composite columns have been quantified through axial compression tests. The experimental results show that concrete encased composite columns with NSC and HSC exhibit concrete crushing and spalling failure, respectively, while composite columns using UHPFRC exhibit concrete spitting and no concrete spalling is observed after failure. The incorporation of steel fiber as micro reinforcement significantly improves the concrete toughness, restrains the crack propagation and thus avoids the concrete spalling. No evidence of local buckling of rebars or yielding of stirrups has been detected in composite columns using UHPFRC. Steel fibers improve the bond strength between the concrete and, rebars and core shaped steel which contribute to the improvement of confining pressure on concrete. Three prediction models in Eurocode 4, AISC 360 and JGJ 138 and a proposed toughness index (T.I.) are employed to evaluate the compressive resistance and post peak ductility of the composite columns. It is found that all these three models predict close the compressive resistance of UHPFRC encased composite columns with/without the transverse reinforcement. UHPFRC encased composite columns can achieve a comparable level of ductility with the reinforced concrete (RC) columns using normal strength concrete. In terms of compressive resistance behavior, the feasibility of UHPFRC encased steel composite stub columns with lesser longitudinal reinforcement and stirrups has been verified in this study.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.53-64
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• 2013

Objectives: In this study, a multilevel analysis model has been designed to investigate the effect of personal characteristics associated with smoking cessation on anti-smoking determinants with a goal of finding out the factors which have influence on smoking cessation among the entrants of smoking cessation clinic in a public health center. Methods: A total of 253,136 male smokers who received smoking cessation services for more than six(6) months in a smoking cessation clinic of public health center from July 16, 2007 to July 15, 2008 were examined. For technical analysis, SPSS Version 2.0 has been used. For multilevel analysis on smoking cessation determinants, in addition, HLM 7.0 has been adopted. Results: According to the unconditional model of multilevel analysis, the success rates of smoking cessation among the entrants of a smoking cessation clinic were 47.3%. In an unconditional slope model test to which regional variables were added, a negative effect was observed in average smoking amount, total smoking period, nicotine dependence and services while a positive effect was found in age, stress and type of social security in terms of the log of the odds of smoking cessation. In a conditional model test, a positive effect was observed in Non-Smoking Campaigns (NSC) and Frequency of Counseling (FC) in terms of the log of the odds of smoking cessation in regional variables. Conclusions: It is important to approach smokers individually and, at the same time, build healthy environment for a local community to increase smoking cessation rates among the entrants of smoking cessation clinic in a public health center.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Building Construction
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.61-66
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• 2010

As global warming has had harmful effects on the environment, the construction industry has made efforts to reduce the amount of $CO_2$ generated in the process of cement production. There is an urgent need for an alternative material that can replace cement. To improve the initial strength and economical efficiency pointed out as problems, this research was conducted for Blast Furnace Slag (BFS), an industrial byproduct. Non-sintering cement (NSC) was used by minimizing the amount of high-priced alkali activators. By using Nano-technology, fineness has been maximized, to enhance the initial strength of BFS. This research is based on non-sintered cement replaced by nano-slag using alkali activators, and the fundamental properties and quality of the non-sintered cement were investigated. A variety of activators were used, up to 10 percent of the slag weight. This research aims to present fundamental data through a comparative analysis of flexural strength, compressive strength, time of setting, diabetic temperature, and rising heat.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.396-403
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• 2008

The first ORF of the ARV S1133 S1 segment encodes the nonstructural protein p10, which is responsible for the induction of cell syncytium formation. However, p10-dependent signaling during syncytium formation is fully unknown. Here, we show that dominant negative RhoA, Rho inhibitor C3 exoenzyme, ROCK/Rho-kinase inhibitor Y-27632 and Rac1 inhibitor NSC23766 inhibit p10-mediated cell fusion. p10 over-expression is concomitant with activation and membrane translocation of RhoA and Rac1, but not cdc42. RhoA and Rac1 downstream events, including JNK phosphorylation and transcription factor AP-1 and $NF-{\kappa}B$ activation, as well as MLC expression and phosphorylation are simultaneously activated by p10. p10 point mutant T13M possessed 20% fusion-inducing ability and four p10 fusion-deficient mutants V15M, V19M, C21S and L32A reduced or lost their ability to activate RhoA and Rac1 signaling. We conclude that p10-mediated syncytium formation proceeds by utilizing RhoA and Rac1-dependent signaling.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.262-276
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• 2019

Background: The most important thing to strengthen primary care is to prove that the continuity of primary care is an essential area for good health outcomes. The purpose of this study is to analyze the effect of outpatient continuity of primary care on the hospitalization experience of diabetes mellitus in new diabetic patients. Methods: Using the Korean National Health Insurance Service national sample cohort (NHIS-NSC 2011-2015) data, 3,391 new diabetic patients in 2012 were selected for the study. Multiple logistic regression was performed to investigate the effect of outpatient continuity of primary care on hospitalization in new diabetic patients. Results: The outpatient continuity of primary care in new diabetic patients was measured by the continuity of care index, which showed that 69.4% (n=2,352) were high level and 30.6% (n=1,039) were low level. Patients who had high continuity of primary care at the early stage of diabetes diagnosis showed 3.49 times more likely to maintain high continuity of primary care in the second year (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.72-4.49). Patients with low continuity of primary care for 2 years from the initial diagnosis of diabetes were 2.56 times more likely to be hospitalized due to diabetes than those who did not (95% CI, 1.55-4.25). Conclusion: This study identified the need for policies to increase the continuity of primary care for new diabetic patients and could contribute to lowering the admission rate of diabetic patients if the policy for this would work effectively.

• BMB Reports
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• v.56 no.3
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• pp.178-183
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• 2023

Huntington's disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disorder, of which pathogenesis is caused by a polyglutamine expansion in the amino-terminus of huntingtin gene that resulted in the aggregation of mutant HTT proteins. HD is characterized by progressive motor dysfunction, cognitive impairment and neuropsychiatric disturbances. Histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6), a microtubule-associated deacetylase, has been shown to induce transport- and release-defect phenotypes in HD models, whilst treatment with HDAC6 inhibitors ameliorates the phenotypic effects of HD by increasing the levels of α-tubulin acetylation, as well as decreasing the accumulation of mutant huntingtin (mHTT) aggregates, suggesting HDAC6 inhibitor as a HD therapeutics. In this study, we employed in vitro neural stem cell (NSC) model and in vivo YAC128 transgenic (TG) mouse model of HD to test the effect of a novel HDAC6 selective inhibitor, CKD-504, developed by Chong Kun Dang (CKD Pharmaceutical Corp., Korea). We found that treatment of CKD-504 increased tubulin acetylation, microtubule stabilization, axonal transport, and the decrease of mutant huntingtin protein in vitro. From in vivo study, we observed CKD-504 improved the pathology of Huntington's disease: alleviated behavioral deficits, increased axonal transport and number of neurons, restored synaptic function in corticostriatal (CS) circuit, reduced mHTT accumulation, inflammation and tau hyperphosphorylation in YAC128 TG mouse model. These novel results highlight CKD-504 as a potential therapeutic strategy in HD.