• Molecules and Cells
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.270-277
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• 2008

This study addresses the physiological functions of the Ran-binding protein homolog NbRanBP1 in Nicotiana benthamiana. Virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) of NbRanBP1 caused stunted growth, leaf yellowing, and abnormal leaf morphology. The NbRanBP1 gene was constitutively expressed in diverse tissues and an NbRanBP1:GFP fusion protein was primarily localized to the nuclear rim and the cytosol. BiFC analysis revealed in vivo interaction between NbRanBP1 and NbRan1 in the nuclear envelope and the cytosol. Depletion of NbRanBP1 or NbRan1 reduced nuclear accumulation of a NbBTF3:GFP marker protein. In the later stages of development, NbRanBP1 VIGS plants showed stress responses such as reduced mitochondrial membrane potential, excessive production of reactive oxygen species, and induction of defense-related genes. The molecular role of RanBP1 in plants is discussed in comparison with RanBP1 function in yeast and mammals.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.759-766
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• 2006

Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is a myeloid leukemia caused by over-expression of fusion protein, PML/RAR$({\alpha})$, which was the result of chromosomal translocation and induces the blockage of differentiation of affected promyelocytes. Pharmacological dose of retinoic acid induces the activation of and subsequent degradation of PML/RAR$({\alpha})$ fusion protein, and then APL cells undergo through the normal differentiation pathway. Arsenic trioxide has proved effective in causing remission of acute promyelocytic leukemia by inducing apoptosis of this tumor cells, whereas the heterogeneity of cellular susceptibility to this cytotoxic agent limited its usage on more types of tumors in clinic. This work showed that arsenic trioxide could induce apoptosis of a panel of acute promyelocytic leukemic cell lines, all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) sensitive NB4 cells and ATRA resistant UF-1 cell. They were investigated with regard to the correlation between the inherent or intrinsic cellular level of GSH and the apoptotic susceptibility of the cells to arsenic trioxide. We manifested, in two cell types, the inherently existed difference in intracellular GSH level reactive to the arsenic trioxide, and a positive correlation between the GSH level and their apoptotic sensitivity to arsenic trioxide. And it showed that arsenic trioxide could differentiate promyelocytic cancer cells to the cells possessed of dendritic cell surface markers. Unravelling the cause of the different susceptibility between leukemic cells and proving that promyelocyte could be differentiated to dendritic cells by arsenic trioxide will help not only to understand the mechanism underlying the complete remission of acute promyelocytic leukemia induced by arsenic trioxide, but also to expand its clinical usage.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.41 no.12 s.271
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• pp.884-888
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• 2004

Effects of NiO were studied in aspects of dielectric properties and microstructure of $0.96(0.91Pb(Mg_{1/3}Nb_{2/3})O_3-0.09PbTiO_3)­0.04BaTiO_3$ (PMN-PT-BT, PBT). The PBT was prepared by a conventional mixed oxide method using $(MgCO_3)_4{\cdot}Mg(OH)_2$ instead of MgO through Lewis acid-base interaction. NiO was added in the range of 0.5 to $3.0\;wt\%$ as thermally decomposable $2NiCO_3{\cdot}3Ni(OH)_2$ and it seemed to enhance densification to a large extent below $1000^{\circ}C$. But all the systems gave rise to ceramics with almost same relative sintered density of 96% by sintering at $1000^{\circ}C$ for 2 h. But it turned out that the addition of NiO was detrimental to dielectric constant but beneficial to the loss of dielectric constant.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.159-163
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• 2002

A single phase perovskite relaxor ferroelectric PMN-PT-BT was prepared by a single calcination and the modified mixed oxide process. It was accomplished by ball-milling PbO, $Nb_2O_5,\;Ti(OC_3H_7)_4,\;BaCO_3,\;and\;Mg(NO_3)_2$ instead of MgO, removing the solvent, and then followed by calcination at 900$^{\circ}C$ for 2h. The specimen sintered at 1100$^{\circ}C$/2h showed the sintered density of 7.83 g/$cm^3$, room temperature dielectric constant of 22000, and dielectric loss of 2.5%. Addition of 1.0 mole% (0.3 wt%) of Ag as $AgNO_3$ and followed by calcination at 550$^{\circ}C$/2h lowered the sintering temperature to 900$^{\circ}C$. It still showed the sintered density of 7.88 g/$cm^3$, room temperature dielectric constant of 20000 and dielectric loss of 2.4%.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.39 no.9
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• pp.846-850
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• 2002

A PMN-PT-BT/Ag composite was prepared by surface modification with MgO sol with hoping to suppress silver's migration during sintering. The mixture of PbO, $N_2O_5,\;TiO_2\;with\;Mg(NO_3)_2$ instead of MgO was ball milled, the solvent was removed and then the dried powders were calcined at 950$^{\circ}C$/1h. The calcined powder were treated with 3.0 mol% $Ag_2O$ and 1.0 wt% MgO sol and calcined at 550$^{\circ}C$/1h. The dielectrics sintered at 1000$^{\circ}C$/4h under a flowing oxygen showed the density of 7.84g/$cm^3$, the room temperature dielectric constant of 18400, the dielectric loss of 2.4%, the specific resistivity of $0.24{\times}10^{12}{\Omega}{\cdot}cm$. It also showed the bending strength of $120.7{\pm}11.26$ MPa and the fracture toughness of $0.87{\pm}0.002\;MPam^{1/2}$ which were comparable to commercial PZT. The microstructure sonsisted of grains of ∼4${\mu}m$. SEM and SIMS analysis showed that Ag grew as ∼1${\mu}m$ and excess MgO as ∼0.5${\mu}m$.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Inherited Metabolic disease
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2019

Purpose: Congenital hypothyroidism (CH) is the most common congenital endocrine disorder. The purpose of the present study was to determine the incidence of CH in South Korea during the period from January 1991 to March 2004. Methods: Central data from each city branch of SCL (Seoul Clinical Reference Laboratories) in Yongin, South Korea, was gathered and collectively analyzed. Newborn screening (NBS) for CH was based on measuring the levels of neonatal thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and free T4 (a cut-off of 20 mIU/L and less than 0.8 ng/dL, respectively). Results: During the study period, 671,805 live births were screened for CH based on TSH and free T4 ELISA assays. A total of 159 newborns were deemed positive for CH out of 671,805, with a corresponding incidence of 1 in 4,225. When a cut-off of 20 mIU/L was used in TSH assays, the associated sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive values (PPV) were 100.0%, 99.7%, and 10.8%, respectively. When a cut-off of 0.8 ng/dL in free T4 assays was used, the associated sensitivity, specificity, and PPV were 100.0%, 98.5%, and 3.9%, respectively. Conclusion: CH incidence in South Korea as evidenced by the results of NBS was compared with its incidence and comparable to the other countries prior to 2004.