• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.850-855
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• 2007

Leptin is the adipocyte-specific product of the obese gene and plays a major role in food intake and energy metabolism. Leptin research was mainly focused on mammalian species, but understanding of leptin and its function in poultry is very poor. In this study, the duck leptin gene was amplified using the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) from duck liver RNA. The cDNA fragment was inserted into the pET-28a expression vector, and the resulting plasmid was expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3). Experimental mice were given an intraperitoneal injection of 10 mg/kg leptin dissolved in phosphate buffered saline (PBS), while the control mice were injected with PBS. The effect of leptin on food intake, body weight and fatty deposition in mice was detected. Sequence analysis revealed that duck leptin had a length of 438 nucleotides which encoded a peptide with 146 amino acid residues. The sequence shares highly homology to other animals. The coding sequence of duck leptin was 84 and 86% identical to human and pig leptin nucleotides sequence. Highest identity was with the rat coding sequence (95%). The identity of the amino acid sequence was 84, 82 and 96% respectively compared to that of the human, pig and rat. Results of SDS-PAGE analysis indicated that a fusion protein was specifically expressed in E. coli BL21 (DE3). The purified product was found to be biologically active during tests. Continuous administration of recombinant duck leptin inhibited food intake. Despite the decrease of food intake, leptin significantly induced body weight and fatty deposition. These changes were accompanied by a significant down-secretion of plasma glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride and insulin levels in mice. The observations provide evidence for an inhibitory effect of leptin in the regulation of food intake and for a potential role of duck leptin in the regulation of lipogenesis.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.17-24
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• 1963

The fundamental investigations of surface properties of scheelite were made by electrophoretic mobility adsorption and contact angle measurements, and results have been correlated with its floatability obtained by Hallimond tube flotation test. The role of the interfacial electrical condition on the adsorption of collectors on mineral surfaces is discussed with the flotation of scheelite. From electrokinetic measurements made on scheelite, $Ca^{++}$ and $WO_4^{--}$ are identified to act as potential-determining ions, thus controlling the surface properties on this mineral. Therefore, at the fixed pH, the scheelite surface become to be less negatively charged with increasing $Ca^{++}$ concentration and more negatively charged with increasing $WO_4^{--}$ concentration in the pulp. Adsorption of collectors then depends strongly on the concentration of $Ca^{++}$ or $WO_4^{--}$ in the solution; anionic collectors are adsorbed on less negatively charged surfaces and cationic collectors on more negatively charged surfaces, which in turn defines the effective flotation range with respective collectors for this mineral.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.25-33
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• 2004

In this study we investigated whether ATP loss was involved in the potentiated death of immunostimulated rat primary astrocytes in glucose-deprived condition. Rat primary astrocytes immunostimulated with LPS plus IFN-${\gamma}$ for 48 h underwent death upon glucose deprivation, which dependent on the production of peroxynitrite. Intracellular ATP level synergistically decreased by glucose deprivation in immunostimulated astrocytes but not in control cells, and the loss of ATP occurred well ahead of the LDH release. The synergistic cell death and ATP loss by immunostimulation and glucose deprivation were inhibited by iNOS inhibitor (L-NAME and L-NNA) or peroxynitrite decomposition catalyst (also a superoxide anion scavenger), Mn(III)tetrakis(N-methyl-4'-pyridyl)porphyrin (MnTMPyP). Exogenous addition of peroxynitrite generator, SIN-l timedependently induced ATP loss and cell death in the glucose-deprived astrocytes. Depletion of intracellular glutathione (GSH) and dis겨ption of mitochondrial transmembrane potential (MTP) were also observed under same conditions. Supply cellular ATP by the addition of exogenous adenosine or ATP during glucose deprivation inhibited ATP depletion, GSH depletion, MTP disruption and cell death in SIN-l treated or immunostimulated astrocytes. This study showed that perturbation in the regulation of intracellular ATP level in immunostimulated astrocytes might make them more vulnerable to energy challenging stimuli.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 1999.07a
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• pp.79-79
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• 1999

The varous techniques for fabrication of si or metal tip as a field emission electron source have been reported due to great potential capabilities of flat panel display application. In this report, 240nm thermal oxide was initially grown at the p-type (100) (5-25 ohm-cm) 4 inch Si wafer and 310nm Si3N4 thin layer was deposited using low pressure chemical vapor deposition technique(LPCVD). The 2 micron size dot array was photolithographically patterned. The KOH anisotropic etching of the silicon substrate was utilized to provide V-groove formation. After formation of the V-groove shape, dry oxidation at 100$0^{\circ}C$ for 600 minutes was followed. In this procedure, the orientation dependent oxide growth was performed to have a etch-mask for dry etching. The thicknesses of the grown oxides on the (111) surface and on the (100) etch stop surface were found to be ~330nm and ~90nm, respectively. The reactive ion etching by 100 watt, 9 mtorr, 40 sccm Cl2 feed gas using inductively coupled plasma (ICP) system was performed in order to etch ~90nm SiO layer on the bottom of the etch stop and to etch the Si layer on the bottom. The 300 watt RF power was connected to the substrate in order to supply ~(-500)eV. The negative ion energy would enhance the directional anisotropic etching of the Cl2 RIE. After etching, remaining thickness of the oxide on the (111) was measured to be ~130nm by scanning electron microscopy.

• Mass Spectrometry Letters
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.59-66
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• 2013

A metabolomics study was conducted to identify urinary biomarkers for breast cancer, using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), analyzed by principal components analysis (PCA) as well as a partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) for a metabolic pattern analysis. To find potential biomarkers, urine samples were collected from before- and after-mastectomy of breast cancer patients and healthy controls. Androgens, corticoids, estrogens, nucleosides, and polyols were quantitatively measured and urinary metabolic profiles were constructed through PCA and PLS-DA. The possible biomarkers were discriminated from quantified targeted metabolites with a metabolic pattern analysis and subsequent screening. We identified two biomarkers for breast cancer in urine, ${\beta}$-cortol and 5-methyl-2-deoxycytidine, which were categorized at significant levels in a student t-test (p-value < 0.05). The concentrations of these metabolites in breast cancer patients significantly increased relative to those of controls and patients after mastectomy. Biomarkers identified in this study were highly related to metabolites causing oxidative DNA damage in the endogenous metabolism. These biomarkers are not only useful for diagnostics and patient stratification but can be mapped on a biochemical chart to identify the corresponding enzyme for target identification via metabolomics.

• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• v.66 no.4
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• pp.659-665
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• 2017

Power semiconductor devices required the low on-resistance and high breakdown voltage. Wide band-gap materials opened a new technology of the power devices which promised a thin drift layer at an identical breakdown voltage. The diamond had the wide band-gap of 5.5 eV which induced the low power loss, high breakdown capability, low intrinsic carrier generation, and high operation temperature. We investigated the p-type pseudo-vertical diamond Schottky barrier diodes using a numerical simulation. The impact ionization rate was material to calculating the breakdown voltage. We revised the impact ionization rate of the diamond for adjusting the parallel-plane breakdown field at 10 MV/cm. Effects of the field plate on the breakdown voltage was also analyzed. A conventional diamond Schottky barrier diode without field plate exhibited the high forward current of 0.52 A/mm and low on-resistance of $1.71{\Omega}-mm$ at the forward voltage of 2 V. The simulated breakdown field of the conventional device was 13.3 MV/cm. The breakdown voltage of the conventional device and proposed devices with the $SiO_2$ passivation layer, anode field plate (AFP), and cathode field plate (CFP) was 680, 810, 810, and 1020 V, respectively. The AFP cannot alleviate the concentration of the electric field at the cathode edge. The CFP increased the breakdown voltage with evidences of the electric field and potential. However, we should consider the dielectric breakdown because the ideal breakdown field of the diamond is higher than that of the $SiO_2$, which is widely used as the passivation layer. The real breakdown voltage of the device with CFP decreased from 1020 to 565 V due to the dielectric breakdown.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.272-276
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• 2016

To investigate the optimum x-ray tube design for the dental radiology, factors affecting x-ray beam characteristics such as tungsten target thickness and anode angle were evaluated. Another goal of the study was to addresses the anode heel effect and off-axis spectra for different target angles. MCNPX has been utilized to simulate the diagnostic x-ray tube with the aim of predicting optimum target angle and angular distribution of x-ray intensity around the x-ray target. For simulation of x-ray spectra, MCNPX was run in photon and electron using default values for PHYS:P and PHYS:E cards to enable full electron and photon transport. The x-ray tube consists of an evacuated 1 mm alumina envelope containing a tungsten anode embedded in a copper part. The envelope is encased in lead shield with an opening window. MCNPX simulations were run for x-ray tube potentials of 70 kV. A monoenergetic electron source at the distance of 2 cm from the anode surface was considered. The electron beam diameter was 0.3 mm striking on the focal spot. In this work, the optimum thickness of tungsten target was $3{\mu}m$ for the 70 kV electron potential. To determine the angle with the highest photon intensity per initial electron striking on the target, the x-ray intensity per initial electron was calculated for different tungsten target angles. The optimum anode angle based only on x-ray beam flatness was 35 degree. It should be mentioned that there is a considerable trade-off between anode angle which determines the focal spot size and geometric penumbra. The optimized thickness of a target material was calculated to maximize the x-ray intensity produced from a tungsten target materials for a 70 keV electron energy. Our results also showed that the anode angle has an influencing effect on heel effect and beam intensity across the beam.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.33-39
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• 2014

Obesity occurs when a person's calorie intake exceeds the amount of energy burns, which may lead to pathologic growth of adipocytes and the accumulation of fat in the tissues. In this study, the effect and mechanism of pear pomace extracts on 3T3-L1 adipocyte differentiation and apoptosis of mature adipocytes were investigated. The effects of pear pomace extract on cell viability and the anti-adipogenic and proapoptotic effects were investigated via MTT assay, Oil red O staining, western blot analysis and apoptosis assay. 3T3-L1 preadipocytes were stimulated with DMEM containing 10% FBS, 0.5 mM 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX), $5{\mu}g/ml$ insulin and $1{\mu}M$ dexamethasone for differentiation to adipocytes. 3T3-L1 cells were cultured with PBS or water extract of pear pomace. Water extract of pear pomace effectively inhibited lipid accumulations and expressions of PPAR-${\gamma}$ and $C/EBP{\alpha}$ in 3T3-L1 cells. It also increased expression of p-AMPK and decreased the expression of SREBP-1c and FAS in 3T3-L1 cells. The induction of apoptosis was observed in 3T3-L1 cells treated with pear pomace. These results indicate that pear pomace water extract inhibits adipogenesis and induces apoptosis of adipocytes and thus can be used as a potential therapeutic substance as part of prevention or treatment strategy for obesity.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.543-551
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• 2002

Nitric oxide (NO) is a small molecule (mol. wt. 30 Da) and oxidative free radical. It is uncharged and can therefore diffuse freely within and between cells across membrane. Such characteristics make it a biologically important messenger in physiologic processes such as neurotransmission and the control of vascular tone. NO is also highly toxic and is known to acts as a mediator of cytotoxicity during host defense. NO is synthesized by nitric oxide synthase (NOS) through L-arginine/nitric oxide pathway which is a dioxygenation process. NO synthesis involves several participants, three co-substrates, five electrons, five co-factors and two prosthetic groups. Under normal condition, low levels of NO are synthesized by type I and III NOS for a short period of time and mediates many physiologic processes. Under condition of oxidant stress, high levels of NO are synthesized by type II NOS and inhibits a variety of metabolic processes and can also cause direct damage to DNA. Such interaction result in cytostasis, energy depletion and ultimately cell death. NO has the potential to interact with a variety of intercellular targets producing diverse array of metabolic effects. It is known that NO is involved in hemodynamic regulation, neurogenic inflammation, re-innervation, management of dentin hypersensitivity on teeth. Under basal condition of pulpal blood flow, NO provides constant vasodilator tone acting against sympathetic vasoconstriction. Substance P, a well known vasodilator, was reported to be mediated partly by NO, while calcitonin-gene related peptide has provided no evidence of its relation with NO. This review describes the roles of NO in dental pulp in addition to the known general roles of it.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2011.11a
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• pp.122.2-122.2
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• 2011

Sulfur hexafluoride ($SF_6$), one of the most potent greenhouse gases, is known as a hydrate former and has been studied at the high pressure up to 1.3 GPa with gas mixtures and with aqueous surfactant. Since we regard $SF_6$ as a potential promoter molecule that can stabilize hydrate structure more effectively compare to the other promoters, further investigation is required to verify the stabilizing ability of $SF_6$ in the hydrate structure. However, the insoluble nature of $SF_6$ in water or gases hinders fine scale analyses. This work discusses the data obtained by using molecular dynamics simulations of structure II (sII) clathrate hydrates containing $SF_6$ and $H_2$. The simulations were performed using the TIP4P/Ice model for water molecule and a previously reported $SF_6$ molecular model (optimized at the pure $SF_6$ single phase system (Olivet and Vega, 2007)), and a $H_2$ molecular model (adapted from the THF+$H_2$ hydrate system (Alavi et al., 2006)). The simulations are performed to observe the stability of $SF_6$ and $H_2$ in the sII clathrate hydrate system with varying temperature and pressure conditions and occupancies of $SF_6$ and $H_2$, which cannot be easily tuned experimentally. We observe that stability of H2 enclathrated in the hydrate structure more affected by the occupancy of $SF_6$ molecules and temperature than pressure, which ranges from 1 to 100 bar.