• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
• /
• v.20 no.4
• /
• pp.1320-1332
• /
• 1996

In the present study, we consider modified 5-node equivalent solid element which has smallest degree of freedom among 2-dimensional solid elements accounting bending deformation as well as extensional and shear deformations, We shall investigate static and dynamic characteristics of this element, which is very effective in thin beam, thick beam, large displacement problems, beam of variable thickness, and asymmetrically stepped beam, etc., as well as relatively simple problems of beam. The degree of freedom of this element is 10, which is smaller than 18 of 9-node element, 16 of 8-node elemtns, 12 of modified 6-node element and Q6 element. Therefore, this element is expected to broaden the effective range of application of the solid elements in the bending problems further.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.41 no.4
• /
• pp.189-196
• /
• 2003

In order to evaluate the possible roles of secretory proteases in the pathogenesis of amoebic keratitis, we purified and characterized a serine protease secreted by Acanthamoeba lugdunensis KA/E2, isolated from a Korean keratitis patient The ammonium sulfate-precipitated culture supernatant of the isolate was purified by sequential chromatography on CM-Sepharose, Sephacryl S-200, and mono Q-anion exchange column. The purified 33 kDa protease had a pH optimum of 8.5 and a temperature optimum of $55^{\circ}C$. Phenylmethylsulfonylfluoride and 4-(2-Aminoethyl)-benzenesulfonyl-fluoride, both serine protease specific inhibitors, inhibited almost completely the activity of the 33 kDa protease whereas other classes of inhibitors did not affect its activity. The 33 kDa enzyme degraded various extracellular matrix proteins and serum proteins. Our results strongly suggest that the 33 kDa serine protease secreted from this keratopathogenic Acanthamoeba play important roles in the pathogenesis of amoebic keratitis, such as in corneal tissue invasion, immune evasion and nutrient uptake.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.31 no.4
• /
• pp.425-433
• /
• 2023

During liver injury, hepatic stellate cells can differentiate into myofibroblast-like structures, which are more susceptible to proliferation, migration, and extracellular matrix generation, leading to liver fibrosis. Anaerobic glycolysis is associated with activated stellate cells and glyceraldehyde (GA) is an inhibitor of glucose metabolism. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the anti-fibrotic effects of GA in human stellate LX-2 cells. In this study, we used cell viability, morphological analysis, fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS), western blotting, and qRT-PCR techniques to elucidate the molecular mechanism underlying the anti-fibrotic effects of GA in LX-2 cells. The results showed that GA significantly reduced cell density and inhibited cell proliferation and lactate levels in LX-2 cells but not in Hep-G2 cells. We found that GA prominently increased the activation of caspase-3/9 for apoptosis induction, and a pan-caspase inhibitor, Z-VAD-fmk, attenuated the cell death and apoptosis effects of GA, suggesting caspase-dependent cell death. Moreover, GA strongly elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and notably increased the phosphorylation of ERK and JNK. Interestingly, it dramatically reduced α-SMA and collagen type I protein and mRNA expression levels in LX-2 cells. Thus, inhibition of ERK and JNK activation significantly rescued GA-induced cell growth suppression and apoptosis in LX-2 cells. Collectively, the current study provides important information demonstrating the anti-fibrotic effects of GA, a glycolytic metabolite, and demonstrates the therapeutic potency of metabolic factors in liver fibrosis.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
• /
• v.31 no.2
• /
• pp.53-65
• /
• 2006

Calcium concentration in the bone resorption lacunae is high and is in the mM concentration range. Both osteoblast and osteoclast have calcium sensing receptor in the cell surface, suggesting the regulatory role of high extracellular calcium in bone metabolism. In vitro, high extracellular calcium stimulated osteoclastogenesis in coculture of mouse osteoblasts and bone marrow cells. Therefore we examined the genes that were commonly regulated by both high extracellular calcium and $1,25(OH)_2vitaminD_3(VD3)$ by using mouse oligo 11 K gene chip. In the presence of 10 mM $[Ca^{2+}]e$ or 10 nM VD3, mouse calvarial osteoblasts and bone marrow cells were co-cultured for 4 days when tartrate resistant acid phosphatase-positive multinucleated cells start to appear. Of 11,000 genes examined, the genes commonly regulated both by high extracellular calcium and by VD3 were as follows; 1) the expression of genes which were osteoclast differentiation markers or were associated with osteoclastogenesis were up-regulated both by high extracellular calcium and by VD3; trap, mmp9, car2, ctsk, ckb, atp6b2, tm7sf4, rab7, 2) several chemokine and chemokine receptor genes such as sdf1, scya2, scyb5, scya6, scya8, scya9, and ccr1 were up-regulated both by high extracellular calcium and by VD3, 3) the genes such as mmp1b, mmp3 and c3 which possibly stimulate bone resorption by osteoclast, were commonly up-regulated, 4) the gene such as c1q and msr2 which were related with macrophage function, were commonly down-regulated, 5) the genes which possibly stimulate osteoblast differentiation and/or mineralization of extracellular matrix, were commonly down-regulated; slc8a1, admr, plod2, lox, fosb, 6) the genes which possibly suppress osteoblast differentiation and/or mineralization of extracellular matrix, were commonly up-regulated; s100a4, npr3, mme, 7) the genes such as calponin 1 and tgfbi which possibly suppress osteoblast differentiation and/or mineralization of extracellular matrix, were up-regulated by high extracellular calcium but were down-regulated by VD3. These results suggest that in coculture condition, both high extracellular calcium and VD3 commonly induce osteoclastogenesis but suppress osteoblast differentiation/mineralization by regulating the expression of related genes.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
• /
• v.32 no.3
• /
• pp.87-94
• /
• 2017

Tissue engineering (TE) has been developed to create functional organs and tissue by combining 3D matrix and cells in vitro. Vascularization and angiogenesis are utmost important for supply of nutrients and oxygen in tissue engineered organs. The present study was performed to isolate and characterize primary endothelial cells (EC) from aorta of alpha 1, 3-enzyme galactosyltransferase knock out (GalT KO) pig, to minimize immune rejection and analyze body immune system for future xenotransplantation studies. Isolation of primary EC from aorta were performed by incubation with dispase for 8-10 min at $37^{\circ}C$. Primary EC were cultured in EC growth medium on different extra cellular matrix (ECM), either collagen or gelation. Primary EC exhibits morphological characteristics and showed positive expressions of EC specific marker proteins i.e. PECAM1, KDR and VWF despite of their ECM surface; however, on collagen based surface they showed increase in mRNA level analyzed by qPCR. Primary EC cultured on collagen were sorted by flow cytometer using KDR marker and cultured as KDR positive cells and KDR negative cells, respectively. KDR positive cells showed dramatically increased in PECAM1 and VWF level as compared to KDR negative cells. Based on the above results, primary EC derived from GalT KO are successfully isolated and survived continuously in culture without becoming overgrown by fibroblast. Therefore, they can be utilize for xeno organ transfer, tissue engineering, and immune rejection study in future.

• Composites Research
• /
• v.34 no.5
• /
• pp.311-316
• /
• 2021

In this study, TiC/steel metal matrix composites were fabricated by powder metallurgy process using Fealloy powders with 3 wt.% Cr and 10 wt.% Cr, respectively, as matrix material. Subsequently, the composite samples were heat treated by the annealing and quenching-tempering(Q-T), respectively, to understand the effect of heat treatment on the mechanical properties of the composites. The correlation between microstructure and structural strength depending on the chromium content and the heat treatment conditions was studied through tensile, compressive, and transverse rupture test and microstructural analysis. In the case of TiC/steel composite containing 10 wt.% Cr, the tensile strength and transverse rupture strength at room temperature were significantly lowered by the influence of coarse chromium carbide formed at the TiC/steel interface. On the other hand, both TiC/steel composites containing 3 wt.% Cr and 10 wt.% Cr showed much higher compressive strength of about 4 GP after quenching-tempering compared to the annealed specimens regardless of the presence of the chromium carbide.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
• /
• v.28 no.2
• /
• pp.441-456
• /
• 1998

The purpose of this study was to develop a reliable and valid instrument to measure hope for cancer patients in Korea. This Hope Scale(Kim & Lee Hope Scale ; KLHS ) was developed based on not only critical universal attributes explaining both basic hope (generalized hope) and specific hope but also particular characteristics varing from culture and situation, which were revealed in a comprehensive review of the literature. Initially 60 items were generated from three sources : 36 items from the Q-sample used in the Kim's study, 1992, 21 representative items(statements) from the rest Q-population of the above study, 3 items related to the newly discovered category in the new qualitative study using 10 open ended question(death and dying) from the new qualitative study on the 20 cancer patients. At first 3 items were eliminated by the critique of the content validity experts, who were high experienced nurse, nursing professors. And then 4 items were eliminated in consideration of corrected item total correlation coefficiency, theoretical framework of this study. After that, 14 items were eliminated in comparing two or three items identified with the same meaning in each factor by this research team with factor loading and communality. This Hope Scale was finally constructed with 39 items. Psychometric evaluation was done on 492 adults(104 cancer patients, 388 adults who imagined who were cancer patients ranging from 18 to 76 years old. The results revealed high internal consistency Alpha coefficiency of .9351. Princial Component Factor Analysis with Varimax Rotation resulted in 8 factors with more than 1.0 of Eigenvalue. Referring to Eigenvalues, percent of variances(>60%), reproduced correlation matrix, and our theoretical framework, we decided the eight factors were the best1 solution to represent hope dimensions sufficiently. The eight factors were "confidence in possibility of cure", "sense of internal satisfaction", "being in communion", "meaning of life", "Korean hope perspectives", "belief in god", "self confidence", "self-worth". Among these factors, "confidence in possibility of cure", "sense of internal satisfaction", "Korean hope perspectives" were identified as different hope dimensions from those of Nowotny Hope Scale and Herth Hope Scale. There was significant negative correlation of r=-.4736 between this hope scale and Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS), and significant positive correlation of r=.3685 between this hope scale and Life Orientation Test (LOT) which indicate convergent and discriminant validity. The range of hope scores was from 71 to 244, with a mean of 171.97(SD=28.16).

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
• /
• v.35 no.3
• /
• pp.223-233
• /
• 2016

BACKGROUND: This study was to develop a analytical reference material including twenty pesticides in tomato. To use it for proficiency test, the suitability of homogeneity, storage stability, assigned values and uncertainty for analytical reference material were important.METHODS AND RESULTS: In order to develop a analytical reference material of tomato for multi-residue analysis of pesticides, twenty-pesticides were treated in tomato and the samples were frozen and homogenized. The homogeneity, stability, assigned value and uncertainty were calculated according to the requirements of the KS A ISO Guide 35, KS Q ISO 13528 and EURL-PT protocol. The values of the within-bottle standard variation(s_wb) and the between-bottle standard variation(s_bb) were 0.9~6.5% of assigned value and the uncertainty(u*_bb) due to inhomogeneity was also calculated as 0.6~1.9% for all pesticides. This indicated that it was satisfactory to be used as a analytical reference material. The storage stabilities of twenty-pesticides at room temperature and freezing conditions were assessed according to the requirement of the KS Q ISO Guide 35. All pesticides were stable at room temperature (20~30℃) for 8 days and freezing (-20℃) for 23 days.CONCLUSION: The feasibility of analytical reference material for pesticide multi-residue analysis in a tomato matrix was investigated. Homogeneity of within/between-bottle, uncertainty and stabilities at room temperature and freezing condition were satisfactory for a use of proficiency test and quality control. From these results, a analytical reference material would be applicable to monitor the proficiency test of pesticide analysis organizations to improve the reliability and consistency.

• The Journal of Korean Institute of Electromagnetic Engineering and Science
• /
• v.21 no.6
• /
• pp.573-582
• /
• 2010

In this paper, X-band transceiver for high resolution wideband SAR systems is designed and fabricated. Also as a technique for enhancing the performance, error compensation algorithm is presented. The transceiver for SAR system is composed of transmitter, receiver, switch matrix and frequency generator. The receiver especially has 2 channel mono-pulse structure for ground moving target indication. The transceiver is able to provide the deramping signal for high resolution mode and select the receive bandwidth for receiving according to the operation mode. The transceiver had over 300 MHz bandwidth in X-band and 13.3 dBm output power which is appropriate to drive the T/R module. The receiver gain and noise figure was 39 dB and 3.96 dB respectively. The receive dynamic range was 30 dB and amplitude imbalance and phase imbalance of I/Q channel was ${\pm}$0.38 dBm and ${\pm}$3.47 degree respectively. The transceiver meets the required electrical performances through the individual tests. This paper shows the pulse error term depending on SAR performance was analyzed and range IRF was enhanced by applying the compensation technique.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.29 no.5
• /
• pp.514-523
• /
• 2019

We investigated the gene expression patterns and the mechanisms of action of the apoptotic response by microarray analysis of human keratinocyte HaCaT cells treated with ginsenoside Rb1, a saponin of Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer. Genes related to apoptosis, the G2/M transition of the mitotic cell cycle, cell division, mitotic nuclear division, and intracellular protein transport were 2-fold up-regulated in HaCaT cells treated with the ginsenoside Rb1, whereas genes related to DNA repair, regeneration fission, and extracellular matrix organization were 2-fold down-regulated. Apoptosis signaling may be mediated by FAS and PLA2G4A, and pathway analysis indicated that STAT3 might be an upstream regulator of these genes. The activity of FAS and PLA2G4A was verified by qPCR, which showed that FAS was increased about 2-fold in HaCaT cells treated with $10{\mu}g/ml$ of ginsenoside Rb1 for 24 hr, PLA2G4A was increased about twice after 6 hours, and gene expression was increased more than 2-fold after 24 hr. Knockdown of STAT3 with siRNA decreased FAS expression and increased PLA2G4A expression but only FAS was passed from the upstream regulator STAT3. These results indicate that STAT3, which is an upstream regulator, induces apoptosis via FAS during treatment with ginsenoside Rb1.