• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.66
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• pp.204-212
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• 2023

Whitening is inhibitory activity of the melanin synthesis of melanocytes. Recently, whitening materials have been developed on natural materials because of its side effects on skin. Figs (Ficus Carica L.) is a fruit belonging to the Moraceae family and whitening activity was reported in focusing on the fig's stem and leaf components, but whitening activity of the figs fruit was not known. Thus, in this study, we tried to observe its anti-melanogenesis as well as antioxidant and anti-inflammation. The radical scavenging activity of figs fruits extract (FFE) was observed as the level of 34.52±1.98%/60.71±1.26% compared to the control in the its maximum concentration in the DPPH/ABTS assay. Cytotoxicity of FFE was observed at 10% concentration by CCK8 assay, so the maximum concentration was set at 5% and applied to all experiments. FFE concentration dependently decreased NO production associated with inducible nitric oxide synthase, cyclooxygenase-2, interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α gene expression, these strongly suggesting anti-inflammatory activity. In melanin contents assay, FFE significantly down-regulated melanin production in α-MSH-stimulated B16F10 cell as well as tyrosinase inhibition in vitro. In addition, FFE decreased the Microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) mRNA expression about 94.34% compared to the α-MSH treatment group in RT-PCR. Finally, FFE significantly reduced the MITF, cAMP response element-binding protein and tyrosinase protein expression in the α-MSH stimulated B16F10 cell. Through these results, we found that FFE can not only directly inhibit tyrosinase enzyme activity but also suppress melanogenesis through regulation of MITF gene expression in α-MSH signal transduction.

• Journal of the Korean Magnetics Society
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• v.11 no.6
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• pp.267-271
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• 2001

These experiments were carried out to examine the effects of elemental substitution of Mn and La-Mn on Sr-ferrite. The calcined properties for the Mn and La-Mn substitution were examined, and the sintered magnetic properties were compared with the stoichiometric condition. The magnetic properties of calcined SrM and (La-Mn)$_{0.3}$-SrM composition were as follows, respectively; M$_{s}$ : 61.06 emu/g, $_{i}$H$_{c}$ : 4.45 kOe and M$_{s}$ : 61.06 emu/g, $_{i}$H$_{c}$ : 4.46 kOe. Also, the sintered ferrite magnets of Mn$_{0.3}$-SrM and [(La-Mn)$_{0.3}$-SrM exhibited a similar properties to the stoichiometric composition but the coercivity of (La-Mn)$_{x}$-SrM was decreased rapidly with x=0.5.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.81-90
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• 2017

Preceding displacements in tunnel are difficult to predict since the measurements of displacements after excavation can not be performed immediately. In the present study, The longitudinal displacements which can be measured immediately after excavation are used to predict the crown settlements occurring before excavation only if fault is located at the tunnel crown. Three-dimensional finite element analysis was conducted using 28 numerical models with various fault attitudes to analyze the correlation between the longitudinal displacements on tunnel face and preceding crown settlements. The results, $L_{face}/C$ ratio show 2~12% in the drives with dip models and 2~13% in the drives against dip models individually. In addition, each model has a certain $L_{face}/C$ ratio. The result of the regression analysis show that the coefficient of determination is over 0.8 in most models. Therefore, crown settlements occurring before excavation can be predicted by analyzing the longitudinal displacements occurring on tunnel faces.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.32 no.12
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• pp.979-988
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• 2022

Halophytes have been reported to possess a variety of physiological activities, such as anti-cancer, anti-oxidant, anti-diabetes, anti-inflammatory, and anti-obesity. Studies on the roots of the halophyte Rosa rugosa, in particular, have shown a variety of physiological activities and are known to be effective for nursing diabetic complications in traditional Korean medicine. In this study, the effect of R. rugosa on adipogenesis was investigated in 3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes treated with crude extract and solvent fractions (H₂O, n-BuOH, 85% aq. MeOH, and n-Hex) obtained from R. rugosa roots. Treatment with extract and the solvent fractions inhibited the formation of intracellular lipid droplets in differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes compared to the untreated group. In particular, n-BuOH and 85% aq. MeOH fractions effectively decreased the expression of adipogenic transcription factors: peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-γ (PPARγ), CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein α (C/EBPα), and sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1c (SREBP1c) in both mRNA and protein levels. In conclusion, these results suggest that R. rugosa contains anti-adipogenic molecules that can be utilized as a nutraceutical against obesity. Further refining of n-BuOH and 85% aq. MeOH fractions and analysis of their action mechanisms could yield potential therapeutic agents with anti-adipogenic effects.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.193-202
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• 2012

With entering the 21st century, modern people's dark inside and panic are emerging as the talking point on the theater stage. Even in the field of stage costume, the necessity of a research is being demanded through analyzing on psychological anguish and structure of characters. Accordingly, this study aims to allow the stage costume design to be expressed a human being's Doppelg$\ddot{a}$nger Image, which was elicited through analyzing a work of the play titled Le Grand C$\acute{e}$r$\acute{e}$monial by a playwriter Fernando Arrabal, who draws the conflictory and contradictory duplicity, which positions in a human being's deep inside by having chaos as catalyst. A research subject is 'Le Grand C$\acute{e}$r$\acute{e}$monial,' which was staged as the winter performance in commemoration of the 50th anniversary for the foundation of Dept. of Theater, Chung-Ang Univ. in November 2009. Psychology of characters in a play, which varies dimensionally, could be delivered, as nonverbal element called costume, by applying costume design of Cavanoza, Syl, Nice to Doppelg$\ddot{a}$nger Image such as Innocence vs Cruelty, Purity vs Superficiality and Restraint vs Freedom, which were elicited through analyzing characters. Through this study, the costume, which was expressed by visualizing a human being's Doppelg$\ddot{a}$nger Image, could be known to function as important dramatic factor of allowing character's psychology to be understood through costume as well as functioning as visual and sensible language, which is important for communication with the audience. A research on costume design, which reflects a character's complex inside, is expected to be likely continued through in-depth analysis on a playwriter's intention and on the appearing characters at the current point of time when an active research is being performed on stage costume in the wake of this study.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.16 no.9
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• pp.33-41
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• 2015

The vertical bearing capacity of a bucket foundation installed in sand can be calculated as sum of the skin friction and end bearing capacity. However, the current design equations are not considering the non-associated flow characteristics of sand and the reduction in the skin friction and increase in the end bearing capacity when the vertical load is applied. In this study, we perform two-dimensional axisymmetric finite element analyses following non-associated flow rule and calculate the vertical bearing capacity of circular bucket foundation of various sizes installed in sand of different friction angles. After calculating the skin friction and end bearing force at the ultimate state, design equations are derived for each. The skin friction of bucket foundation is shown significantly small compared to the end bearing capacity. Considering the difference with the available design equation for piles, it is recommended that the equation for piles is used for the bucket foundation. A new shape-depth factor ($s_q{\cdot}d_q$) for bucket foundation is recommended which also accounts for the increment of the end bearing capacity due to skin friction. Additionally, the shape and depth factor of embedded foundation proposed from the associated flow rule can overestimate the bearing capacity in sand, so it is more adequate to use the shape-depth factor proposed in this study.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.34-38
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• 2009

Nitrous oxide, which is used as an anesthetic gas, has been shown to be a chronic health hazard. It is necessary to monitor and control the nitrous oxide exposure of the operating theaters staff. In this study, N2O exposure level of the operating nurses is assessed with a GC-ECD. The nitrous oxide gas is collected on a molecular sieve 5A contained in a glass tube and desorbed for 12 hours at $100^{\circ}C$ in heating block. As a result of the test using GC-ECD, calibration curve's $R^2$ of $N_2O$ is 0.9992, LOD is $0.96{\mu}g$/injection, LOQ is $3.21{\mu}g$/injection, desorption efficiency is 94.78 4.50% in average and break through is within 10% compared with the concentration. The average concentration before operation is 5.12ppm and it is 42.3ppm during operation. There are a significant difference showing that the P value is lower than 0.05. Assessing exposure level to nitrous oxide based on nurses' working positions, the exposure levels do not show significant difference( P>0.005). And $N_2O$ in active sampling method is higher than passive sampling method(P<0.05).

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.102-108
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• 1994

Autonomously replicating sequence Binding Factor 1(ABF1) is a DNA-binding protein that specifically recognizes the $RTCRYN_5ACG$ at many sites in the yeast genome including the promoter element, mating-type silencer and ARS. To express the intact full-length ABF1 gene in E. coli, the ABF1 gene has been cloned into pMAL-c2 and His-61, Leu-353 and Leu-360 were substituted with other amino acid. ABF1 fusion proteins of wild type ABF1 and H61A, L353R and L360R nutants were purified by amylose resin affinity chromatography. Fusion protein of MBP and ABF1 was digested by Factor Xa and Characterized by gel retardation assay and complementation test. As aresult, we suggested that other DNA binding motif except atypical inc-finger motif is in the middle region of ABF1.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.228-235
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• 2010

This study was performed to investigate the memory enhancing effect of Poria cocos Wolf (Hoelen cum radix) against scopolamine-induced amnesia in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. To induce amnesia, scopolamine (0.75 mg/kg) was intraperitonically injected into SD rats 30 min before starting behavior tests. We have conducted Morris water-maze and Y-maze tests to monitor learning and memory functions. Poria cocos effectively reversed scopolamine-induced memory impairment in SD rats which was represented by an improvement of mean escape latency in water-maze test and spontaneous alterations in Y-maze test. To elucidate possible molecule mechanism, we have measured mRNA as well as protein expression of acetylcholine esterase (AchE), choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (mAchR), and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) using RT-PCR and Western blot analysis, respectively. Poria cocos increased mRNA levels of ChAT and mAchR in rat hippocampus compared with those in the scopolamine-injected amnesic group. In addition, protein expression of ChAT and BDNF was also elevated by Poria cocos intake. Furthermore, as an upstrem regulator, the activation of cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) was assessed by immunohistochemistry. In this immunohistochemical analysis, the phosphorylation of CREB (p-CREB) was reduced by scopolamine injection, which was restored back to control levels by administration of Poria cocos. These results suggest that Poria cocos may improve memory and cognitive deficit in amnesia and have therapeutic potentials through up-regulation of ChAT, mAchR, and BDNF, which seemed to be mediated by activation of CREB.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.79-82
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• 2012

Acinetobacter infections are of great concern in clinical settings because of multi-drug resistance (MDR) and high mortality of the infected patients. The MDR Acinetobacter baumannii has emerged as a significant infectious agent in hospitals worldwide. The purpose of this study was to determine for molecular characterization of MDR A. baumannii clinical isolates obtained from the Wonju Christian Hospital in Gangwon province of Korea. A total of seventy nonduplicate A. baumannii isolates were collected from the Wonju Christian Hospital in Korea from March to April in 2011. All of the MDR A. baumannii isolates were encoded by $bla_{OXA-23-like}$ gene and all isolates with the $bla_{OXA-23-like}$ gene had the upstream element ISAba1 to promote increased gene expression and subsequent resistance to carbapenem. 16S rRNA methylase gene (armA) was detected in 44 clinical isolates which were resistant to amikacin, and phosphotransferase genes encoding aac(3)-Ia and aac(6')-Ib were the most prevalent. A combination of 16S rRNA methylase and aminoglycoside-modifying enzyme genes (armA, aac(3)-Ia, aac(6')-Ib, and aph(3')-Ia) were found in 31 isolates. The sequencing results for the quinolone resistance-determining region (QRDR) of gyrA and parC revealed the presence of Ser (TCA) 83 Leu (TTA) and Ser (TCG) 80 Leu (TTG) substitutions in the respective enzymes for all MDR. Molecular typing for MDR A. baumannii could be helpful in confirming the identification of a common source or cross-contamination. This is an important step in enabling epidemiological tracing of these strains.