• Polymer(Korea)
• /
• v.39 no.3
• /
• pp.453-460
• /
• 2015

Engineering the polylactide via stereocomplexation with supercritical fluid (SCF) technology paved way to fabricate polymers with enhanced thermal and mechanical properties. We aimed to establish a SCF medium with excellent solubility for PLA without any additional solvent/co-solvent. We, therefore, employed supercritical dimethyl ether to synthesize 100% stereocomplex polylactide from high molecular weight homopolymers with an excellent yield. The remarkable solubility of the homopolymers in dimethyl ether is the key for quick conversion to s-PLA. This study proves a rapid synthesis route of dry s-PLA powder with sc-DME at 250 bar, $70^{\circ}C$ and 1.5 h, which are reasonably achievable processing parameters compared to the conventional methods. The degree of stereocomplexation was evaluated under the effect of pressures, temperatures, times, homopolymer-concentrations and molecular weights. An increment in the degree of stereocomplexation was observed with increased temperature and pressure. Complete conversion to s-PLA was obtained for PLLA and PDLA with $M_n{\sim}200kg{\cdot}mol^{-1}$ with a total homopolymer to total DME ratio of 6:100% w/w at prescribed reaction conditions. The degree of stereocomplexation was determined by DSC and confirmed by XRD. Considerable improvement in thermo-mechanical properties of s-PLA was observed. DSC and TGA analyses proved a $50^{\circ}C$ enhancement in melting transition and a high onset temperature for thermal degradation of s-PLA respectively.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.51 no.2
• /
• pp.193-200
• /
• 2007

This study investigated the effects of situational context feedback in CAI upon students' conceptual understanding, science learning motivation, and the perception of CAI. Seventh graders (N = 114) from a coed middle school in Incheon were assigned to the situational context feedback CAI (SCF-CAI), the feedback CAI (F-CAI) and the CAI groups, and were taught about ‘three states of matter' and ‘motion of molecules' for 8 class hours. Prior science achievement test score used as a blocking variable. Two-way ANCOVA results revealed that the conceptual understanding test scores of the SCF-CAI group were significantly higher than those of the other groups. For the higher achievers, the scores of the F-CAI group in science learning motivation test were significantly higher than those of the CAI group. However, there was no significant difference among the lower achievers of three groups. The higher achievers in the SCFCAI and the F-CAI groups perceived the CAI more positively than those of the CAI group. The lower achievers in the FCAI group perceived the CAI more negatively than those of the other groups. Educational implications are discussed.

• Development and Reproduction
• /
• v.11 no.2
• /
• pp.85-96
• /
• 2007

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) are promising candidates for cell-based therapies. One major obstacle for their clinical use is the unsafety of fetal bovine serum (FBS), which is a crucial part of all media currently used for the culture of MSC. We investigated the effect of human cord serum (HCS) on the growth response, mRNA and protein expressions of human amnion-derived stem cells (HAM). HAM were isolated from the amnion after a Caesarean section and cultured in DMEM supplemented with 10% FBS, 5% HCS or 10% HCS. During culture, their biological characteristics at earlier and later passages were analyzed using RT-PCR and immunocytochemistry. Regardless of serum sources, HAM showed the prominent expression of Oct-4, Rex-1, SCF, FGF-5, BMP-4, nestin, GATA-4, NCAM and HLA ABC genes. The expression profile was observed even at later passages. Similarly, HAM cultured in either FBS or HCS exhibited the distinct protein expression of collagen I, II, III and XII, fibronectin, $\alpha$-smooth muscle actin, vimentin, CK18, CD54, FSP, TRA-1-60, SSEA-3, -4 and HLA ABC. However, desmin expression was only observed in HAM cultured in medium supplemented with FBS and vWF expression was only found in HAM cultured in medium supplemented with HCS. Overall pattern of gene and protein expression of HAM was typical of known adult stem cells such as bone marrow-derived MSC. In conclusion, HCS could be as effective as FBS for the culture of HAM.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.26 no.3
• /
• pp.364-375
• /
• 2016

Post-translational modification is an efficient process to rapidly transduce external stimulus into cellular response. Ubiquitination is a typical post-translational modification which is a highly conserved process in eukaryotes. UPS (Ubiquitin/Proteasome System) mediated by the ubiquitination is to target diverse cellular proteins for degradation. Among E3 ubiquitin ligases that function as the key determinant for substrate recognition, CRL (cullin–RING E3 ubiquitin ligase) is the largest family and forms the complex composed of cullin, RBX1, adaptor and substrate receptor. Although CRL1, also known as SCF complex, has been widely researched for its biological role, the functional studies of CRL4 have been relatively elusive. In Arabidopsis, there are 119 substrate receptors named DCAF (DDB1 CUL4 Associated Factor) proteins for CRL4 and a fraction of DCAF proteins have been identified for their potential functions so far. In this paper, current understanding on structure and biological roles of plant CRL4 complexes in a diverse of cellular events is reviewed, especially focusing on CRL4 substrate receptors. Moreover, the regulatory mechanism of CRL4’s activity is also introduced. These studies will be helpful to further understand the signal transduction pathways in which such CRL4 complexes are involved and give a clue to establish the action network of entire CRL4 complexes in plants.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.28 no.6
• /
• pp.745-752
• /
• 2018

Melanogenesis is involved in the pigmentation of the hair, eyes, and skin in living organisms. Various signaling pathways stimulated by ${\alpha}-MSH$, SCF/c-Kit, $Wnt/{\beta}-catenin$, nitric oxide and ultraviolet activate melanocyte, leading to melanin production by tyrosinase, tyrosinase-related protein (TRP)-1, and TRP-2 expressed via the microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF). However, the abnormal regulation of melanogenesis causes dermatological issues such as graying hair and vitiligo. Therefore, the activators that promote melanogenesis are crucial for the prevention of graying hair and the treatment of hypopigmentary disorders. Many melanogenesis stimulators have been studied for the development of novel drugs derived from synthesized compounds and natural products. Here, in addition to providing a description of a common signaling pathway in the melanogenesis of graying hair and the vitiligo process for the development of novel anti-hair graying agents, this article reviews natural herbs and the active ingredients that promote melanin synthesis as a pharmaceutical agent for the treatment of vitiligo. In particular, compounds such as Imatinib and Sugen with a stimulating effect on melanogenesis as a side effect of the drugs, are also introduced. Recent advances in research on natural plant extracts such as Polygonum multiflorum, Rhynchosia Nulubilis, Black oryzasativa, and Orysa sartiva, widely known as traditional and medicinal extracts, are also reviewed.

• Development and Reproduction
• /
• v.14 no.4
• /
• pp.233-241
• /
• 2010

Human adipose stem cells are an abundant, readily available population of multipotent progenitor cells that reside in adipose tissue and these cells have characteristics very similar to bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells (BMMSCs). However, liposuction procedure, donor age, body mass index, and harvesting sites might generate differences in the initial cell population and the preparations are a heterogeneous mixture of precursors with different subsets. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the characteristics of human thigh adipose stem cells and the differentiation potential into mesodermal and endodermal lineage. Thigh adipose stem cells maintained fibroblast-like morphology similar to BM-MSCs and they underwent average 56.5 doublings and produced $5{\times}10^{22}$ cells. These cells expressed SCF, Oct4, nanog, vimentin, CK18, FGF5, NCAM, Pax6, BMP4, HNF4a, nestin, GATA4, HLA-ABC, and HLA-DR genes at p3 and they also expressed Oct4, Thy-1, FSP, vWF, vimentin, desmin, CK18, CD54, CD4, CD106, CD31, a-SMA, HLA-ABC proteins. Moreover, they could differentiate into mesodermal lineage cells such as adipocyte, osteoblast and chondrocyte. In addition, they also differentiated into insulin secreting cells in our culture condition. In conclusion, human thigh adipose stem cells retain proliferative potential and expression patterns similar to BM-MSCs and they also differentiate into various cell types. Thus, human thigh adipose stem cells might be useful alternative cell source for clinical application.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.13 no.3
• /
• pp.422-428
• /
• 2003

Umbilical cord blood (UCB), a rich source of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells, has been proposed as an alternative to bone marrow and peripheral blood for transplantation treatment. Ex vivo expansion of cord blood stem cells could make the use of cord blood transplant feasible even for adult patients. However, the optimal cytokine cocktail for expansion of stem cells is yet to be established. This study compares proliferation, apoptosis, and telomerase activities in human cord blood stem cells cultured ex vivo with FLT3 ligand (FL)/thrombopoietin (TPO) or FL/TPO/stem cell factor (SCF), with a view to determine optimal combination of cytokines. CD34+ cells were cultured in DMEM containing either FL (50 ng/ml) and TPO (10 ng/ml) (FT group) or FL (50 ng/ml), TPO (10 ng/ml) and SCF (50 ng/ml) (FTS group). The cell proliferation rate was ten times higher in the FTS group. Although cells cultured with the two different combinations of cytokines were maintained for a long term (up to 8 weeks), a large number of cells underwent differentiation during this period. Cells cultured in FTS displayed lower levels of apoptosis compared to those of the FT group during the Initial 7 days of culture. The CD34+ fraction in both groups was markedly decreased to $21-30\%$ , and only $5-6\%$ was detected at 14 days of culture. Telomerase activity detected in human CD34+ cord blood at low levels was upregulated during the early phase of culture and decreased to baseline levels in the later phase. The telomerase activity of cord blood cultured in FT was lower than that of the FTS group. Our results suggest that, on adding stem cell factors to the FT cytokines, cultured CD34+ cord blood cells display a greater degree of cell proliferation and decreased apoptosis. However, during CD34+ cord blood cell culture, a Barge number of cells undergo differentiation, indicating that more potent novel cytokines or new culture conditioning methods should be developed to maintain their ability to engraft and sustain long-term hematopoiesis.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of Korea SD
• /
• v.37 no.6
• /
• pp.85-96
• /
• 2000

It is necessary that fully differential operational amplifier circuit should drive an external load in the VLSI design such as SCF(Switched Capacitor Filter), D/A Converter, A/D Converter, Telecommunication Circuit and etc. The conventional CMOS operational amplifier circuit has many problems according to CMOS technique. Firstly, Capacity of large loads are not able to operate well. The problem can be solve to use class AB stages. But large loads are operate a difficult, because an element of existing CMOS has a quadratic functional relation with input and output voltage versus output current. Secondly, Whole circuit of dynamic range decrease, because a range of input and output voltages go down according as increasing of intergration rate drop supply voltage. The problem can be improved by employing fully differential operational amplifier using differential output stage with wide output swing. In this paper, we proposed new current mirror has large output impedance and good current matching with input an output current and compared with characteristics for operational amplifier using cascoded current mirror. To obtain large output swing and low power consumption we suggest a fully differential operational amplifier. The circuit employs an output stage composed new current mirror and two amplifier stage. The proposed circuit is layout and circuit of capability is inspected through simulation program(SPICE3f).

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Toxicology Conference
• /
• 2006.11a
• /
• pp.46-54
• /
• 2006

The methylmercury (MeHg) is a toxic environmental pollutant, causing serious neurological and developmental effects in humans. Recent epidemiological studies have indicated that ingestion of MeHg in fish during pregnancy can result in neuroethological effects in the offspring. However, the mechanism underlying the MeHg-toxicity is not fully understood. To elucidate the mechanisms of toxicity of MeHg and of defense against MeHg, we searched for factors that determine the sensitivity of yeast cells to MeHg, and found that overexpression of Cdc34, a ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme (E2) that is a component of the ubiquitin-proteasome (UP) system, induces a resistance to MeHg toxicity in both yeast and human cells. The UP system is involved in the intracellular degradation of proteins. When Cdc34 is overexpressed in cells, ubiquitination reactions are activated and the degradation of certain proteins by the UP system is enhanced. Therefore, it seems likely that certain as-yet-unidentified proteins that increase MeHg toxicity might exist in cons and that toxicity might be reduced by the enhanced degradation of such proteins, mediated by the UP system, when Cdc34 is overexpressed. SCF ubiquitin-ligase is a component of UP system and consists of Skpl, the scaffold protein Cdc53, the RING-finger protein Hrt1, and one member of the family of F-box proteins. The F-box proteins directly bind to the substrates and are the determinants of substrate specificity of SCF. Therefore, we searched for the f-box protein that cofers resistance to MeHg, and found that overexpression of Hrt3 or Yi1224w induced resistance to MeHg toxicity in yeast cells. Since the protein(5) that enhance toxicity of MeHg might plausibly be induced in substrates of both f-box proteins, we next searched for substrate proteins that are recognized by Hrt3 or Y1r224w using two-hybrid screen. We found that Did3 or Crsl interacts with Hrt3; and Eno2 interacts with Yir224w. The yeast cells that overexpressed each those proteins showed hypersensitivity to MeHg, respectively, indicating that those proteins enhance the MeHg toxicity. Both Dld3 and Eno2 are proteins involved in the synthesis of pyruvate, and overexpression of both proteins might induce increase in interacellular levels of pyruvate. Deletion of Yi1006w that transports pyruvate into the mitochondria induced aresistance to MeHg. These results suggest that the promotion of the pyruvate irdlowinto the mitochondria might enhance MeHg toxicity. This study providesimportant keyfor the elucidauon of the molecular mechanism of MeHg toxicity.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
• /
• v.38 no.2
• /
• pp.109-118
• /
• 2020

Purpose: Hypofractionated radiotherapy (RT) is becoming a new standard in postoperative treatment of patients with early stage breast cancer after breast conservation surgery. However, data on hypofractionation in patients with advanced stage disease who undergo mastectomy followed by local and regional nodal irradiation (RNI) is lacking. In this retrospective study, we report late-term effects of 3 weeks post-mastectomy hypofractionated local and RNI with two-dimensional (2D) technique in patients with stage II and III breast cancer. Methods: Between January 1990 and December 2007, 1,770 women with breast cancer who were given radical treatment with mastectomy, systemic therapy and RT at least 10 years ago were included. RT dose was 35 Gy/15 fractions/3 weeks to chest wall by two tangential fields and 40 Gy in same fractions to supraclavicular fossa (SCF) and internal mammary nodes (IMNs). SCF and IMNs dose was prescribed at d_max and 3 cm depth, respectively. Chemotherapy and hormonal therapy was given in 64% and 74% patients, respectively. Late-term toxicities were assessed with the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) scores and LENT-SOMA scales (the Late Effects Normal Tissue Task Force-Subjective, Objective, Management, Analytic scales). Results: Mean age was 48 years (range, 19 to 75 years). Median follow-up was 12 years (range, 10 to 27 years). Moderate/marked arm/shoulder pain was reported by 254 (14.3%) patients. Moderate/marked shoulder stiffness was reported by 219 (12.3%) patients. Moderate/marked arm edema was seen in 131 (7.4%) patients. Brachial plexopathy was not seen in any patient. Rib fractures were noted in 6 (0.3%) patients. Late cardiac and lung toxicity was seen in 29 (1.6%) and 23 (1.3%) patients, respectively. Second malignancy developed in 105 (5.9%) patients. Conclusion: RNI with 40 Gy/15 fractions/3 weeks hypofractionation with 2D technique seems safe and comparable to historical data of conventional fractionation (ClinicalTrial.gov Registration No. NCT04175821).