• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.53-58
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• 2003

This study was carried out to design, construct, and test a greenhouse monitoring system fur the environment and status of control devices in a greenhouse from a remote site using internet. The measuring items selected out of many environmental factors were temperature, humidity, solar radiation, CO$_2$, SOx, NOx concentration, EC, pH of nutrient solution, the state of control devices, and the image of greenhouse. The developed greenhouse monitoring system was composed of the network system and the measuring module. The network system consists of the three kinds of monitors named the Croup Monitor. the Client Monitor and the Server Monitor. The results of the study are summarized as follows. 1. The measuring module named the House Monitor. which is used to watch the state of the control device and the environment of the greenhouse, was developed to a embedded monitoring module using one chip microprocessor 2. For all measuring items. the House Monitor showed a satisfactory accuracy within the range of ${\pm}$0.3%FS. The House Monitors were connected to the Croup Monitor by communication method of RS-485 type and could operate under power and communication fault condition within 10 hours. The Croup Monitor was developed to receive and display measurement data received from the House Monitors and to control the greenhouse environmental devices. 3. The images of the plants inside greenhouse were captured by PC camera and sent to the Group Monitor. The greenhouse manager was able to monitor the growth state of plants inside greenhouse without visiting individual greenhouses. 4. Remote monitoring the greenhouse environment and status of control devices was implemented in a client/server environment. The client monitor of the greenhouse manager at a remote site or other greenhouse manager was able to monitor the greenhouse environment and the state of control devices from the Server Monitor using internet.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.135-147
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• 2020

Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) is a stable and biocompatible material that has been broadly used in biomedical applications. Due to its piezoelectric property, the electrospun nanofiber of PVDF has been used to culture electroactive cells, such as osteocytes and cardiomyocytes. Here, taking advantage of the piezoelectric property of PVDF, we have fabricated a PVDF nanofiber scaffolds using an electrospinning technique for differentiating human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) into neural precursors (NPs). Surface coating with a peptide derived from vitronectin enables hESCs to firmly adhere onto the nanofiber scaffolds and differentiate into NPs under dual-SMAD inhibition. Our nanofiber scaffolds supported the differentiation of hESCs into SOX1-positive NPs more significantly than Matrigel. The NPs generated on the nanofiber scaffolds could give rise to neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocyte precursors. Furthermore, comparative transcriptome analysis revealed the variable expressions of 27 genes in the nanofiber scaffold groups, several of which are highly related to the biological processes required for neural differentiation. These results suggest that a PVDF nanofiber scaffold coated with a vitronectin peptide can serve as a highly efficient and defined culture platform for the neural differentiation of hESCs.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Automotive Engineers
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.146-153
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• 2011

American NREL (National Renewable Energy Laboratory) reported that BDF20 could reduce PM, CO, SOx, and cancerogenic matters by 13.6%, 9.3%, 17.6%, and 13% respectively, compared to diesel fuel. BDF20 has been being tested on garbage trucks and official vehicles at Seoul City, which is positive on air environment, but negative on combustion by higher viscosity in winter season. This study investigated the combustion characteristics by applying pilot injection for improving the deterioration of combustibility caused by the higher viscosity of the BDF20 with the combustion flames taken by a high-speed camera and the cylinder pressure diagram. A 4-cycle single-cylinder diesel engine was remodeled to a visible 2-cycle engine taking the flame photographs, which has a common-rail injection system. The test was done laboratory temperature at $5{\sim}6^{\circ}C$. The results obtained are summarized as follows, (1) In the case of without pilot injection, the flame propagation speed was slowed and the maximum combustion pressure became lower. The phenomena became further aggravated as the fuel viscosity gets higher. (2) In the case of with pilot injection, early stage of combustion such as rapid ignition timing and flame propagation was activated since intermediate products formed by pilot injection act as a catalyst for combustion of main fuel.

• Journal of Power System Engineering
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.48-55
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• 2018

It has recently been reported that methanol fuel has been used in the product carrier with established duel fuel engine, which has been greatly reducing emissions of $CO_2$, NOx and SOx from the engine. However, to use methanol alone as fuel oil in a general diesel engine, design modification of cylinder head is needed because the ignition aid device or the duel fuel injection system is needed. On the other hand, only if the mixer is installed on the fuel oil supply line, diesel oil - methanol blending oil can be used as fuel oil for the diesel engine, but there is a problem of the phase separation when two fuels are mixed. In this study, diesel oil and methanol were blended compulsorily in preventing the phase separation with installing agitators and a fuel oil boost pump on fuel line of a test engine. Also, cylinder pressure and fuel consumption quantity were measured according to engine load and methanol blending ratio, and indicated mean effective pressure, heat release rate and combustion temperature obtained from the single zone combustion model were analyzed to investigate the effects of latent heat of vaporization of methanol on combustion stability and characteristics. As a result, the combustion stability and characteristics of 10% methanol blending oil are closest to the those of diesel oil, and it could be used as fuel oil in existing diesel engines without deterioration of engine performance and combustion characteristics.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.355-364
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• 2001

In order to evaluate and finally optimize the vitrification condition for combustible dry active waste (DAW), dust and gas generation characteristics were investigated for PE, cellulose, and mixed waste Tests were conducted by varying the operation variables such as melter configuration, excess oxygen amount, and waste feeding rate. Results showed that dust generation characteristics were affected by the operation parameters and the melter＇s configuration is the dominant one. For all tested DAWs, dust generation was reduced by increasing the waste feeding rate and the excessive oxygen amount in the melter. Among waste types, dust amount was decreased by the order of mixed wastes, PE, and cellulose. Other parameters such as temperature variation and operation time have also affected the dust generation. The optimum condition for the DAW vitrification was determined as the melter＇s configuration equipped for minimizing the waste dispersion with 20 kg/h of waste feeding rate and 100% of excessive oxygen supply. CO gas concentration in the off-gas was immediately influenced by the combustion state in the melter, but showed similar trend as the dust generation. For the NOx production during the vitrification process, thermal NOx, which is generated from the Post Combustion Chamber (PCC), rather than fuel NOx was assumed to be dominant. The gas cleaning of efficiencies of the PCC, wet scrubber, and Selective Catalytic Reduction system (SCR) were found to be high enough to keep the concentration of pollutants (CO, NOx, SOx, HCI) in the stack below their relevant emission limits.

• Journal of the Society of Naval Architects of Korea
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• v.53 no.5
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• pp.410-419
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• 2016

With the aim of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent by 2020 and by 50 percent by 2050 from their 2005 level, International Maritime Organization (IMO) regulated the emissions of SOx and NOx by setting the emission control area in 2012. Since these environmental regulations have been reinforced, demands for the LNG fuel ships are expected to increase dramatically. Accordingly, the worldwide shipbuilding companies spur the development of the LNG fueled ships. Therefore, it is essential to carry out the research on the development of LNG fuel tank, which is one of the important components of the LNG fuel supply system. In this study, the deliberate finite element analysis of type-B LNG fuel tank for 10,000 TEU containership was carried out to evaluate structural safety and provide the process for analyzing stress levels and evaluating fatigue life of target structural. In particular, thermo-structural analysis and fatigue analysis were carried out using the databases on materials and structures of LNG fuel tank.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.209-214
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• 2010

Cells that have endogenous multipotent properties can be used as a starting source for the generation of induced pluripotent cells (iPSC). In addition, small molecules associated with epigenetic reprogramming are also widely used to enhance the multi- or pluripotency of such cells. Skinderived precursor cells (SKPs) are multipotent, sphereforming and embryonic neural crest-related precursor cells. These cells can be isolated from a juvenile or adult mammalian dermis. SKPs are also an efficient starting cell source for reprogramming and the generation of iPSCs because of the high expression levels of Sox2 and Klf4 in these cells as well as their endogenous multipotency. In this study, valproic acid (VPA), a histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor, was tested in the generation of iPSCs as a potential enhancer of the reprogramming potential of SKPs. SKPs were isolated from the back skins of 5-6 week old C57BL/6 X DBA/2 F1 mice. After passage 3, the SKPs was treated with 2 mM of VPA and the quantitative real time RT-PCR was performed to quantify the expression of Oct4 and Klf4 (pluripotency specific genes), and Snai2 and Ngfr (neural crest specific genes). The results show that Oct4 and Klf4 expression was decreased by VPA treatment. However, there were no significant changes in neural crest specific gene expression following VPA treatment. Hence, although VPA is one of the most potent of the HDAC inhibitors, it does not enhance the reprogramming of multipotent skin precursor cells in mice.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.97-99
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• 2009

Geldanamycin is a benzoquinone ansamycin antibiotic that binds to cytosol HSP90 (Heat Shock Protein 90) and changes its biological function. HSP90 is involved in the intracellular important roles for the regulation of the cell cycle, cell growth, cell survival, apoptosis, angiogenesis and oncogenesis. To identify genes expressed during geldanamycin treatment against neurons of rats (PC12 cells), DNA microarray method was used. We have isolated 2 gene groups (up-or down-regulated genes) which are geldanamycin differentially expressed in neurons. Granzyme B is the gene most significantly increased among 204 up-regulated genes (more than 2 fold over-expression) and Chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 20 is the gene most dramatically decreased among 491 down-regulated genes (more than 2 fold down-expression). The gene increased expression of Cxc110, Cyp11a1, Gadd45a, Gja1, Gpx2, Ifua4, Inpp5e, Sox4, and Stip1 are involved stress-response gene, and Cryab, Dnaja1, Hspa1a, Hspa8, Hspca, Hspcb, Hspd1, Hspd1, and Hsph1 are strongly associated with protein folding. Cell cycle associated genes (Bc13, Brca2, Ccnf, Cdk2, Ddit3, Dusp6, E2f1, Illa, and Junb) and inflammatory response associated genes (Cc12, Cc120, Cxc12, Il23a, Nos2, Nppb, Tgfb1, Tlr2, and Tnt) are down-regulated more than 2 times by geldanamycin treatment. We found that geldanamycin is related to expression of many genes associated with stress response, protein folding, cell cycle, and inflammation by DNA microarray analysis. Further experimental molecular studies will be needed to figure out the exact biological function of various genes described above and the physiological change of neuronal cells by geldanamycin. The resulting data will give the one of the good clues for understanding of geldanamycin under molecular level in the neurons.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.54-65
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• 2017

Although cancer/testis antigen DDX53 confers anti-cancer drug-resistance, the effect of DDX53 on cancer stem cell-like properties and autophagy remains unknown. MDA-MB-231 ($CD133^+$) cells showed higher expression of DDX53, SOX-2, NANOG and MDR1 than MDA-MB-231 ($CD133^-$). DDX53 increased in vitro self-renewal activity of MCF-7 while decreasing expression of DDX53 by siRNA lowered in vitro self-renewal activity of MDA-MB-231. DDX53 showed an interaction with EGFR and binding to the promoter sequences of EGFR. DDX53 induced resistance to anti-cancer drugs in MCF-7 cells while decreased expression of DDX53 by siRNA increased the sensitivity of MDA-MB-231 to anti-cancer drugs. Negative regulators of DDX53, such as miR-200b and miR-217, increased the sensitivity of MDA-MB-231 to anti-cancer drugs. MDA-MB-231 showed higher expression of autophagy marker proteins such as ATG-5, $pBeclin1^{Ser15}$ and LC-3I/II compared with MCF-7. DDX53 regulated the expression of marker proteins of autophagy in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells. miR-200b and miR-217 negatively regulated the expression of autophagy marker proteins. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays showed the direct regulation of ATG-5. The decreased expression of ATG-5 by siRNA increased the sensitivity to anti-cancer drugs in MDA-MB-231 cells. In conclusion, DDX53 promotes stem cell-like properties, autophagy, and confers resistance to anti-cancer drugs in breast cancer cells.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.73-82
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• 2018

Cancer preventive activities of green tea and its main constituent, (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) have been extensively studied by scientists all over the world. Since 1983, we have studied the cancer chemopreventive effects of EGCG as well as green tea extract and underlying molecular mechanisms. The first part of this review summarizes groundbreaking topics with EGCG and green tea extract: 1) Delayed cancer onset as revealed by a 10-year prospective cohort study, 2) Prevention of colorectal adenoma recurrence by a double-blind randomized clinical phase II trial, 3) Inhibition of metastasis of B16 melanoma cells to the lungs of mice, 4) Increase in the average value of Young's moduli, i.e., cell stiffness, for human lung cancer cell lines and inhibition of cell motility and 5) Synergistic enhancement of anticancer activity against human cancer cell lines with the combination of EGCG and anticancer compounds. In the second part, we became interested in cancer stem cells (CSCs). 1) Cancer stem cells in mouse skin carcinogenesis by way of introduction, after which we discuss two subjects from our review on human CSCs reported by other investigators gathered from a search of PubMed, 2) Expression of stemness markers of human CSCs compared with their parental cells, and 3) EGCG decreases or increases the expression of mRNA and protein in human CSCs. On this point, EGCG inhibited self-renewal and expression of pluripotency-maintaining transcription factors in human CSCs. Human CSCs are thus a target for cancer prevention and treatment with EGCG and green tea catechins.