• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.78 no.1
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• pp.8-17
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• 2015

Background: AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) not only functions as an intracellular energy sensor and regulator, but is also a general sensor of oxidative stress. Furthermore, there is recent evidence that it participates in limiting acute inflammatory reactions, apoptosis and cellular senescence. Thus, it may oppose the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Methods: To investigate the role of AMPK in cigarette smoke-induced lung inflammation and emphysema we first compared cigarette smoking and polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid [poly(I:C)]-induced lung inflammation and emphysema in $AMPK{\alpha}1$-deficient ($AMPK{\alpha}1$-HT) mice and wild-type mice of the same genetic background. We then investigated the role of AMPK in the induction of interleukin-8 (IL-8) by cigarette smoke extract (CSE) in A549 cells. Results: Cigarette smoking and poly(I:C)-induced lung inflammation and emphysema were elevated in $AMPK{\alpha}1$-HT compared to wild-type mice. CSE increased AMPK activation in a CSE concentration- and time-dependent manner. 5-Aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide-1-${\beta}$-4-ribofuranoside (AICAR), an AMPK activator, decreased CSE-induced IL-8 production while Compound C, an AMPK inhibitor, increased it, as did pretreatment with an $AMPK{\alpha}1$-specific small interfering RNA. Conclusion: $AMPK{\alpha}1$-deficient mice have increased susceptibility to lung inflammation and emphysema when exposed to cigarette smoke, and AMPK appears to reduce lung inflammation and emphysema by lowering IL-8 production.

• Advances in environmental research
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.189-202
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• 2017

This study examines the concentrations of particulate-phase polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and gas-phase PAHs in sidestream cigarette smoke. Sixteen PAHs were determined for four brands of cigarettes. The volume of the experimental room is approximately $66m^3$. The air samples in the room were collected before and after smoking. The median total of particulate-phase and gas-phase PAH concentrations before smoking $3.13ng/m^3$and $48.0ng/m^3$, respectively. The median concentrations of them after smoking were $10.0ng/m^3$ and $79.6ng/m^3$. The median increases in the total of 16 PAH concentrations per cigarette during smoking were 271 ng for the particulate-phase PAHs and 1960 ng for the gas-phase PAHs. According to the relationship between particulate-phase and gas-phase PAHs after smoking, the two- to four-ring gas-phase PAHs and the higher molecular weight particulate-phase PAHs were probably formed from similar precursors. The relationship between the total suspended particulate (TSP) concentration and the increase in the total particulate-phase concentration of the 16 PAHs per cigarette during smoking were significantly positive. The increase in the total gas-phase concentration of the 16 PAHs tended to increase as the TSP concentration increased. This may indicates that decreasing the amount of TSP produced inhibit the production of PAHs during smoking.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.258-264
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• 2015

To evaluate the influence of 3A zeolite on the flame retardant properties of poplar plywood. Ammonium polyphosphate (APP) and 3A zeolite were used as flame retardants to prepare plywood samples. The combustion properties, such as heat release rate (HRR), total heat release (THR), mean CO and $CO_2$ yield, smoke production rate (SPR), and total smoke production (TSP), were characterized by a cone calorimeter. A synergistic effect was observed between 3A zeolite and APP on reducing the HRR and mean CO yield. The probable flame retardation mechanism was proposed.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.73-79
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• 2022

In this study, real fire tests were performed on representative combustibles of residential facilities to analyze the fire behavior and combustion characteristics in a small residential space. The considered combustibles were a sofa, a combination of a desk and a chair, and a combination of a mattress and an electric mat. A compartment space fire test was performed using the room corner test equipment prescribed in the KS F ISO 9705 specification. Three real fire tests were conducted by placing the combustible material inside a small compartment with insulation and finishing materials and by igniting the combustible material. Results showed that the peak heat release rate and peak smoke production rate occurred in the combination of the mattress and electric mat. Furthermore, from the result of the fire rate analysis, it was estimated that the fire risk of the mattress and electric mat combination was the highest, followed by the sofa and thedesk and chair combination.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.616-620
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• 2013

In this work, the combustive properties of the swine manure, poultry manure, and mixtures based on the resource recycling-energy were investigated. After the specimens were dried to a constant weight by dry oven, combustive properties were tested by the cone calorimeter (ISO 5660-1). It was found that the peak effective heat of combustion (PEHC) in the swine manure (78.72 MJ/kg) has risen due to more amount of the hydrocabon compared with poultry manure (69.41 MJ/kg), also the swine manure increased both of the higher $CO_2$ production rate (0.1959 g/s) and total smoke release rate (THRR) ($419m^2/m^2$) than those of the poultry manure. However, both of the CO production release (0.0996 kg/kg) and CO production rate (0034 g/s) in the poultry manure increased due to more amount of the inorganic contents compared with swine manure. Thus, the high combustion energy is expected to generate depend on the hydrocarbon content.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.237-247
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• 2009

The combustion characteristics of car components have been investigated, The combustion parameters like heat release rate, smoke production, yield of carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide and mass loss rate were analyzed by cone-calorimeter for representative samples (seat, carpet, headrest, rubber mat, dash board and electric wire) collected from a used car. The results from sample combustion showed that cover and sponge in seat more quickly ignited and flamed than other parts. The heat released from the combustion of dash board sample was 144.29$kw/m^2$ and the smoke produced by the wire combustion was 6896.4 $m^2/m^2$. The yields of carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide were in the ranges of 1.09${\sim}$2.76 kg/kg and 0.0262${\sim}$0.1008 kg/kg, respectively.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.20-24
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• 2017

In this study, we have performed the Cone Calorimeter test in accordance with ISO 5660-1 to check the combustion characteristics of building flooring materials. The fire risk of these materials were evaluated by construction code, KFI criteria and standards of flame retardant performance. When samples exposed to external heat flux, all samples consumed a lot of Oxygen for a long time. So heat release from sample burning continued so long. And also all samples produced so much smoke. Even though a few samples were satisfied with only peak heat release rate criteria, all 8 samples were not satisfied with criteria of peak heat release rate and total heat released together. The results of 5 min total heat released were $15.9MJ/m^2{\sim}5.9MJ/m^2$. It menas the results are more than 2~6 times higher than the criteria. The results of 10 min total heat released were $30.1MJ/m^2{\sim}100.8MJ/m^2$. It means the results are more than 3~12 times higher than the criteria. 6 of 8 samples were not satisfied with Dm.corr.(corrected maximum smoke density) criteria. The building flooring materials which we used for this test ignited very fast and the burning continued so long. It means these samples are susceptible to fire.

• Experimental and Molecular Medicine
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• v.50 no.11
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• pp.9.1-9.10
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• 2018

Although the positive effects of recombinant fibroblast growth factor-2 (rFGF-2) in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have been implicated in previous studies, knowledge of its role in COPD remains limited. The mechanism of FGF2 in a COPD mouse model and the therapeutic potential of rFGF-2 were investigated in COPD. The mechanism and protective effects of rFGF-2 were evaluated in cigarette smoke-exposed or elastase-induced COPD animal models. Inflammation was assessed in alveolar cells and lung tissues from mice. FGF-2 was decreased in the lungs of cigarette smoke-exposed mice. Intranasal use of rFGF-2 significantly reduced macrophage-dominant inflammation and alveolar destruction in the lungs. In the elastase-induced emphysema model, rFGF-2 improved regeneration of the lungs. In humans, plasma FGF-2 was decreased significantly in COPD compared with normal subjects (10 subjects, P = 0.037). The safety and efficacy of inhaled rFGF-2 use was examined in COPD patients, along with changes in respiratory symptoms and pulmonary function. A 2-week treatment with inhaled rFGF-2 in COPD (n = 6) resulted in significantly improved respiratory symptoms compared with baseline levels (P < 0.05); however, the results were not significant compared with the placebo. The pulmonary function test results of COPD improved numerically compared with those in the placebo, but the difference was not statistically significant. No serious adverse events occurred during treatment with inhaled rFGF-2. The loss of FGF-2 production is an important mechanism in the development of COPD. Inhaling rFGF-2 may be a new therapeutic option for patients with COPD because rFGF-2 decreases inflammation in lungs exposed to cigarette smoke.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.41-47
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• 2012

As a core process in the manufacture of state-of-the-art industrial technologies such as semiconductor and LCD, a clean room is the most important process which can affect the performance and quality of products drastically. Nevertheless, scientific research on comprehensive safety measures from a fire protection standpoint is not being carried out in Korea. This study aims to derive measures to improve smoke control systems by identifying performance and problems of smoke systems installed in clean rooms as an LCD manufacturing process and analyzing fire and evacuation simulations considering several scenarios. As a result of analysis of fires and smoke in a clean roomas an LCD manufacturing process, it is found to be necessary to stop air handling units through interlocking in case of a fire and exhaust smoke out of the room through the top of FAB in consideration of buoyancy of smoke. It is also found to be necessary to install quick response sprinkler heads and accessories to accelerate the response time, because the heat-accumulating performance of sprinkler heads decreases in this application. Despite its low density of dwelling due to the automation process, clean room is characterized by an array of complex production equipment and working environment requiring dustproof clothes, which makes it difficult to acquire evacuation safety performance. Thus, thorough control of danger factors in processes and periodic education and training are required. It is also necessary to establish a level of domestic technologies equivalent to the level of standards of advanced countries in fire protection.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.634-643
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• 2023

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), one of the leading causes of death worldwide, is caused by repeated exposure to harmful matter, such as cigarette smoke. Although Lilium longiflorum Thunb (LLT) has anti-inflammatory effects, there is no report on the fermented LLT bulb extract regulating lung inflammation in COPD. Thus, we investigated the protective effect of LLT bulb extract fermented with Lactobacillus acidophilus 803 in COPD mouse models induced by cigarette smoke extract (CSE) and porcine pancreas elastase (PPE). Oral administration of the fermented product (LS803) suppressed the production of inflammatory mediators and the infiltration of immune cells involving neutrophils and macrophages, resulting in protective effects against lung damage. In addition, LS803 inhibited CSE- and LPS-induced IL-6 and IL-8 production in airway epithelial H292 cells as well as suppressed PMA-induced formation of neutrophil extracellular traps in HL-60 cells. In particular, LS803 significantly repressed the elevated IL-6 and MIP-2 production after CSE and LPS stimulation by suppressing the activity of the nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B (NFκB) in mouse peritoneal macrophages. Therefore, our results suggest that the fermented product LS803 is effective in preventing and alleviating lung inflammation.