• 말소리와 음성과학
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• 제9권4호
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• pp.27-34
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• 2017

The purpose of this work is to examine the English and Korean voiceless plosives from the Buckeye[15] and Seoul[16] corpus in terms of their static spectral characteristics. The plosives were automatically extracted by a Praat script. In order to estimate the percent correctness in the classification of the plosives, discriminant analyses were performed whose trainings were based on four spectral moments, i.e. the center of gravity, variance, skewness and kurtosis as suggested in [6]. Another set of discriminant analyses were performed based on the spectral tilts. In the last set of analyeses, the spectral moments and tilts were both used in the training. Results showed that the correct classification rate did not exceed around 65% in the best case, which suggested that phonetic cues other than the release burst would be necessary including the dynamic spectral aspects and vowel-onset cues.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제11권3호
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• pp.322-334
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• 2020

Background: Spontaneous combustion of coal is one of the factors which causes direct or indirect gas and dust explosion, mine fire, the release of toxic gases, loss of reserve, and loss of miners' life. To avoid these incidents, the prediction of spontaneous combustion is essential. The safety of miner's in the mining field can be assured if the prediction of a coal fire is carried out at an early stage. Method: Adularya Underground Coal Mine which is fully mechanized with longwall mining method was selected as a case study area. The data collected for 2017, by sensors from ten gas monitoring stations were used for the simulation and prediction of a coal fire. In this study, the fuzzy logic model is used because of the uncertainties, nonlinearity, and imprecise variables in the data. For coal fire prediction, CO, O₂, N₂, and temperature were used as input variables whereas fire intensity was considered as the output variable.The simulation of the model is carried out using the Mamdani inference system and run by the Fuzzy Logic Toolbox in MATLAB. Results: The results showed that the fuzzy logic system is more reliable in predicting fire intensity with respect to uncertainties and nonlinearities of the data. It also indicates that the 1409 and 610/2B gas station points have a greater chance of causing spontaneous combustion and therefore require a precautional measure. Conclusion: The fuzzy logic model shows higher probability in predicting fire intensity with the simultaneous application of many variables compared with Graham's index.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• 제36권2호
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• pp.109-114
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• 2006

Biodegradable poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) nanoparticles were developed for sustained delivery of water-soluble macromolecules. PLGA nanoparticles were fabricated by spontaneous emulsification solvent diffusion method generating negatively charged particles and heterogeneous size distribution. As a model drug, blue dextran was encapsulated in PLGA nanoparticles. In addition, nanoparticles were also prepared with varying ratio of poloxamer 188 (P188) and poloxamer 407 (P407), and coating with poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA). Then, the particle size, zeta potential and encapsulation efficiency of nanoparticles containing blue dextran were studied. In vitro release of blue dextran from nanoparticles was also investigated. The surface and morphology of nanoparticles were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In case of nanoparticles prepared with PLGA, P407, and different organic solvents, particle size was in the range of $230{\sim}320\;nm$ and zeta potentials of nanoparticles were negative. The SEM images showed that ethyl acetate is suitable for the formulation of PLGA nanoparticles with good appearance. Moreover, ethyl acetate showed higher encapsulation efficiency than other solvents. The addition of P188 to formulation did not affect the particle size of PLGA nanoparticles but altered the release patterns of blue dextran from nanoparticles. However, PVA, as a coating material, altered the particle size with increasing the PVA concentration. The nanoparticles were physically stable in the change of particle size during long-term storage. From the results, the PLGA nanoparticles prepared with various contents of poloxamers and PVA, could modulate the particles size of nanoparticles, in vitro release pattern, and encapsulation of water-soluble macromolecules.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제3권2호
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• pp.127-135
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• 1999

As part of a study on the effects of dexamethasone and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) on the biological roles of astrocytes in brain injury, this study evaluated the effects of dexamethasone and DHEA on the responses of primary cultured rat cortical astrocytes to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and antimycin A. Dexamethasone decreased spontaneous release of LDH from astrocytes, and the dexamethasone effect was inhibited by DHEA. However, the inhibitory effect of DHEA on the dexamethasone-induced decrease of LDH release was not shown in astrocytes treated with LPS, and antimycin A-induced LDH release was not affected by dexamethasone or DHEA. Unlike dexamethasone, DHEA increased MTT value of astrocytes and also attenuated the antimycin A-induced decrease of MTT value. Glutamine synthetase activity of astrocytes was not affected by DHEA or LPS but increased by dexamethasone, and the dexamethasone- dependent increase was attenuated by DHEA. However, antimycin A markedly decreased glutamine synthetase activity, and the antimycin A effect was not affected by dexamethasone or DHEA. Basal release of $[^3H]arachidonic$ acid from astrocytes was moderately increased by LPS and markedly by antimycin A. Dexamethasone inhibited the basal and LPS-dependent releases of $[^3H]arachidonic$ acid, but neither dexamethasone nor DHEA affected antimycin A-induced $[^3H]arachidonic$ acid release. Basal IL-6 release from astrocytes was not affected by dexamethasone or DHEA but markedly increased by LPS and antimycin A. LPS-induced IL-6 release was attenuated by dexamethasone but was little affected by DHEA, and antimycin A-induced IL-6 release was attenuated by DHEA as well as dexamethasone. At the concentration of dexamethasone and DHEA which does not affect basal NO release from astrocytes, they moderately inhibited LPS-induced NO release but little affected antimycin A-induced decrease of NO release. Taken together, these results suggest that dexamethasone and DHEA, in somewhat different manners, modulate the astrocyte reactivity in brain injuries inhibitorily.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제6권2호
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• pp.63-70
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• 2002

Cholinergic modulation of GABAergic spontaneous miniature inhibitory postsynaptic currents (mIPSCs) by the activation of muscarine receptors was investigated in mechanically dissociated rat nucleus basalis of the Meynert neurons using the conventional whole-cell patch recording configuration. Muscarine $(10{\mu}M)$ reversibly and concentration-dependently decreased mIPSC frequency without affecting the current amplitude distribution. Muscarine action on GABAergic mIPSCs was completely blocked by $1{\mu}M$ methoctramine, a selective $M_2$ receptor antagonist, but not by $1{\mu}M$ pirenzepine, a selective $M_1$ receptor antagonist. NEM $(10{\mu}M),$ a G-protein uncoupler, attenuated the inhibitory action of muscarine on GABAergic mIPSC frequency. Muscarine still could decrease GABAergic mIPSC frequency even in the $Ca^{2+}-free$ external solution. However, the inhibitory action of muscarine on GABAergic mIPSCs was completely occluded in the presence of forskolin. The results suggest that muscarine acts presynaptically and reduces the probability of spontaneous GABA release, and that such muscarine-induced inhibitory action seems to be mediated by G-protein-coupled $M_2$ receptors, via the reduction of cAMP production. Accordingly, $M_2$ receptor-mediated disinhibition of nBM neurons might play one of important roles in the regulation of cholinergic outputs from nBM neurons as well as the excitability of nBM neurons themselves.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제14권1호
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• pp.19-24
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• 2006

Atrial chambers serve as mechanosensory systems during the haemodynamic or mechanical disturbances, which initiates arrhythmia. Atrial myocytes, lacking t-tubules, have two functionally separate sarcoplasmic reticulums (SRs): those at the periphery close to the surface membrane, and those at the cell interior (center) not associated with the membrane. To explore possible role of fluid pressure (FP) in the regulation of atrial local $Ca^{2+}$ signaling we investigated the effect of FP on subcellular $Ca^{2+}$ signals in isolated rat atrial myocytes using confocal microscopy. FP was applied to whole area of single myocyte with pressurized automatic micro-jet (200-400 $mmH_2O$) positioned close to the cell. Application of FP enhanced spontaneous occurrences of peripheral and central $Ca^{2+}$ sparks with larger effects on the peripheral release sites. Unitary properties of single sparks were not altered by FP. Exposure to higher FP often triggered longitudinal $Ca^{2+}$ wave. These results suggest that fluid pressure may directly alter excitability of atrial myocytes by activating $Ca^{2+}$-dependent ionic conductance in the peripheral membrane and by enhancing spontaneous activation of central myofilaments.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제45권5호
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• pp.942-952
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• 1998

연구배경: 결핵균(m. tuberculosis) 감염에 대한 숙주의 방어기능에서 세포-매개성 면역반응이 중요하며, 항 결핵반응은 주로 T-림프구와 대식세포에 의하여 매개된다. 결핵균이 대식세포에 탐식되면 특징적인 cytokine이 분비되며 이 cytokine이 잠재적인 면역조절반응과 결핵감염시 여러가지 임상증상을 나타내는데 관여하고, 특히 육아종 형성, 건락성 괴사, 및 지연형 과민반응에 중요한 역할을 한다. 본 연구에서는 활동성 폐결핵환자의 기관지폐포 세척액에서 대식세포에서 분비되는 대표적인 cytokine인 tumor necrosis factor-$\alpha$, interleukin-1$\beta$, interleukin-6와 interleukin-8의 자발 및 LPS 자극 후의 분비를 관찰하고자 하였다. 방 법: 폐결핵 환자 10예와 대조군 5예를 대상으로 기관지폐포 세척술을 시행하여 폐포 대식세포를 분리한 후 RPMI 1640 배양액에 폐포 대식세포가 mi당 $1 {\times}10^6$개가 되도록 희석하여 LPS 0.1 ${\mu}g/ml$, 1 ${\mu}g/ml$, 10 ${\mu}g/ml$을 첨가하거나 첨가하지 않고 $37^{\circ}C$, 5% CO2 하에서 24 시간 및 48시간 배양한 후 상층액에서 TNF-$\alpha$, IL-1$\beta$, IL-6와 IL-8의 분비를 ELISA kit를 이용하여 측정하였다. 결 과: 폐포 대식세포에서 측정한 24 시간 자발적 TNF-$\alpha$의 분비는 이환된 병변 $1149{\pm}805.5$ pg/ml, 대조군 $125{\pm}109.7$ pg/ml, 비병변 $127{\pm}135.6$ pg/ml, IL-6의 분비는 이환된 병변이 $20.6{\pm}16.12$ ng/ml, 대조군 $0.91{\pm}0.58$ ng/ml, 비병변 $1.10{\pm}1.38$ ng/ml로 병변에서 유의하게 현저한 증가를 보였다(p<0.05). 폐포 대식세포에서 LPS 10 ${\mu}g/ml$로 48 시간 동안 자극한 후의 TNF-$\alpha$와 IL-6 분비능은 결핵의 이환된 병변에서 대조군이나 비병변에 1:11하여 증가된 경향을 보였다. IL-1$\beta$와 IL-8의 24시간 자발적 분비능 및 LPS 10 ${\mu}g/ml$로 48시간 동안 자극한 후의 분비능은 결핵 병변의 대식세포에서는 측정되지 못하였으며, 대조군과 비병변에서 얻어진 대식세포에서는 특별한 차이가 없었다. TNF-$\alpha$의 분비는 대부분이 처음 24 시간에 분비되었으나 IL-1$\beta$, IL-6 및 IL-8의 분비는 48시간까지 점차 증가되었다. TNF-$\alpha$, IL-1$\beta$ 및 IL-6는 자발적 분비에 비하여 LPS를 0.1 ${\mu}g/ml$, 1 ${\mu}g/ml$, 10 ${\mu}g/ml$로 증가시킬 수록 분비가 증가되었으나 IL-8은 LPS 1 ${\mu}g/ml$ 시 분비가 고평부를 이루었다. 결핵 비병변에서 얻어진 폐포 대식세포에서 TNF-$\alpha$, IL-1$\beta$ 분비능은 초치료 환자에서 재발환자에 비하여 현저하게 증가되었으나 IL-6와 IL-8의 분비능은 초치료와 재치료 환자에서 큰 차이가 없었다. 결 론: 폐결핵 환자의 폐포 대식세포의 cytokine 분비능은 정상 대조군에 비하여 현저하게 증가되어 있었으나 이는 직접 이환된 부위의 폐포 대식세포에 국한되었다. 또한 폐포 대식세포에서 분비되는 proinflammatory cytokine인 TNF-$\alpha$, IL-1$\beta$가 특히 결핵의 초감염시 균에 대한 방어작용에 중요한 역할을 할 것으로 생각된다.

• 대한약리학회지
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• 제28권2호
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• pp.181-190
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• 1992

흰쥐 적출관류 부신에서 선택적인 nicotine 수용체 효능약인 DMPP(1,1-dimethyl-4-phenylpiperazinium)와 acetylcholine(ACh)의 카테콜아민(CA) 분비작용에 대한 opioids의 영향을 연구하고자 시행하여 얻어진 연구결과는 다음과 같다. Methionine-enkephalin$(9.68{\times}10^{-6}\;M)$으로 전처치시 DMPP(100 uM)과 $ACh(50\;{\mu}g)$에 의한 CA 유리작용이 현저히 억제되었으며 basal CA release는 영향을 받지 않았다. Morphine$(1.73{\times}10^{-5}\;M)$으로 전처치시 DMPP 및 excess $K^+$의 CA 분비작용은 뚜렷이 약화되었다. Morphine 역시 그자체는 basal CA release에는 영향을 미치지 않았다. Opiate 수용체 길항제인 naloxone$(1.22{\times}10^{-7}\;M)$은 DMPP 및 ACh에 의한 CA 분비작용을 현저히 차단 하였으나 basal CA release에는 영향을 미치지 못하였다. 이와 같은 연구결과로 보아, 흰쥐 관류 부신에서 니코틴 수용체에 의한 CA 분비작용은 내인성 opioid peptide에 의해서 억제되며, 이는 부신에 존재하는 opiate 수용체 흥분작용에 기인되는 것으로 사료된다.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• 제37권1호
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• pp.39-43
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• 2007

Previously, we have reported that PLGA nanoparticles were prepared for sustained release of water-soluble blue dextran and the particle size, in vitro release pattern and encapsulation were modulated by varying polymers. This study was designed to encapsulate plasmid DNA in PLGA nanoparticles and to investigate the effect of Polymers and temperatures. PLGA nanoparticles were fabricated with poloxamer 188 (P188) or poloxamer 407 (P407) by using spontaneous emulsification solvent diffusion method. As a model plasmid DNA, pCMV-Taq2B/1L-18 was encapsulated in PLGA nanoparticles. Then, the particle size, zeta potential and encapsulation efficiency of nanoparticles containing plasmid DNA were investigated. Particle sizes of PLGA nanoparticles prepared with P188 and P407 were in the range of 200-330 nm and 250-290 nm, respectively. Zeta potentials of nanoparticles were negative regardless of nanoparticle compositions. Encapsulation efficiency of P407 nanoparticles prepared at $30^{\circ}C$ was higher than those at other preparation condition. From the results, the PLGA nanoparticles prepared with poloxamers at different temperature, could modulate the particles size of nanoparticles, and encapsulation efficiency of plasmid DNA.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제23권3호
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• pp.357-363
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• 2013

The identification of bacteriophage proteins on the surface of Lactobacillus rhamnosus Pen was performed by LC-MS/MS analysis. Among the identified proteins, we found a phage-derived major tail protein, two major head proteins, a portal protein, and a host specificity protein. Electron microscopy of a cell surface extract revealed the presence of phage particles in the analyzed samples. The partial sequence of genes encoding the major tail protein for all tested L. rhamnosus strains was determined with specific primers designed in this study. Next, RT-PCR analysis allowed detection of the expression of the major tail protein gene in L. rhamnosus strain Pen at all stages of bacterial growth. The transcription of genes encoding the major tail protein was also proved for other L. rhamnosus strains used in this study. The present work demonstrates the spontanous release of prophage-encoded particles by a commercial probiotic L. rhamnosus strain, which did not significantly affect the bacterial growth of the analyzed strain.