• Composites Research
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.441-447
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• 2023

Recently, as demand for high-strength, lightweight materials has increased, there has been great interest in joining with metals. In the case of mechanical bonding, such as bolting and riveting, chemical bonding using adhesives is attracting attention as stress concentration, cracks, and peeling occur. In this paper, surface treatment was performed to improve the adhesive strength, and the change in adhesive strength was analyzed. For the adhesive strength test were conducted with Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic(CFRP), CR340(Steel), and Al6061(Aluminum), and laser and plasma surface treatment were used. After plasma surface treatment, the adhesive strength improved by 7.3% and 39.2% in CFRP-CR340 and CFRP-Al6061, respectively. CR340-Al6061 was improved by 56.2% in laser surface treatment. Surface free energy(SFE) was measured by contact angle after plasma treatment, and it is thought that the adhesion strength was improved by minimizing damage through a chemical reaction mechanism. For laser surface treatment, it is thought that creates a rough bonding surface and improves adhesive strength due to the mechanical interlocking effect. Therefore, surface treatment is effect to improve adhesive strength, and based on this paper, the long-term fatigue test will be conducted to prevent fatigue failure, which is a representative cause of actual structural damage.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2024

Purpose: Lycopene is abundantly contained in Tomatoes and is known for diverse biological activities such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer effects. In this study, the antioxidative potential of lycopene was investigated through the induction of hemeoxygenase (HO)-1 by nuclear factor-erythroid 2 p45-related factor2 (Nrf2) and upstream signaling molecules, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Aktin RAW 264.7 cells. Methods: The antioxidative potential of lycopene against oxidative stress and its molecular mechanisms were determined by the cell viability assay, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation assay, and Western blot analysis in RAW 264.7 cells. Results: Lycopene treatment significantly attenuated tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP) induced intracellular ROS formation in a dose-dependent manner without any cytotoxicity. In addition, 50 µM of lycopene for 6 h treatment induced potent HO-1 expression and its transcription factor, Nrf2. MAPK and PI3K/Aktwere also analyzed due to their critical roles in the regulation of cellular redox homeostasis against oxidative damage. As a result, phosphorylation of extracellular regulated kinase (ERK) was significantly induced by lycopene treatment while the activated status of c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK), p38, and Akt, were not given any effect. To confirm the antioxidative mechanism of HO-1 mediated by ERK activation, each selective inhibitor was employed in a protection assay, in which oxidative damage occurred by t-BHP. Lycopene, SnPP, and CoPP treatments reflected accelerated HO-1 expression could be a protective role against oxidative damage-initiated cell death. A selective inhibitor for ERK significantly inhibited the lycopene-induced cytoprotective effect but selective inhibitors for other signaling molecules did not attenuate the rate of t-BHP-induced cell death. Conclusion: In conclusion, lycopene potently scavenged intracellular ROS formation and enhanced the HO-1 mediated antioxidative potential through the modulation of Nrf2, MAPK signaling pathway in RAW 264.7 cells.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.89-103
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• 2024

In the disposal environment, gases can be generated at the interface between canister and buffer due to various factors such as anaerobic corrosion, radiolysis, and microbial degradation. If the gas generation rate exceeds the diffusion rate, the gas within the buffer may compress, resulting in physical damage to the buffer due to the increased pore pressure. In particular, the rapid movement of gases, known as gas breakthroughs, through the dilatancy pathway formed during this process may lead to releasing radionuclide. Therefore, understanding these gas generation and movement mechanism is essential for the safety assessment of the disposal systems. In this study, an experimental apparatus for investigating gas migration within buffer was constructed based on a literature review. Subsequently, a gas injection experiment was conducted on a compacted bentonite block made of Bentonile WRK (Clariant Ltd.) powder. The results clearly demonstrated a sharp increase in stress and pressure typically observed at the onset of gas breakthrough within the buffer. Additionally, the range of stresses induced by the swelling phenomenon of the buffer, was 4.7 to 9.1 MPa. The apparent gas entry pressure was determined to be approximately 7.8 MPa. The equipment established in this study is expected to be utilized for various experiments aimed at building a database on the initial properties of buffer and the conditions during gas injection, contributing to understanding the gas migration phenomena.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.169-189
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• 2024

In the current work, a series of three-dimensional finite element analyses have been carried out to understand the behaviour of pre-existing single piles and pile groups to adjacent Shield TBM tunnelling by considering various reinforcement conditions. The numerical modelling has analysed the effect of the pile cutting, ground reinforcement and pile cap reinforcement. The analyses concentrate on the ground settlements, the pile head settlements, the axial pile forces and the shear stress transfer mechanism at the pile-soil interface. In all cases of the pile tips supported by weathered rock, the distributions of shear stresses presented a similar trend. Also, when the pile tips were cut, tensile forces or compressive forces were induced on the piles depending on the relative positions of the piles. Furthermore, when the pile tips are supported by weathered rock, approximately 70% of the load is supported by surface friction, and only the remaining 30% is supported by the pile tip. Furthermore the final settlement of the piles without reinforcement showed approximately 70% more settlement than the piles for which ground reinforcement is considered. It has been found that the ground settlements and the pile settlements are heavily affected by the pile cutting and reinforcement conditions. The behaviour of the single pile and group piles, depending on the pile cutting, conditions of ground and pile cap reinforcement, has been extensively examined and analysed by considering the key features in great details.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.69 no.3
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• pp.359-371
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• 2018

Repeated bouts of ulcerative colitis featured troublesome course of inflammatory bowel disease leading to fatal colitis-associated cancer, which is strongly associated with oxidative stress and sustained inflammation. Since oligonol, low molecular weighted polyphenol extracted from fruit lychee, showed antioxidative and anti-inflammatory actions, we hypothesized that oligonolcan prevent relapse of colitis. We compared oligonol with current gold standard therapeutics, sulfasalazine in preventive efficacy of relapse. First, dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis were made following pretreatment with oligonol, 10, 50, and 100 mg/kg for 7 days to measure therapeutic effect of oligonol and relapse model via repeated DSS administration was made following with either 50 mg/kg oligonol or 30 mg/kg sulfasalazine to explore relapse preventing action of oligonol in C57BL/6 mice. Detailed changes in colon were measured to explain molecular mechanisms. Pretreatment of 10, 50, 100 mg/kg oligonol (p.o.), significantly reduced DSS-induced colitis; total pathologic scores, colon length, and clinical symptom scores (P < 0.05). Oligonol pretreatment significantly decreased the levels of interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) as well as nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), c-Fos, and c-Jun in affected colon tissues, but the expression of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and NADH: quinone oxidoreductase-1(NQO-1) as well as total antioxidant concentration (P < 0.005) was significantly increased with oligonol. A relapse model established with repeated DSS administration led to high mortality. However, oligonol significantly ameliorated exacerbations of colitis, while sulfasalazine did not (P < 0.01). Significantly decreased expressions of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), TNF-α, and macrophages inhibition were relapse preventing actions of oligonal, but significant action of oligonol relevant to relapse prevention was either significantly increased expressions of NQO-1 or significantly preserved mucin (P < 0.05). Concerted anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, and host defense enhancing actions of oligonol can be applied during maintenance therapy of IBD to prevent relapse of IBD.

• International Journal of Stem Cells
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.203-216
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• 2022

Background and Objectives: Epidemiological investigations have shown positive correlations between increased diesel exhaust particles (DEP) in ambient air and adverse health outcomes. DEP are the major constituent of particulate atmospheric pollution and have been shown to induce proinflammatory responses both in the lung and systemically. Here, we report the effects of DEP exposure on the properties of human Wharton's jelly-derived mesenchymal stem cells (WJ-MSCs), including stemness, regeneration, and immunomodulation. Methods and Results: Non-apoptotic concentrations of DEP (10 ㎍/ml) inhibited the migration and osteogenic differentiation capacity of WJ-MSCs. Gene expression profiling showed that DEP increased intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and expression of pro-inflammatory and metabolic-process-related genes including cFos. Furthermore, WJ-MSCs cultured with DEP showed impaired suppression of T cell proliferation that was reversed by inhibition of ROS or knockdown of cFos. ERK inhibition assay revealed that DEP-induced ROS regulated cFos through activation of ERK but not NF-κB signaling. Overall, low concentrations of DEP (10 ㎍/ml) significantly suppressed the stemness and immunomodulatory properties of WJ-MSCs through ROS/ERK/cFos signaling pathways. Furthermore, WJ-MSCs cultured with DEP impaired the therapeutic effect of WJ-MSCs in experimental colitis mice, but was partly reversed by inhibition of ROS. Conclusions: Taken together, these results indicate that exposure to DEP enhances the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and immune responses through a mechanism involving the ROS/ERK/cFos pathway in WJ-MSCs, and that DEP-induced ROS damage impairs the therapeutic effect of WJ-MSCs in colitis. Our results suggest that modulation of ROS/ERK/cFos signaling pathways in WJ-MSCs might be a novel therapeutic strategy for DEP-induced diseases.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.67 no.5
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• pp.510-520
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• 2024

Objective : Parkinson's disease (PD) is one of the most prevalent neurodegenerative diseases, characterized by the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta. The treatment of PD aims to alleviate motor symptoms by replacing the reduced endogenous dopamine. Currently, there are no disease-modifying agents for the treatment of PD. Zebrafish (Danio rerio) have emerged as an effective tool for new drug discovery and screening in the age of translational research. The neurotoxin 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) is known to cause a similar loss of dopaminergic neurons in the human midbrain, with corresponding Parkinsonian symptoms. L-type calcium channels (LTCCs) have been implicated in the generation of mitochondrial oxidative stress, which underlies the pathogenesis of PD. Therefore, we investigated the neuro-restorative effect of LTCC inhibition in an MPTP-induced zebrafish PD model and suggested a possible drug candidate that might modify the progression of PD. Methods : All experiments were conducted using a line of transgenic zebrafish, Tg(dat:EGFP), in which green fluorescent protein (GFP) is expressed in dopaminergic neurons. The experimental groups were exposed to 500 μmol MPTP from 1 to 3 days post fertilization (dpf). The drug candidates : levodopa 1 mmol, nifedipine 10 μmol, nimodipine 3.5 μmol, diethylstilbestrol 0.3 μmol, luteolin 100 μmol, and calcitriol 0.25 μmol were exposed from 3 to 5 dpf. Locomotor activity was assessed by automated tracking and dopaminergic neurons were visualized in vivo by confocal microscopy. Results : Levodopa, nimodipine, diethylstilbestrol, and calcitriol had significant positive effects on the restoration of motor behavior, which was damaged by MPTP. Nimodipine and calcitriol have significant positive effects on the restoration of dopaminergic neurons, which were reduced by MPTP. Through locomotor analysis and dopaminergic neuron quantification, we identified the neuro-restorative effects of nimodipine and calcitriol in zebrafish MPTP-induced PD model. Conclusion : The present study identified the neuro-restorative effects of nimodipine and calcitriol in an MPTP-induced zebrafish model of PD. They restored dopaminergic neurons which were damaged due to the effects of MPTP and normalized the locomotor activity. LTCCs have potential pathological roles in neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders. Zebrafish are highly amenable to high-throughput drug screening and might, therefore, be a useful tool to work towards the identification of disease-modifying treatment for PD. Further studies including zebrafish genetic models to elucidate the mechanism of action of the disease-modifying candidate by investigating Ca2+ influx and mitochondrial function in dopaminergic neurons, are needed to reveal the pathogenesis of PD and develop disease-modifying treatments for PD.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.39 no.4 s.179
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• pp.369-384
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• 2006

Korean Peninsula, located on the southeastern part of Eurasian plate, belongs to the intraplate region. The characteristics of intraplate earthquake show the low and rare seismicity and the sparse and irregular distribution of epicenters comparing to interplate earthquake. To evaluate the exact seismic activity in intraplate region, long-term seismic data including historical earthquake data should be archived. Fortunately the long-term historical earthquake records about 2,000 years are available in Korea Peninsula. By the analysis of this historical and instrumental earthquake data, seismic activity was very high in 16-18 centuries and is more active at the Yellow sea area than East sea area. Comparing to the high seismic activity of the north-eastern China in 16-18 centuries, it is inferred that seismic activity in two regions shows close relationship. Also general trend of epicenter distribution shows the SE-NW direction. In Korea Peninsula, the first seismic station was installed at Incheon in 1905 and 5 additional seismic stations were installed till 1943. There was no seismic station from 1945 to 1962, but a World Wide Standardized Seismograph was installed at Seoul in 1963. In 1990, Korean Meteorological Adminstration(KMA) had established centralized modem seismic network in real-time, consisted of 12 stations. After that time, many institutes tried to expand their own seismic networks in Korea Peninsula. Now KMA operates 35 velocity-type seismic stations and 75 accelerometers and Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources operates 32 and 16 stations, respectively. Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety and Korea Electric Power Research Institute operate 4 and 13 stations, consisted of velocity-type and accelerometer. In and around the Korean Peninsula, 27 intraplate earthquake mechanisms since 1936 were analyzed to understand the regional stress orientation and tectonics. These earthquakes are largest ones in this century and may represent the characteristics of earthquake in this region. Focal mechanism of these earthquakes show predominant strike-slip faulting with small amount of thrust components. The average P-axis is almost horizontal ENE-WSW. In north-eastern China, strike-slip faulting is dominant and nearly horizontal average P-axis in ENE-WSW is very similar with the Korean Peninsula. On the other hand, in the eastern part of East Sea, thrust faulting is dominant and average P-axis is horizontal with ESE-WNW. This indicate that not only the subducting Pacific Plate in east but also the indenting Indian Plate controls earthquake mechanism in the far east of the Eurasian Plate. Crustal velocity model is very important to determine the hypocenters of the local earthquakes. But the crust model in and around Korean Peninsula is not clear till now, because the sufficient seismic data could not accumulated. To solve this problem, reflection and refraction seismic survey and seismic wave analysis method were simultaneously applied to two long cross-section traversing the southern Korean Peninsula since 2002. This survey should be continuously conducted.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.509-515
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• 2009

Three earthquakes with local magnitude ($M_L$) greater than 3.0 occurred on April 24, June 2 and September 12 in 1999 nearby the Gyeongju area. Redetermined epicenters were located within the radius of 1 km. We carried out waveform inversion analysis to estimate focal mechanism of June 2 event, and P and S wave polarity and their amplitude ratio analysis to estimate focal mechanisms of April 24 and September 12 events. June 2 and September 12 events had similar fault plane solutions each other. The fault plane solution of April 24 event included those of other 2 events, but its distribution range was relatively broad. Focal mechanisms of those events had a strike slip faulting with a small normal component. P-axes of those events were ENE-WSW which were similar to previous studies on the P-axis of the Korean Peninsula. Considering distances between epicenters, similarities of seismic waves and sameness of polarities of seismic data recorded at common seismic stations, these events might occurred at the same fault. The seismic moment of June 2 event was estimated to be $3.9\;{\times}\;10^{14}\;N{\cdot}m$ and this value corresponded to the moment magnitude ($M_W$) 3.7. The moment magnitude estimated by spectral analysis was 3.8, which was similar to that estimated by waveform inversion analysis. The average stress drop was estimated to be 7.5 MPa. Moment magnitudes of April 24 and September 12 events were estimated to be 3.2 and 3.4 by comparing the spectrum of those events recorded at common single seismic station.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.81 no.2
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• pp.164-176
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• 1992

This study was conducted to determine the toxic effects of air pollutants on landscaping trees, Pinus densiflora, Pinus koraierasis, Ginkgo biloba, Liriodeytdron tulipifera, Platanus occidentalis and their resistance to the pollutant toxicity in urban and industrial regions of Seoul and Taejon, Korea. Total sulfur content and superoxide dismutase activity were analysed in tree foliage of Pinus densiflora, Pinzes koraiensis, Ginkgo biloba, Liriodendron tulipifera, Platanus occidentalis. In addition, SOD activity was analyzed in the foliage of tree seedlings, i.e. Pinus densijlora, Pinus koraiensis, Ginkgo biloba, Liriodendron tulipifera, with the lurnigation of $SO_2$ in gas chamber 4 hours a day for six days. In all species total sulfur content and SOD activity had a positive correlation. Air pollutants accumulated in tree tissues were supposed to enhance the enzyme activity like SOD providing with the resistance mechanisms. Trees under the air pollution stress increased enzyme activity to develop internal self-resistance against pollutants, but after a critical point enzyme-activity decreased gradually and resulting in injury after all, Deciduous trees had greater filtration capacity than conifers and coniferous trees showed greater resistance against air pollutants than deciduous species. Foliage SOD activity was higher in polluted area than in unpolluted area for most species. Coniferous species and mature trees had higher SOD activity than deciduous seedlings. Especially Pinus koraiensis, Ginkgo biloba and Plcatanus occidentalis had higher SOD activity than other species. The tree species with the high SOD activity showed strong resistance against air pollutants. In 2nd-year needles of Pinus densiflora seedlings and current and 2nd-year needles of Pinus koraiensis seedlings containing high native SOD activity, SOD activity increased with the increase of $SO_2$ level. But in seedlings containing low native SOD activity, SOD activity increased at 0.5ppm $SO_2$ level while it decreased at 1.5 and 2.5ppm $SO_2$. Changes of SOD activity was different between species and in most species SOD seemed to participate in resistance mechanism.