• Journal of Broadcast Engineering
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.836-848
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• 2019

This paper aims at providing a critical view over the cybernetics theory especially of first generation on which the artificial intelligence heavily depends nowadays. There has been a commonly accepted thought that the conception of artificial intelligence could not has been possible without being influenced by N. Wiener's cybernetic feedback based information system. Despite the founder of contemporary cybernetics' ethical concerns in order to avoid an increasing entropy phenomena(social violence, economic misery, wars) produced through a negative dynamics of the western modernity regarded as the most advanced form of humanism. In this civilizationally changing atmosphere, the newly born cybernetic technology was thus firmly believed as an antidote to these vices deeply rooted in humanism itself. But cybernetics has been turned out to be a self-organizing, self-controlling mechanical system that entails the possibility of telegraphing human brain (which are transformed into patterns) through the uploading of human brain neurons digitalized by the artificial intelligence embedded into computing technology. On this background emerges posthuman (or posthumanism) movement of which concepts have been theorized mainly by its ardent apostles like N. K. Hayles, Neil Bedington, Laurent Alexandre, Donna J. Haraway. The converging of NBIC Technologies leading to the opening of a much more digitalizing society has served as a catalyst to promote the posthuman representations and different narratives especially in the contemporary visual arts as well as in the study of humanities including philosophy and fictional literature. Once Bruno Latour wrote "Modernity is often defined in terms of humanism, either as a way of saluting the birth of 'man' or as a way of announcing his death. But this habit is itself modern, because it remains asymmetrical. It overlooks the simultaneous birth of 'nonhumaniy' - things, or objects, or beasts, - and the equally strange beginning of a crossed-out God, relegated to the sidelines."4) These highly suggestive ideas enable us to better understand what kind of human beings would emerge following the dazzlingly accelerating advancement of artificial intelligence technology. We wonder whether or not this newly born humankind would become essentially Homo Artificialis as a neuronal man stripping off his biological apparatus. However due to this unprecedented situation humans should deal with enormous challenges involving ethical, metaphysical, existential implications on their life.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.135-141
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• 2022

Thymosin β-4 (TB4) is a small peptide composed of 43 amino acids. To obtain sufficient biologically active mouse TB4 economically, we cloned and overexpressed this gene in an Escherichia coli system. With the isopropyl β-D-1-thiogalactopyranoside induction of the E. coli transformant, TB4 fusion protein with intein- and chitin-binding domain was successfully expressed in the soluble fraction within the E. coli cell. The TB4-intein - chitin-binding domain fusion protein was purified from the soluble fraction of E. coli cell lysate. The affinity chromatography with chitin beads and dithiothreitol-mediated intein self-cleavage reaction releases the TB4 peptide into the stripping solution. Sodium dodecyl sulphate - polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and Western blot analyses were used to confirm that the recombinant TB4 peptide was produced with the expected size of 5 kDa. We found that the recombinant TB4 stimulated cell migration in the transwell plate chamber assay. After 18 hr of the treatment of the recombinant TB4 with 1 ng/ml concentration, the migration of the HT1080 cell was increased by 20% compared with that of the chemically synthesized TB4. The recombinant TB4 was also observed to promote the healing of a wound area in C57BL/6 mice by as high as 35% compared with that of the chemically synthesized TB4. These results suggest that the recombinant TB4 has better biological activity for cell migration and wound healing than that of the chemically synthesized TB4 peptide.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.61 no.4
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• pp.555-560
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• 2023

Conventional aqueous amine-based CO₂ capture has a problem in that a large amount of renewable energy is required for CO₂ stripping and solvent regeneration in its industrial applications. This work proposes a water-lean absorbent that can reduce regeneration energy by lowering the water content in the absorbent with high absorption capacity for CO₂. To this purpose, this water-lean solvent introduced NMP (N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone), which has a higher physical solubility in CO₂ and a low specific heat capacity comparing to water, along with 3-methylaminopropylamine (MAPA), a diamine, into the absorbent. The circulating absorption capacity and absorption rate for CO₂ of this water-lean solvent were measured using a packed tower. When NMP was added to the absorbent, the absorption rate was improved. In the case of the absorbent containing 2.5M MAPA was used, the maximum circulating absorption capacity was obtained when 10 wt% of NMP was included in absorbent. The overall mass transfer coefficient increased as the concentration of NMP increased. However, at loading values higher than 0.5, the increment in mass transfer coefficient decreased as the concentration of NMP increased. When the lean loading value is low, the mass transfer resistance due to viscosity of the absorbent is low, so the overall mass transfer coefficient increases with the addition of NMP. However, as the lean loading value increases, the viscosity of the absorbent increases, and the diffusivity of CO₂ and MAPA decreases, resulting in sharply decreasing of the overall mass transfer coefficient.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.223-232
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• 1995

New two macrocyclic compounds using as carriers of liquid emulsion menbrame, have been synthesized. These reuslts provide evidance for the usefulness of the theory in designing the systems. The efficiency of selective transport for heavy metal ions have been discussed from the membrane systems that make use of $SCN^-$,<>,$I^-$,CN- and $Cl^-$ ion as co-anions in source phase and make use of $S_2O_3^{2-}$ and $P_2O_7^{4-}$ ion as receiving phase, respectively. The transport rate of M(II) was highest when a maximum amount of the M(II) in the source phase was present as$Cd(SCN)_2$$(P[SCN^-]= 0.40M)$, $Hg(SCN)_2([SCN^-]=0.40M)$ and Pd(CN)$([CN^-]= 0.40M)$. The Cd(II) and Pb(II) over each competitive cations were well transprted with 0.3M-S2032- and 0.3M-P2O74-, respectively in the receiving phase. Results of this study indicate that two criteria must be met in order to have effective macrocycle-mediated transport in these emulsion system. First one must effective extraction of the $M^{n+}$ into the toluene systems. The effectiveness of this extraction is the greatest if locK for $M^{n+}$macrocycle interaction is large and if the macrocycle is very insoluble in the aqueous phase. Second, the ratio of the locK values (or Mn+-receiving phase ($S_2O_3^{2-}$- or $P_2O_7^{4-}$) to $M^{n+}$-macrocycle (($L_1$이나 $L_2$) interaction must be large enough to ensure quantitative stripping of Mn+(($Cd^{2+}$,$Pb^{2+}$)at the toluene receiving Phase interface. $L_1$(3.5-benzo-10,13,18,21-tetraoxa-1,7,diazabicyclo(8,5,5) eicosan) forms a stable ($Cd^{2+}$ and >,$Pb^{2+}$ complexes and $L_1$ is very insoluble in water and its $Cd^{2+}$ and >,$Pb^{2+}$ complex is considerably less stable than $Cd^{2+}$-(S2O3)22- and $Pd^{2+}-P_2O_7^{4-}$ complexes. On the other hand, the stability of the $Hg^{2+}$)+-$L_1$( complex exceed that of the $Hg^{2+}$- (S2O3)22- and Hg2+-P2O74-, and the distribution coefficient of $L_2$(5,8,15,18,23,26-hexaoxa-1,12- diazabicyclo-(10,8,8) octacosane) is much smaller than that of $L_1$. Therefore, the partitioning of Lr is favored by the aqueous receiving Phase, and little heavy metal ions transport is seen despite the large logK for $Hg^{2+}$+-$L_1$ and $Mn^+$($Cd^{2+}$+, $Pb^{2+}$+ and $Hg^{2+}$)-$L_2$ interactions. Key Words : macrocycles, transport, heavy metal, co-anion, source phase, receiveing, complex separation, interaction, destribution coefficient.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.263-278
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• 2004

Ursolic acid (UA) and Oleanolic acid (ONA), known as urson, micromerol and malol, are pentacyclic triterpenoid compounds which naturally occur in a large number of vegetarian foods, medicinal herbs, and plants. They may occur in their free acid form or as aglycones for triterpenoid saponins, which are comprised of a triterpenoid aglycone, linked to one or more sugar moieties. Therefore UA and ONA are similar in pharmacological activity. Lately scientific research, which led to the identification of UA and ONA, revealed that several pharmacological effects, such as antitumor, hepato-protective, anti-inflammatory, anticarcinogenic, antimicrobial, and anti-hyperlipidemic could be attributed to UA and ONA. Here, we introduced the effect of UA and ONA on acutely barrier disrupted and normal hairless mouse skin. To evaluate the effects of UA and ONA on epidermal permeability barrier recovery, both flanks of 8-12 week-old hairless mice were topically treated with either 0.01-0.1mg/mL UA or 0.1-1mg/mL ONA after tape stripping, and TEWL (transepidermal water loss) was measured. The recovery rate increased in those UA or ONA treated groups (0.1mg/mL UA and 0.5mg/mL ONA) at 6h more than 20% compared to vehicle treated group (p < 0.05). Here, we introduced the effects of UA and ONA on acute barrier disruption and normal epidermal permeability barrier function. For verifying the effects of UA and ONA on normal epidermal barrier, hydration and TEWL were measured for 1 and 3 weeks after UA and ONA applications (2mg/mL per day). We also investigated the features of epidermis and dermis using electron microscopy (EM) and light microscopy (LM). Both samples increased hydration compared to vehicle group from 1 week without TEWL alteration (p < 0.005). EM examination using RuO4 and OsO4 fixation revealed that secretion and numbers of lamellar bodies and complete formation of lipid bilayers were most prominent (ONA=UA > vehicle). LM finding showed that thickness of stratum corneum (SC) was slightly increased and especially epidermal thickening and flattening was observed (UA > ONA > vehicle). We also observed that UA and ONA stimulate epidermal keratinocyte differentiation via PPAR Protein expression of involucrin, loricrin, and filaggrin increased at least 2 and 3 fold in HaCaT cells treated with either ONA (10${\mu}$M) or UA (10${\mu}$M) for 24 h respectively. This result suggested that the UA and ONA can improve epidermal permeability barrier function and induce the epidermal keratinocyte differentiation via PPAR Using Masson-trichrome and elastic fiber staining, we observed collagen thickening and elastic fiber elongation by UA and ONA treatments. In vitro results of collagen and elastin synthesis and elastase inhibitory activity measurements were also confirmed in vivo findings. These data suggested that the effects of UA and ONA related to not only epidermal permeability barrier functions but also dermal collagen and elastic fiber synthesis. Taken together, UA and ONA can be relevant candidates to improve epidermal and dermal functions and pertinent agents for cosmeseutical applications.