• Applied Science and Convergence Technology
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.90-94
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• 2018

The electron band structure of manganese-adsorbed graphene on an SiC(0001) substrate has been studied using angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy. Upon introducing manganese atoms, the conduction band of graphene, that is observed in pristine graphene indicating intrinsic electron-doping by the substrate, completely disappears and the valence band maximum is observed at 0.4 eV below Fermi energy. At the same time, the slope of the valence band decreases by the presence of manganese atoms, approaching the electron band structure calculated using the local density approximation method. The former provides experimental evidence of the formation of nearly free-standing graphene on an SiC substrate, concomitant with a metal-to-insulator transition. The latter suggests that its electronic correlations are efficiently screened, suggesting that the dielectric property of the substrate is modified by manganese atoms and indicating that electronic correlations in grpahene can also be tuned by foreign atoms. These results pave the way for promising device application using graphene that is semiconducting and charge neutral.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.26 no.9
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• pp.756-762
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• 2003

In the current study, our research focused on the estrogenic activity of isoflavonoids, mainly genistein, biochanin A and daidzein. Genistein enhanced the reporter gene expression of MCF-7-ERE-Luc cells, at a concentration as low as 10 nM, with a concentration of 100 nM the achieved gene expression effects were similar to those of 10 pM 17$\beta$-estradiol. Based on the estrogenic activities of biochanin A and daidzein, hydroxyl groups at the 4 and 5 positions are needed for the maximal effect of the genistein. The estrogenic effects of these isoflavonoids were inhibited by the concomitant treatment with tamoxifen. The data showed that the estrogenic effects of isoflavonoids were mediated through estrogen receptors. When the isoflavonoids were tested as mixtures, the estrogenic effects were lower than the arithmetic sum of those induced by each individual isoflavonoid. The estrogenic potency of each isoflavonoid was presented at EC50 levels with a 17$\beta$-estradiol equivalent concentration (EEQ) based on the dose response of each chemical. The EC50s and EEQs of genistein, biochanin A and daidzein were 4.15, 0.89 and 0.18 $\mu$M, and 15.0, 5.12 and 1.83 $\mu$ M/M, respectively. Our data clearly demonstrated that the pERE-luciferase reporter gene assay was suited for the sensitive and quantitative measurement, and large scale screening, of the estrogenicity of chemicals in vitro.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.545-553
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• 2021

Fixed-dose combinations development requires pharmacokinetic drugdrug interaction (DDI) studies between active ingredients. For some drugs, pharmacokinetic properties such as long half-life or delayed distribution, make it difficult to conduct such clinical trials and to estimate the exact magnitude of DDI. In this study, the conventional (non-compartmental analysis and bioequivalence [BE]) and model-based analyses were compared for their performance to evaluate DDI using amlodipine as an example. Raw data without DDI or simulated data using pharmacokinetic models were compared to the data obtained after concomitant administration. Regardless of the methodology, all the results fell within the classical BE limit. It was shown that the model-based approach may be valid as the conventional approach and reduce the possibility of DDI overestimation. Several advantages (i.e., quantitative changes in parameters and precision of confidence interval) of the model-based approach were demonstrated, and possible application methods were proposed. Therefore, it is expected that the model-based analysis is appropriately utilized according to the situation and purpose.

• Journal of Arbitration Studies
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.47-76
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• 2021

India is one of the fast growing country in the world. For the acceleration of economic growth of India, it is indispensable for Indian government to construct infrastructure, such as railroad, airport, harbor, power plant, and water management system. For example, Modi, prime minister of federal government of India proclaimed that Indian government plans to construct 100 smart cities in 2015. In recent times, India is expected to be the largest recipient of Public-Private Partnership(PPP) type projects in the world. Owing to PPP, it is possible for India to pursue her objective to transform the whole economy into digital economy beyond agricultural society. One of major problem related with implementation of PPP type projects is the growth of disputes concomitant to the rising phenomena of PPP type projects in order to build infrastructure in India. Because of this, non-negligible number of projects has been cancelled during last two decades. This study investigates seven failure cases of PPP in India. Those include Nabi mumbai airport, Dabhol power plant, Munbai water project, and Kolkata subway project. Main types of dispute resolution are mediation or conciliation, dispute review board, arbitration, expert adjudication in PPP.

• International Journal of Arrhythmia
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.285-339
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• 2018

Catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF) is one of the most complex interventional electrophysiological procedures. The success of AF ablation is based in large part on freedom from AF recurrence based on electrocardiography (ECG) monitoring. Arrhythmia monitoring can be performed with the use of noncontinuous or continuous ECG monitoring tools. AF ablation is an invasive procedure that entails risks, most of which are present during the acute procedural period. However, complications can also occur in the weeks or months following ablation. Recognizing common symptoms after AF ablation and distinguishing those that require urgent evaluation and referral to an electrophysiologist is an important part of follow-up after AF ablation. This section reviews the complications associated with catheter ablation procedures performed to treat AF. The types and incidence of complications are presented, their mechanisms are explored, and the optimal approach to prevention and treatment is discussed. Finally, surgical and hybrid AF ablation technology and the indications for concomitant open or closed surgical ablation of AF, stand-alone and hybrid surgical ablation of AF are covered in this section.

• Clinical Psychopharmacology and Neuroscience
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.461-468
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• 2018

Objective: Cognitive disturbance is one of the major symptoms of depression and may be improved by treatment with antidepressants. This study aimed to investigate the predictors of cognitive improvement in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) who were taking antidepressants. Methods: This study included 86 patients with MDD who completed 12 weeks of antidepressant monotherapy. Cognitive symptoms were assessed using the Perceived Deficits Questionnaire-Korean version (PDQ-K), which addresses four domains of cognitive functioning (attention/concentration, retrospective memory, prospective memory, and organization/planning) and was administered at study entry and at the 12-week end point. A variety of demographic, clinical, and treatment-related variables were evaluated as predictors of changes in total and domain scores. Results: All PDQ-K domains showed significant improvement after 12 weeks of antidepressant treatment. More severe initial depressive symptoms, fewer sick-leave days at study entry, and reduced use of concomitant anxiolytics/hypnotics during treatment were significantly associated with greater cognitive improvement. Conclusion: Cognitive symptoms are more responsive to antidepressant treatment in patients with severe MDD. Reduced use of anxiolytics and hypnotics could improve the cognitive functioning of patients with MDD taking antidepressants.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.210-217
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• 2019

The maintenance of mitochondrial function is closely linked to the control of senescence. In our previous study, we uncovered a novel mechanism in which senescence amelioration in normal aging cells is mediated by the recovered mitochondrial function upon Ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) inhibition. However, it remains elusive whether this mechanism is also applicable to senescence amelioration in accelerated aging cells. In this study, we examined the role of ATM inhibition on mitochondrial function in Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome (HGPS) and Werner syndrome (WS) cells. We found that ATM inhibition induced mitochondrial functional recovery accompanied by metabolic reprogramming, which has been known to be a prerequisite for senescence alleviation in normal aging cells. Indeed, the induced mitochondrial metabolic reprogramming was coupled with senescence amelioration in accelerated aging cells. Furthermore, the therapeutic effect via ATM inhibition was observed in HGPS as evidenced by reduced progerin accumulation with concomitant decrease of abnormal nuclear morphology. Taken together, our data indicate that the mitochondrial functional recovery by ATM inhibition might represent a promising strategy to ameliorate the accelerated aging phenotypes and to treat age-related disease.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.372-380
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• 2019

Modern biotechnological industries have been attempting to improve the efficiency of bacterial strain cultivation. Millimeter wave electromagnetic radiation can have a varied influence on E. coli cultivation processes. The results of the study revealed that when a microwave radiation of low intensity is applied to positively adjust the conditions for the accumulation of bacterial culture biomass, a significant role is played not only by radiation parameters, but also by concomitant biological factors, which influence the reproducibility of the cultivation process and help obtain a useful biotechnological effect. The authors suggest a model that can be used to study the molecular mechanisms underlying the changes in the buildup of E. coli biomass under the influence of electromagnetic radiation.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.605-614
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• 2019

The present paper seeks to investigate propagation and reflection of waves at free surfaces of homogeneous, anisotropic and rotating micropolar fibre-reinforced medium with voids. It has been observed that, in particular when P-wave is incident on the free surface, there exist four coupled reflected plane waves traveling in the medium; quasi-longitudinal displacement (qLD) wave, quasi-transverse displacement (qTD) wave, quasi-transverse microrotational wave and a wave due to voids. Normal mode Analysis usually called harmonic solution method is adopted in concomitant with Snell's laws and appropriate boundary conditions in determination of solution to the micropolar fibre reinforced modelled problem. Amplitude ratios which correspond to reflected waves in vertical and horizontal components are presented analytically. Also, the Reflection Coefficients are presented using numerical simulated results in graphical form for a particular chosen material by the help of Mathematica software. We observed that the micropolar fibre-reinforced, voids and rotational parameters have various degrees of effects to the modulation, propagation and reflection of waves in the medium. The study would have impact to micropolar fibre-reinforecd rotational-acoustic machination fields and future works about behavior of seismic waves.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.103-107
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• 2019

Roles of nutrients in controlling plant diseases have been documented for a long time. Among the nutrients having impact on susceptibility/resistance to crop diseases, nitrogen is one of the most important nutrients for plant growth and development. In rice plants, excess nitrogen via fertilization in agricultural systems is known to increase susceptibility to the rice blast disease. Mechanisms underlying such phenomenon, despite its implication in yield and sustainable agriculture, have not been fully elucidated yet. A few research efforts attempted to link nitrogen-induced susceptibility to concomitant changes in rice plant and rice blast fungus in response to excess nitrogen. However, recent studies focusing on phytobiome are offering new insights into effects of nitrogen on interaction between plants and pathogens. In this review, I will first briefly describe importance of nitrogen as a key nutrient for plants and what changes excess nitrogen can bring about in rice and the fungal pathogen. Next, I will highlight some of the recent phytobiome studies relevant to nitrogen utilization and immunity of plants. Finally, I propose the hypothesis that changes in phytobiome upon excessive nitrogen fertilization contribute to nitrogen-induced susceptibility, and discuss empirical evidences that are needed to support the hypothesis.