• Proceedings of the KOSOMBE Conference
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• v.1993 no.05
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• pp.28-30
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• 1993

We have investigated the feasibility study, especially for optimal TR, to obtain 3-D MR neurographic imaging (neurograms or nervography) which shows the distribution of peripheral nerve fibers at the human forearm using 4.7 T magnet. To peform a successful formation of MR neurographic imaging, nerve signal should be separated from the other signal comes from surrounding muscle or fat, because nerves are usually embeded in muscle or fat. Generally, it is well known that nerve has shoter T1 value than that of muscle. Thus, repetition time was optimized to maximize the signal intensity defference between the muscel and nerve. We have also used spin-echo(SE) sequence with long echo time($60{\sim}90\;msec$) to enhance the different signal intensity between muscles and pheriperal nerves base on the fact that muscle tissue has longer T2 relaxation lime than that or nerve.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.233-239
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• 2019

Nerium oleander (N. oleander) is a well-known poisonous shrub that is frequently grown in gardens and public areas and contains numerous toxic compounds. The major toxic components are the cardiac glycosides oleandrin and neriin. The aim of our study was to evaluate the toxic effects of an ethanolic N. oleander leaf extract on haematological, cardiac, inflammatory, and serum biochemical parameters, as well as histopathological changes in the heart. N. oleander extract was orally administered for 14 and 30 consecutive days at doses of 100 and 200 mg of dried extract/kg of body weight in 0.5 mL of saline. The results showed significant increases in mean corpuscular volume, white blood cell counts, platelet counts, interleukins (IL-1 and IL-6), tumour necrosis factor alpha, C reactive protein, alanine aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, creatine kinase and creatine kinase MB, especially at high doses. Marked pathological changes were perceived in the heart tissue. Thus, it can be concluded that exposure to N. oleander leaf extract adversely affects the heart and liver.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.54 no.12
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• pp.4625-4635
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• 2022

A low-energy dielectric loaded accelerator with a non-uniform, multi-segment structure is studied and optimized. So far, no analytical solution is provided for such structures. Also, due to the existing nonlinear behavior and a large number of geometric parameters, the problem of numerical optimizations is complex. For this reason, a method is presented to design and optimize such structures using the Genetic Algorithm (GA). Moreover, the GA output results are compared with Trust Region (TR) and Nelder-Mead Simplex (NMS) methods. Comparative results show that the GA is more efficient in achieving optimization goals and also has a higher speed than the two other methods. Finally, an optimized accelerating tube is integrated into a proper coupler. Then, the accelerator is simulated for full electromagnetic investigations using the CST suite of codes. This design leads to a structure with a power of about 80 kW in the X-band, which delivers electrons to the output energy in the range of 300-459 kV. The length and outer diameter of the accelerating tube obtained are 10 cm and 1 cm, respectively.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.103-110
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• 2018

Environmental stimuli can lead to the excessive accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which is one of the risk factors for premature skin aging. Here, we investigated the protective effects of $7-MEGA^{TM}$ 500 (50% palmitoleic acid, 7-MEGA) against oxidative stress-induced cellular damage and its underlying therapeutic mechanisms in the HaCaT human skin keratinocyte cell line (HaCaT cells). Our results showed that treatment with 7-MEGA prior to hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$)-induced damage significantly increased the viability of HaCaT cells. 7-MEGA effectively attenuated generation of $H_2O_2$-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS), and inhibited $H_2O_2$-induced inflammatory factors, such as prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$), tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$ ($TNF-{\alpha}$), and $interleukin-1{\beta}$ ($IL-1{\beta}$). In addition, cells treated with 7-MEGA exhibited significantly decreased expression of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) and increased expression of procollagen type 1 (PCOL1) and Elastin against oxidative stress by $H_2O_2$. Interestingly, these protective activities of 7-MEGA were similar in scope and of a higher magnitude than those seen with 98.5% palmitoleic acid (PA) obtained from Sigma when given at the same concentration (100 nL/mL). According to our data, 7-MEGA is able to protect HaCaT cells from $H_2O_2$-induced damage through inhibiting cellular oxidative stress and inflammation. Moreover, 7-MEGA may affect skin elasticity maintenance and improve skin wrinkles. These findings indicate that 7-MEGA may be useful as a food supplement for skin health.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.195-204
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• 1998

This study was designed to investigate the effects of antagonistic microorganism, Bacillus subtilis, on the growth of forage seedlings in repeated cultivation soils and unrepeated cultivation soils. The field experiment was wnducted in pots in a vinyl house using repeated and unrepeated cultivation soils. Forage types were 'Suwon 19' wrn(Zea mqs L.), 'Califbmia' white clover(Tr~oIium repens L.) and 'Fawn' tall fescue (Festuca arundianacea Schreb.). Samples of white clover and tall fescue were taken h m each pot at 36 days after seeding. Samples of wm were examined at 50 days after seeding. The most active antagonistic bacterium was isolated h m forage rhizosphere soil, and selected by reference to it's antagonistic ability on the growth of pathogenic fungi, Rhizoctonia solmi and Fusarium oxyspomm, and it was identified as Bacillus subtilis. This strain strongly suppressed the growth of fungal pathogens among isolated rhizobacteria. The dry weight of forage shoots and roots cultivated in unrepeated cultivation soils was higher than that cultivated in repeated cultivation soils. The dry weight of forage was positively affected by the inoculation of the antagonistic bacterium, Bacillus subtilis, in both repeated cultivation soils and unrepeated cultivation soils. In conclusion, the growth of forage was more affected by the inoculation of the antagonistic bacterium in unrepeated cultivation soils than that in repeated cultivation soils, and bacterization of forage with B. subtilis resulted in an inrreased yield.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.107-112
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• 2012

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are persistent and bioaccumulative environmental pollutants. Recently, it is suggested that neurotoxic effects such as motor dysfunction and impairment in memory and learning have been associated with PCB exposure. However, structure relationship of PCB congeners with neurotoxic effects remains unknown. Since PKC signaling pathway is implicated in the modulation of motor behavior as well as learning and memory and the role of PKC are subspecies-specific, we attempted to study the effects of structurally distinct PCBs on the total PKC activity as well as subspecies of PKC in cerebellar granule cell culture model. Cells were exposed to 0, 25 and 50 ${\mu}M$ of PCB-126, PCB-169, PCB-114, PCB-157, PCB-52 and PCB-4 for 15 min. Cells were subsequently analyzed by [$^3H$] phorbol ester binding assay or immunoblotted against PKC-${\alpha}$ and -${\varepsilon}$ monoclonal antibodies. While non-dioxin-like-PCB (PCB-52 and PCB-4) induced a translocation of PKC-${\alpha}$ and -${\varepsilon}$ from cytosol to membrane fraction, dioxin-like PCBs (PCB-126, -169, -114, -157) had no effects. [$^3H$] Phorbol ester binding assay also revealed structure-dependent increase similar to translocation of PKC isozymes. While PCB-4 induced translocation of PKC-${\alpha}$ and -${\varepsilon}$ was inhibited by ROS inhibitor, the pattern of translocation was not affected in presence of AhR inhibitor. It is suggested that PCB-4-induced PKC activity may not be mediated via AhR-dependent pathway. Taken together, our findings suggest that chlorination of ortho-position in PCB may be a critical structural moiety associated with neurotoxic effects, which may be preferentially mediated via non-AhR-dependent pathway. Therefore, the present study may contribute to understanding the neurotoxic mechanism of PCBs as well as providing a basis for establishing a better neurotoxic assessment.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.7-12
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• 2018

Laboratory animal models have been developed to investigate preventive or therapeutic effect of medicinal products, or occurrence or progression mechanism of atopic dermatitis (AD), a pruritic and persistent inflammatory skin disease. The murine model with immunologic phenomena resembling human AD was introduced, which demonstrated skewedness toward predominance of type-2 helper T cell reactivity and pathophysiological changes similar as human AD following 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) sensitization and challenge. Molecular mechanism on the DNCB-mediated AD was further evaluated. Skin tissues were collected from mice treated with DNCB, and each tissue was equally divided into two sections; one for protein and the other for mRNA analysis. Expression of filaggrin, an important protein for keratinocyte integrity, was evaluated through SDS-PAGE. Level of mRNA expression for cytokines was determined through semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. Expression of filaggrin protein was significantly enhanced in the mice treated with DNCB compared with the vehicle (acetone : olive oil = 4 : 1 mixture) treatment group or the normal group without any treatment. Level of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-18 mRNA expression, cytokines involved in activity of type-1 helper T ($T_H1$) cell, was significantly downregulated in the AD group compared with other control groups. These results suggest that suppression of $T_H1$ cell-mediated immune response could be reflected into the skin tissue of mice treated with DNCB for AD induction, and disturbance of keratinocyte integrity might evoke a compensatory mechanism.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.86-91
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• 2007

Polydimethylsiloxane branched HEMA (SH) was Prepared by reacting polydimethylsilorane prepolymer and 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA). Polyacrylate modified Polyorganosiloxane (SMPA) was prepared by polymerization of methacrylic acid(MA), allyl glycidyl ether(AGE), aminopro- pyltrimethoxysilane (APTS), and SH. Their structures were confirmed by the measurement of FTIR and $^1H-NMR$ and thermal properties of SMPA were studied from TGA. Residual weight of SMPA at $400^{\circ}C$ increased according to increasing content of the APTS to 63 from 55%. SMPA sealant was prepared by adding additives, such as viscosity increasing agent, crosslinking agent, and fillers. Adhesion characteristics of SMPA-3 sealant was determined to be maximum load elongation, 2.01 %, and break load elongation, 2.28%. Adhesion characteristics for SMPA sealant prepared from SMPA-3 were better than those for SMPA sealant prepared from SMPA-1 and SMPA-2.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.177-183
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• 2010

This study was performed to examine whether elevated activity of cAMP responsive element-binding protein (CREB) attenuates the detrimental effects of acute gamma ($\gamma$)-irradiation on hippocampal neurogenesis and related functions. C57BL/6 male mice were treated with rolipram (1.25 mg/kg, i.p., twice a day for 5 consecutive days) to activate the cAMP/CREB pathway against cranial irradiation (2 Gy), and were euthanized at 24 h post-irradiation. Exposure to $\gamma$-rays decreased both CREB phosphorylation and immunohistochemical markers for neurogenesis, including Ki-67 and doublecortin (DCX), in the hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG). However, the rolipram treatment protected from $\gamma$-irradiation-induced decreases of CREB phosphorylation, and Ki-67 and DCX immunoreactivity in the hippocampal DG. In an object recognition memory test, mice trained 24 h after acute $\gamma$-irradiation (2 Gy) showed significant memory impairment, which was attenuated by rolipram treatment. The results suggest that activation of CREB signaling ameliorates the detrimental effects of acute $\gamma$-irradiation on hippocampal neurogenesis and related functions in adult mice.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.165-172
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• 2007

Glycyrrhizae Radix, the dried roots of Glycyrrhiza glabra or Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fischer(Legumino-sae), has been used as a medicine for treatment of imflammation, arthritis, respiratory ailment, skin diseases and liver problems. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of 70% ethanol extract, 18-${\beta}$-glycyrrhetinic acid, glycyrol and carbenoxolone disodium from Glycyrrhizae Radix on gastritis and gastric cancer. Using these materials, we tested antibacterial activity against Helicobacter pylori, antigastritic activity for HCI-ethanol-induced gastric lesion and the pylorus ligated gastric secretion with rats, and cell viability in gastric cancer cell. 18-${\beta}$-glycyrrhetinic acid and carbenoxolone disodium decreased the volume of gastric secretion and acid output in pylorus ligated rats. Also, carbenoxolone disodium had a strong effect of antibacterial activity on H. pylori. In addition 18-${\beta}$-glycyrrhetinic acid and glycyrol reduced cell viability in human gastric cancer cells(AGS and SNU638 cell) in dose-dependent manner. The reduction of total acid output and gastric secretion as well as the anti-bacterial activity against H. pylori might account for the antigastritic effects of carbenoxolone disodium.