• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.221-227
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• 2019

During the operation, maintenance and decommissioning of nuclear power plant radioactive contaminated waste is produced. This waste is stored in an underground repository 60-100 meters below the surface. The metallic portion of this waste comprises mostly carbon and stainless steel. A long-term field exposure showed high corrosion rates, general corrosion up to 29 ㎛ a^-1 and localized corrosion even higher. High corrosion rate is possible if microbes produce corrosive products, or alter the local microenvironment to favor corrosion. The bacterial and archaeal composition of biofilm formed on the surface of carbon steel was studied using 16S rRNA gene targeting sequencing, followed by phylogenetic analyses of the microbial community. The functional potential of the microbial communities in biofilm was studied by functional gene targeting quantitative PCR. The corrosion rate was calculated from weight loss measurements and the deposits on the surfaces were analyzed with SEM/EDS and XRD. Our results demonstrate that microbial diversity on the surface of carbon steel and their functionality is vast. Our results suggest that in these nutrient poor conditions the role of methanogenic archaea in corrosive biofilm, in addition to sulphate reducing bacteria, could be greater than previously suspected.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.2389-2394
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• 2016

Background: Multiple myeloma (MM) is influenced by genetic and micro-environmental changes. Malignant plasma cells produce an abnormal monoclonal immunoglobulin, as well as cytokines, such as IL-10 and IL-6 which stimulate cells of the bone marrow microenvironment (BMM) and cause dysfunction and failure of many organs. B cell activating factor (BAFF), IL6, IL10 are known to influence the growth & survival of the malignant clone. Aim: The objectives of the present study were to investigate the circulating levels of BAFF, IL-10 and IL-6, correlate them with well-known parameters of disease activity in patients with MM, and to detect their impact on the patients' survival. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted on 89 newly diagnosed MM patients and seventy apparently healthy volunteers as a normal control group. BAFF, IL6, IL10 were measured by ELISA for both groups. Survival analysis was performed for all patients. Results: Studied markers were higher in the MM patients compared to the normal control subjects. Patients' survival was improved by high serum BAFF levels. Conclusions: High levels of BAFF were found to improve patients' survival. BAFF and IL-6 can be considered probable diagnostic markers for MM.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Visualization
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.41-46
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• 2017

The apoptosis of macrophages occurs throughout all stages of atherosclerosis. It is known to constitute atheromatous plaque, increase plaque instability, and thus contribute to the development of atherosclerosis. However, there still remains much to be elucidated on how the apoptotic macrophages affect the endothelial cells and also how they contribute to the development of atherosclerosis. Here we present a microfluidic system, which enables co-culture of apoptotic macrophages and endothelial cells in fibrin gel that mimics in vivo extracellular matrix. With the system, we can investigate the effect of macrophage apoptosis on vascular endothelial cells by quantitatively analyzing the level of reactive oxygen species of HUVECs, integrity of VE-cadherin and cell proliferation. We expect that this system could be utilized further for understanding different mechanisms of apoptotic macrophage on the development of atherosclerosis.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.207-214
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• 2006

This study was designed to assess the level of nitrogen dioxide from several microenvironments including inside the home, outdoors near the home, inside the school, outdoors near the school, and on the road for 42 primary schoolchildren during the month of December 2002 in Seoul, Korea. The average personal, indoor, outdoor $NO_2$ levels, and indoor/outdoor ratio were 45.08 ppb, 27.89 ppb, 30.96 ppb, and 0.89, respectively. The indoor $NO_2$ concentrations were significantly associated with the presence of a smoker with a gas stove. The estimated personal $NO_2$ exposure using time-weighted average equation of $34.64{\pm}5.29$ ppb was significantly lower than the measured personal exposure of $45.08{\pm}5.50$ ppb. Our results indicate that indoor $NO_2$ levels were associated with the presence of a smoker and a gas stove. Moreover, personal $NO_2$ exposure with a gas stove in the house was significantly higher than those without a gas stove.

• BMB Reports
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• v.49 no.11
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• pp.641-650
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• 2016

Cellular senescence is a process by which cells enter a state of permanent cell cycle arrest. It is commonly believed to underlie organismal aging and age-associated diseases. However, the mechanism by which cellular senescence contributes to aging and age-associated pathologies remains unclear. Recent studies showed that senescent cells exert detrimental effects on the tissue microenvironment, generating pathological facilitators or aggravators. The most significant environmental effector resulting from senescent cells is the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP), which is constituted by a strikingly increased expression and secretion of diverse pro-inflammatory cytokines. Careful investigation into the components of SASPs and their mechanism of action, may improve our understanding of the pathological backgrounds of age-associated diseases. In this review, we focus on the differential expression of SASP-related genes, in addition to SASP components, during the progress of senescence. We also provide a perspective on the possible action mechanisms of SASP components, and potential contributions of SASP-expressing senescent cells, to age-associated pathologies.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.61-65
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• 1988

To examine the effects of light intensity on photosynthesis, corn and sorghum species were grown under shade cloths, which reduced light intensity by 25,50 and 75%. Photosynthetic rates were measured between 10 a.m. to noon on a clear day in early and mid - summer. 1. The degree of shading had a little effect on microenvironment. Air, soil and leaf temperatures were reduced as shade increased. 2. The degree of shading in early summer had relatively a little effect on photosynthesis of corn. However, the rates of photosynthesis in mid-summer decreased by 36%, 55% with relative light intensities of 50% and 25%, respectively. 3. The rate of photosynthesis was highly correlated with light intensity. The rates of photosynthesis with relative light intensities of 75,50 and 25% were decreased by 20, 40 and 5 4% in early summer, and by 17-53%, 36-64% and 5570% in mid-summer, respectively. 4. The 75% of light intensity had relatively little effect on dry matter yield of corn and sorghum species, however dry matter yield with 50 and 25% relative light intensities was decreased 17 and 36% in corn, 13-3 1 and 50-68% in sorghum species, respectively.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.72-82
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• 2009

A mathematical model was written for simulating the removal of phenol from wastewater in enzyme-loaded membrane reactor (EMR). The numerical simulation program was developed so as to predict the degradation of phenol through an EMR. Numerical model proves to be effective in searching for optimal operating conditions and creating an optimal microenvironment for the biocatalyst in order to optimize productivity. In this study, several dimensionless parameters such as Thiele Modulus (${\phi}^2$, dimensionless Michaelis-Menten constant ($\xi$), Peclet number (Pe) were introduced to simplify their effects on system efficiency. In particular, the study of phenol conversion at different feed compositions shows that low phenol concentrations and high Thiele Modulus values lead to higher reactant degradation.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.11 no.6
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• pp.488-494
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• 2003

We have fabricated gelatin-immobilized polyurethane foams (PUFG) by dipping polyurethane foam (PUF) in an aqueous solution containing gelatin and by subsequent reaction with glutaraldehyde after freeze-drying. Gelatin aqueous solutions of different concentrations were used as the dipping solutions to control the amount of immobilized gelatin. The average pore size of PUF decreased with an increase in gelatin concentration. It was found from the hepatocyte adhesion experiment that the amount of hepatocytes seeded on PUFG1, prepared by using a 1% aqueous gelatin solution, was higher than that on other PUFGs. The hepatocytes inoculated in PUFG1, were slightly aggregated as the incubation time increased. The cells inoculated in PUFG1 showed higher ammonia removal ability than those monolayer-cultured on a gelatin-immobilized polystyrene dish (PSG) after 1 and 4 days of incubation time. The inoculated cells exhibited higher albumin secretion relative to monolayer-cultured hepatocytes on PSG. Albumin secretion by hepatocytes seeded on PUFG1 was increased by the presence of serum and was further increased by both the presence of serum and cytokines. The results obtained from a 3-(3,4-dimethylthiazol-2yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay indicated that PUFG can provide a better microenvironment for hepatocyte culture along with nutrition and metabolite transfer through the high porosity of PUF.

• BMB Reports
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• v.45 no.11
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• pp.623-628
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• 2012

Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMPs; TIMP-1, -2, -3 and -4) are endogenous inhibitor for matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) that are responsible for remodeling the extracellular matrix (ECM) and involved in migration, invasion and metastasis of tumor cells. Unlike under normal conditions, the imbalance between MMPs and TIMPs is associated with various diseased states. Among TIMPs, TIMP-1, a 184-residue protein, is the only N-linked glycoprotein with glycosylation sites at N30 and N78. The structural analysis of the catalytic domain of human stromelysin-1 (MMP-3) and human TIMP-1 suggests new possibilities of the role of TIMP-1 glycan moieties as a tuner for the proteolytic activities by MMPs. Because the TIMP-1 glycosylation participate in the interaction, aberrant glycosylation of TIMP-1 presumably affects the interaction, thereby leading to pathogenic dysfunction in cancer cells. TIMP-1 has not only the cell proliferation activities but also anti-oncogenic properties. Cancer cells appear to utilize these bilateral aspects of TIMP-1 for cancer progression; an elevated TIMP-1 level exerts to cancer development via MMP-independent pathway during the early phase of tumor formation, whereas it is the aberrant glycosylation of TIMP-1 that overcome the high anti-proteolytic burden. The aberrant glycosylation of TIMP-1 can thus be used as staging and/or prognostic biomarker in colon cancer.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.321-329
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• 2001

This study included three experiments to evaluate in-vehicle exposures to PM10 and CO: 1) evaluation of in-passenger car exposures, 2) evaluation of in-public bus exposures, and 3) simultaneous evaluation of in-passenger car and in -university bus exposures. The tests of four factors (transportation mode, passenger-car type, commute period, and commute season were focused. A total of 40 actual passenger car commuters, 20 public bus commuters, and four university buses were recruited or surveyed. The same commuters ware participated in both the summer and winter studied. Two factory such as transportation mode and passenger-car type were found to have little effect on the in-vehicle levels of PM10 and CO. Commute period was found to have little effect on the in-vehicle CO levels. Conversely, the other factor, commuting season was found to influence on the in-vehicle levels of PM10 and CO. The present study also confirmed that under the Korean commute conditions, vehicle interiors are an important microenvironment for exposure to PM10 and CO. This was supported by finding that the in-vehicle Air levels were much higher than ambient air levels reported by several previous studies. The mean in -vehicle PM10 concentrations were 114 and 103$\mu\textrm{g}$/m$^3$for passenger cars and public buses, respectively. For CO, the mean in-vehicle concentrations were 2.9 and 2.6 ppm for passenger cars and public louses, respectively.