• Journal of Life Science
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• v.32 no.11
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• pp.882-889
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• 2022

Breast cancer anti-estrogen resistance 3 (BCAR3) has been identified as one of the genes that induces anti-estrogen resistance in breast cancer. We have previously reported that BCAR3 activates promoters of c-Jun, activator protein-1, and the serum response element. In this study, we investigated the functional role of BCAR3 in the activation of the estrogen response element (ERE) in normal human breast MCF-12A cells. Transient expression of BCAR3 induced ERE activation, which was further increased by 17β-estradiol treatment but was not blocked by the anti-estrogen tamoxifen. Next, we studied the signaling pathway of BCAR3 leading to ERE activation. BCAR3-mediated ERE activation was inhibited by LY294002 and AZD5363, inhibitors of the phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase pathway, but not by PD98059 and U0126, inhibitors of the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway. ERE activation was induced by the catalytic subunit p110α. of PI3-kinase or the active mutant of Akt, and this activation was not further increased by additional BCAR3 transfection. Based on these results, we propose that BCAR3 plays an important role in ERE activation through the PI3-kinase/Akt pathway in human breast MCF-12A cells.

• Korean Journal of Optics and Photonics
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.74-83
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• 2022

The entire process, from the raw material to the final system qualification test, has been developed to fabricate a large-diameter, lightweight reflective-telescope system for a satellite observation. The telescope with 3 anastigmatic mirrors has an aperture of 700 mm and a total mass of 66 kg. We baked a silicon carbide substrate body from a carbon preform using a reaction sintering method, and tested the structural and chemical properties, surface conditions, and crystal structure of the body. We developed the polishing and coating methods considering the mechanical and chemical properties of the silicon carbide (SiC) body, and we utilized a chemical-vapor-deposition method to deposit a dense SiC thin film more than 170 ㎛ thick on the mirror's surface, to preserve a highly reflective surface with excellent optical performance. After we made the SiC mirrors, we measured the wave-front error for various optical fields by assembling and aligning three mirrors and support structures. We conducted major space-environment tests for the components and final assembly by temperature-cycling tests and vibration-shock tests, in accordance with the qualifications for the space and launch environment. We confirmed that the final telescope achieves all of the target performance criteria.

• Advances in nano research
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.71-82
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• 2013

A simple chemical precipitation technique is reported for the synthesis of a hybrid nanostructure of single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) and titania ($TiO_2$) nanocrystals of average size 5 nm, which may be useful as a prominent photocatalytic material with improved functionality. The synthesized hybrid structure has been characterized by transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX), powder X-ray diffractometry (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopy. It is clearly revealed that nearly monodispersed titania nanocrystals (anatase phase) of average size 5 nm decorate the surfaces of SWCNT bundles. The UV-vis absorption study shows a blue shift of 16 nm in the absorbance peak position of the composite material compared to the unmodified SWCNTs. The photoluminescence study shows a violet-blue emission in the range of 325-500 nm with a peak emission at 400 nm. The low temperature electrical transport property of the synthesized nanomaterial has been studied between 77-300 K. The DC conductivity shows semiconductor-like characteristics with conductivity increasing sharply with temperature in the range of 175-300 K. Such nanocomposites may find wide applications as improved photocatalyst due to transfer of photo-ejected electrons from $TiO_2$ to SWCNT, thus reducing recombination, with the SWCNT scaffold providing a firm and better positioning of the catalytic material.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2016.02a
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• pp.85.2-85.2
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• 2016

With the advent of ultra-short high-intense XFEL (X-ray Free Electron Laser), time-resolved dynamics has become of great importance in exploring femtosecond real-world phenomena of nanoscience and biology. These include studying the response of materials to femtosecond laser excitation and investigating the interaction of XFEL itself with condensed matter. A variety of dynamic phenomena have been investigated such as radiation damage, ultrafast melting process, non-equilibrium phase transitions caused by orbital-lattice-spin couplings. As far as bulk materials are concerned, the sample size has no effect on the following dynamic process. As a result, imaging information is not required by and large. If the sample size is of tens of nanometers, however, sample starts to experience quantum confinement effect which, in turn, affects the following dynamic process. Therefore, to understand the fundamental dynamic phenomena in nano-science, time-resolved imaging information is essential. In this talk, we will briefly introduce scientific highlights achieved in XFEL-based dynamics. In case of bio-imaging, recent scientific topics will be mentioned as well. Finally, we will aim to present feasible topics in ultrafast time-resolved imaging and to discuss the future plan of CXI beamline at PAL-XFEL.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2016.02a
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• pp.100-100
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• 2016

Among various two-dimensional (2D) materials, 2D semiconductors and insulators have attracted a great deal of interest from nanoscience community beyond graphene, due to their attractive and unique properties. Such excellent characteristics have triggered highly active researches on 2D materials, such as hexagonal boron nitride (hBN), molybdenum disulfide (MoS2), and tungsten diselenide (WSe2). New physics observed in 2D semiconductors allow for development of new-concept devices. Especially, these emerging 2D materials are promising candidates for flexible and transparent electronics. Recently, van der Waals heterostructures (vdWH) have been achieved by putting these 2D materials onto another, in the similar way to build Lego blocks. This enables us to investigate intrinsic physical properties of atomically-sharp heterostructure interfaces and fabricate high performance optoelectronic devices for advanced applications. In this talk, fundamental properties of various 2D materials will be introduced, including growth technique and influence of defects on properties of 2D materials. We also fabricate high performance electronic/optoelectronic devices of vdWH, such as transistors, memories, and solar cells. The device platform based on van der Waals heterostructures show huge improvement of devices performance, high stability and transparency/flexibility due to unique properties of 2D materials and ultra-sharp heterointerfaces. Our work paves a new way toward future advanced electronics based on 2D materials.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.863-870
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• 2017

With the increasing interest in using bacterial biofilms in geo-engineering practices, such as soil improvement, sealing leakage in earth structures, and hydraulic barrier installation, understanding of the contribution of bacterial biofilm formation to mechanical and hydraulic behavior of soils is important. While mechanical properties of soft gel-like biofilms need to be identified for appropriate modeling and prediction of behaviors of biofilm-associated soils, elastic properties of biofilms remain poorly understood. Therefore, this study investigated the microscale Young's modulus of biofilms produced by Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 in a liquid phase. The indentation test was performed on a biofilm sample using the atomic force microscopy (AFM) with a spherical indentor, and the force-indentation responses were obtained during approach and retraction traces. Young's modulus of biofilms was estimated to be ~33-38 kPa from these force-indentation curves and Hertzian contact theory. It appears that the AFM indentation result captures the microscale local characteristics of biofilms and its stiffness is relatively large compared to the other methods, including rheometer and hydrodynamic shear tests, which reflect the average macro-scale behaviors. While modeling of mechanical behaviors of biofilm-associated soils requires the properties of each component, the obtained results provide information on the mechanical properties of biofilms that can be considered as cementing, gluing, or filling materials in soils.

• Transactions on Electrical and Electronic Materials
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.200-203
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• 2011

In this research, nitrogen (N)-doped zinc oxide (ZnO) thin films have been grown on a sapphire substrate by dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) in pulsed laser deposition (PLD). DBD has been used as an effective way for massive in-situ generation of N-plasma under conventional PLD process conditions. Low-temperature photoluminescence spectra of N-doped ZnO thin films provided near-band-edge emission after a thermal annealing process. The emission peak was resolved by Gaussian fitting and showed a dominant acceptor-bound excitation peak ($A^{\circ}X$) that indicated acceptor doping of ZnO with N. The acceptor binding energy of the N acceptor was estimated to be approximately 145 MeV based on the results of temperature-dependent photoluminescence (PL) measurements.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.59-71
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• 2018

Purpose: Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) are natural polymers that have been promoted as a next generation of new, sustainable materials. CNCs are invaluable as reinforcing materials for composites because they can impart improved mechanical, chemical, and thermal properties and they are biodegradable. The purpose of this review is to provide researchers with information that can assist in the application of CNCs extracted from waste agricultural byproducts (e.g. rice husks, corncobs, pineapple leaves). Methods & Results: This paper presents the unique characteristics of CNCs based on agricultural byproducts, and lists processing methods for manufacturing CNCs from agricultural byproducts. Various mechanical treatments (microfluidization and homogenization) and chemical treatments (alkali treatment, bleaching and hydrolysis) can be performed in order to generate nanocellulose. CNC-based composite properties and various applications are also discussed. Conclusions: CNC-based composites from agricultural byproducts can be combined to meet end-use applications such as sensors, batteries, films, food packaging, and 3D printing by utilizing their properties. The review discusses applications in food engineering, biological engineering, and cellulose-based hydrogels.

• Particle and aerosol research
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.51-67
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• 2008

In this study, we devoted to kinetic measurement of the catalytic oxidation of iron-containing flame soot particles and better understanding the role of catalytic particles on carbon oxidation in particular at low temperature, targeting on autothermal regeneration of diesel particulate filter by diesel exhaust gas. Carbon-based Fe-containing particles generated by spraying ferrocene-doped diesel fuel in an oxy-hydrogen flame are tested and compared with a commercial carbon black powder for thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Induced coupled plasma-Atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES), and High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM). As a result, we found that a small amount of the ferrocene addition led to significant reductions in a on-set temperature and an activation energy of the carbon oxidation as well. An oxygenated surface complex forming at the particle surface could be thought as active species that would be readily consumed in particular at low temperature.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.787-800
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• 2016

The aim of the paper is to analyze nonlinear transverse vibration of an embedded piezoelectric plate reinforced with single walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs). The system in rested in a Pasternak foundation. The micro-electro-mechanical model is employed to calculate mechanical and electrical properties of nanocomposite. Using nonlinear strain-displacement relations and considering charge equation for coupling between electrical and mechanical fields, the motion equations are derived based on energy method and Hamilton's principle. These equations can't be solved analytically due to their nonlinear terms. Hence, differential quadrature method (DQM) is employed to solve the governing differential equations for the case when all four ends are clamped supported and free electrical boundary condition. The influences of the elastic medium, volume fraction and orientation angle of the SWCNTs reinforcement and aspect ratio are shown on frequency of structure. The results indicate that with increasing volume fraction of SWCNTs, the frequency increases. This study might be useful for the design and smart control of nano/micro devices such as MEMS and NEMS.