• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.144-149
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• 2001

N-acetylsphingosine (C2-ceramide) is a synthetic water-soluble ceramide mimicking the activity of natural ceramides. By fixing chiral conformation on carbon numbers 2 and 3 in the ceramide structure, four chiral C2-ceramides naming d-erythro-, I-erythro-, d-threo-and 1-three C2-ceramide were synthesized. We have investigated the chiral effects of these C2-ceramides on the sphingolipid metabolism, particularly on both the sphingolipid bio- synthetic pathway and on the degradation pathway. In both HL-60 and U937 cells, the chiral C2-ceramide ($10{\mu}\textrm{m}$) showed sphingosine accumulation monitored fluoromatrically by a high performance liquid chromatographic separation of the sphingoid bases. Most importantly, in HL-60 cells, l-erythro C2-ceramide induced a 50 fold increase in sphingosine as compared to the control, while l-threo C2-ceramide exhibited a minimal 7-fold in-crease. In contrast, sphinganine, another sphingoid base, showed less accumulation by any chiral C2-ceramide tested under the same conditions. These results suggested that chiral C2-ceramide primarilyacts on the sphingolipid degradation pathway rather than on the sphingolipid biosynthetic route. The strong $C_0/G_1$ phase arrest in the cell cycle by treatment of I-erythro C2-ceramide indicates that the blockade of the sphingolipid degradation pathway might be concomitantly involved in the dysfunction of the cell cycle. On the other hand, the fact that all chiral C2-ceramides tested failed to inhibit the activity of sphingosine kinase acting on the removal of sphingosine by producing sphingosine-1 -phosphate demonstrates that chiral C2- ceramides may increase sphingosine by activating various ceramidases by which natural ceramides are divided into sphingosine and free fatty acids. However, the precise steps involved in this interaction are still unknown.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.15-22
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• 2017

An oxidation-reduction scheme is an alternative approach for improving the galvanizability of advanced high-strength steel in the continuous hot-dip galvanizing process. Here, we investigated the effect of oxygen partial pressure ($P_{O_2}$) on the oxidation behavior of a transformation-induced plasticity steel containing 1.5 wt% Si and 1.6 wt% Mn during heating to and holding for 60 s at $700^{\circ}C$ under atmospheres with various $P_{O_2}$ values. Irrespective of $P_{O_2}$, a thin amorphous Si-rich layer of Si-Mn-O was formed underneath the Fe oxide scale (a $Fe_2O_3/Fe_3O_4$ bilayer) in the heating stage. In contrast to Si, Mn tended to segregate at the scale surface as $(Fe,Mn)_2O_3$. The multilayered structure of $(Fe,Mn)_2O_3/Fe_2O_3/Fe_3O_4$/amorphous Si-Mn-O remained even after extended oxidizing at $700^{\circ}C$ for 60 s. $Fe_2O_3$ was the dominantly growing oxide phase in the scale. The enhanced growth rate of $Fe_2O_3$ with increasing $P_{O_2}$ resulted in the formation of more Kirkendall voids in the amorphous Si-rich layer and a less Mn segregation at the scale surface. The mechanisms underlying the absence of FeO and the formation of Kirkendall voids are discussed.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.45-52
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• 1990

In order to determine whether maturation inhibiting activity(MIA) in the cytoplasm of growing follicular oocytes would suppress the cleavage of the embryonal cells, the growing oocytes were fused with the 2 or 4 cell blastomeres and then examined for the nuclear phase of the fused giant cells 24 hr after culture. A significant number of the giant cells(60%) composed of growing mouse oocyte and 2 cell mouse blastomere(1/2) in interphase has contained 2 nuclei 24 hr after culture and most of the giant cells (90%) composed of the growing oocyte and 4 cell blastomere(1/4) also contained 2 nuclei after culture. The unfused blastomeres or the isolated blastomeres cultured without fusion treatment cleaved one cell cycle under the same culture condition. In contrast, the nucleus of the growing oocytes was disintegrated and the chromosome condensed when fused with 2 cell blastomere in mitosis. The growing rat oocytes also suppressed the nuclear disintegration of the mouse embryonal cells during culture. The data presented here showed that MIA in the growing mammalian oocyte inhibited the cleavage of the embryonal cells in interphase stage, but not in milosis stage.

• Atmosphere
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.203-214
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• 2016

This study explores the 6-month lead prediction skill of stratospheric temperature and circulations in the Global Seasonal forecasting model version 5 (GloSea5) hindcast experiment over the period of 1996~2009. Both the tropical and extratropical circulations are considered by analyzing the Quasi-Biennial Oscillation (QBO) and Northern Hemisphere Polar Vortex (NHPV). Their prediction skills are quantitatively evaluated by computing the Anomaly Correlation Coefficient (ACC) and Mean Squared Skill Score (MSSS), and compared with those of El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and Arctic Oscillation (AO). Stratospheric temperature is generally better predicted than tropospheric temperature. Such improved prediction skill, however, rapidly disappears in a month, and a reliable prediction skill is observed only in the tropics, indicating a higher prediction skill in the tropics than in the extratropics. Consistent with this finding, QBO is well predicted more than 6 months in advance. Its prediction skill is significant in all seasons although a relatively low prediction skill appears in the spring when QBO phase transition often takes place. This seasonality is qualitatively similar to the spring barrier of ENSO prediction skill. In contrast, NHPV exhibits no prediction skill beyond one month as in AO prediction skill. In terms of MSSS, both QBO and NHPV are better predicted than their counterparts in the troposphere, i.e., ENSO and AO, indicating that the GloSea5 has a higher prediction skill in the stratosphere than in the troposphere.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.135-140
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• 2015

Background: A leaf cuticle has different structures and functions as a barrier to water loss and as protection from various environmental stressors. Methods: Leaves of Panax ginseng were examined by scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy to investigate the characteristics and development of the epicuticular structure. Results: Along the epidermal wall surface, the uniformly protuberant fine structure was on the adaxial surface of the cuticle. This epicuticular structure was highly wrinkled and radially extended to the marginal region of epidermal cells. The cuticle at the protuberant positions maintained the same thickness. The density of the wall matrix under the structures was also similar to that of the other wall region. By contrast, none of this structure was distributed on the abaxial surface, except in the region of the stoma. During the early developmental phase of the epicuticular structure, small vesicles appeared on wallecuticle interface in the peripheral wall of epidermal cells. Some electron-opaque vesicles adjacent to the cuticle were fused and formed the cuticle layer, whereas electron-translucent vesicles contacted each other and progressively increased in size within the epidermal wall. Conclusion: The outwardly projected cuticle and epidermal cell wall (i.e., an epicuticular wrinkle) acts as a major barrier to block out sunlight in ginseng leaves. The small vesicles in the peripheral region of epidermal cells may suppress the cuticle and parts of epidermal wall, push it upward, and consequently contribute to the formation of the epicuticular structure.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.9 no.5
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• pp.516-520
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• 1999

Mechanical alloying (MA) by planetary type ball mill of pure iron powders was carried out under the ammonia gas atmosphere. The powders of metastable iron nitrides was synthesized up to the nitrogen content of 23 at% N. The observed phases are identified as the super-saturated bcc solid solution for the nitrogen concentration below 14.5 at% N and the non-equilibrium hcp phase stable at high temperature for 20.8 at.% N. Magnetization of Fe-N powders gradually decreases with increasing the N concentration on contrast to the enhancement reported for the bct iron nitrides. Neutron diffraction experiments also provide detailed information concerning the local atomic structure surrounding the nitrogen atoms. The coordination number of Fe atom around a nitrogen atom for the iron nitride containing 9.5 at% N turns out to be 3.9 atoms. This suggests that a nitrogen atom is situated at a center of the tetrahedron formed by iron atoms.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.30 no.8
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• pp.1738-1742
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• 2009

Nanocrystalline Zn$Fe_2O_4$ oxide-semiconductor with spinel structure was synthesized by the polymerized complex (PC) method and investigated for its photocatalytic and photoelectric properties. The observation of a highly pure phase and a lower crystallization temperature in Zn$Fe_2O_4$ made by PC method is in total contrast to that was observed in Zn$Fe_2O_4$ prepared by the conventional solid-state reaction (SSR) method. The band gap of the nanocrystalline Zn$Fe_2O_4$ determined by UV-DRS was 1.90 eV (653 nm). The photocatalytic activity of Zn$Fe_2O_4$ prepared by PC method as investigated by the photo-decomposition of isopropyl alcohol (IPA) under visible light (${\geq}$ 420 nm) was much higher than that of the Zn$Fe_2O_4$ prepared by SSR as well as Ti$O_{2-x}N_x$. High photocatalytic activity of Zn$Fe_2O_4$ prepared by PC method was mainly due to its surface area, crystallinity and the dispersity of platinum metal over Zn$Fe_2O_4$.

• Journal of Korean Society of Industrial and Systems Engineering
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.74-82
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• 2008

The objective of this paper is to remove noises of image based on the heuristic noises filter and to extract a tumor region by using morphology techniques in breast ultrasound image. Similar objective studies have been conducted based on ultrasound image of high resolution. As a result, efficiency of noise removal is not fine enough for low resolution image. Moreover, when ultrasound image has multiple tumors, the extraction of ROI (Region Of Interest) is not accomplished or processed by a manual selection. In this paper, our method is done 4 kinds of process for noises removal and the extraction of ROI for solving problems of restrictive automated segmentation. First process is that pixel value is acquired as matrix type. Second process is a image preprocessing phase that is aimed to maximize a contrast of image and prevent a leak of personal information. In next process, the heuristic noise filter that is based on opinion of medical specialist is applied to remove noises. The last process is to extract a tumor region by using morphology techniques. As a result, the noise is effectively eliminated in all images and a extraction of tumor regions is possible though one ultrasound image has several tumors.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.377-388
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• 1998

This double-blind controlled clinical and microbiological study was carried out to determine the effects of mouthwash preparation containing the mixture of herbal extract on developing plaque and gingivitis in the experimental gingivitis model. Following a 2-week normalization period, 34 dental students were distributed randomly into 1 of 3 treatment groups. They rinsed, under supervision, two times daily for 3 weeks with either normal saline(CT), 0.1% chlorhexidine(CH), or the mixture of herbal extract (HT), but refrained from any oral hygiene measures. The Plaque Index(PlI), the Gingival Index(GI), and the amount of Gingival Crevicular Fluid(GCF) were measured at week 0,1,2, and 3 of the experimental period, while the assessment of total wet weight of plaque and the phase contrast microscopic examination of plaque were performed at the end of experimental period(3 weeks). Subjects using mouthrinse preparation containing the mixture of herbal extract demonstrated negligible, if any, changes in the accumulation and microbial composition of plaque compared to those using normal saline, while the reduction of gingival inflammation by this mixture was highly significant and comparable to that of chlorhexidine. The results of this study indicate that the preparation containing the mixture of herbal extract do not provide any antiplaque benefits but is very effective in inhibiting the development of and in reducing existing experimental gingivitis when used as mouthrinse. Further research is needed to determine whether a significant reduction of gingival inflammation without a concomitant decrease in plaque accumulation is of clinical importance.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.542-556
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• 1996

Previous studies have shown that Magnoliae cortex and Ginkgo biloba extracts were showed on the antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory action, in vitro. The purpose of this study was to evaluate on the effect of antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activity of Magnoliae cortex and Ginkgo biloba extracts containing dentifrice in gingivitis. 70 subjects with gingivitis were divided into an experimental group which performed normal oral hygiene procedure with Magnoliae cortex and Ginkgo biloba extracts containing dentifrice and a control group which also performed normal oral hygiene procedure with the same dentifrice without the natural extracts and completed a doubleblind, cross-over study. At baseline and 3 weeks, subjects were assayed for clinical study by plaque index, gingival index, pocket depth, GCF rate, and microbiological study by subgingival dental plaque bacterial morphotypes by phase contrast microscopy, total anaerobes, total aerobes, Black pigmented bacteroides, A.actionomycetemcomitans, A.viscosus, C.rectus, Ssenguis; P.gingivalis, P.intennedia by bacterial culture and immunofluorescence microscopy. After 3 weeks using their respective dentifrices, reductions in the clinical indices of subjects were similar between the experimental dentifrice group and a control dentifrice group except for statistically significant much reductions in PI, GI, and GCF rate in the experimental dentifrice group as compared to control dentifrice group. Also statistically significant reductions in the motile rods and Spirochetes were found in both experimental group to compare with control group, however statistically much reduction in total anaerobes, Black pigmented bacteroides, and P.gingivalis, P.intennedia were found in the experimental dentifrice group as compared to control dentifrice group. This results indicates that Magnoliae cortex and Ginkgo biloba extracts containing dentifrice might be useful for elimination of gingival inflammation.