• Applied Microscopy
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.321-332
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• 1997

The dermal papilla is known to playa major role in influencing the form and dynamics of the hair follicle, which probably involves regulatory substances crossing the basal lamina. But little is known about the junctions between the dermal papilla and the surrounding epithelial cells of the hair bulb, or between the connective tissue and the epithelial cells on the outside of the hair follicle. This study was performed to identify the ultrastructural differences between dermoepidermal junction of the skin and connective tissue-epithelial junctions on the outside of the hair follicle and around the dermal papilla of normal anagen hair follicles in the human fetal scalp skin. Electron microscopic findings of dermoepidermal junction in scalp skin showed that basal lamina was very irregular and undulated, and it contained many attachment plaques of hemidesmosomes with sub-basal dense plates, tonofilaments, and anchoring filaments. Also invaginations of plasma membrane of basal keratinocytes were seen. There were clear differences both on the outside of the follicle and around the dermal papilla as compared with similar junction in the skin. In particular, neither hemidesmosomes nor tonofilaments, as seen in dermoepidermal junction, were observed in the dermal papilla. Also attachment plaque, sub-basal dense plate and anchoring filaments were not observed at the junction on the outside of the follicle and the dermal papilla. There were some differences between connective tissue-epithelial junctions on the outside of the hair follicle and around the dermal papilla, ie, smoothness of basal lamina and orthogonal arrangement of collagen fibers were seen in the outside of hair follicle, but not in the dermal papilla. These results indicate that the mechanical connection between the hair follicle and the connective tissue component is much weaker than that between the corresponding components in skin, and it reflects the dynamic processes during the anagen phase of the hair follicle compared to the relatively permanent state of the epidermis.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Surface Engineering Conference
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• 2012.11a
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• pp.16-16
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• 2012

Mg and its alloys have been of great interest because of their low density of 1.7, 30% lighter than Al, but their wide applications have been limited because of their poor resistances against corrosion and/or abrasion. Corrosion resistance of Mg alloys can be improved by formation of anodic films using anodic oxidation method in aqueous electrolytes. Plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) is one of anodic oxidation methods by which hard anodic films can be formed as a result of micro-arc generation under high electric field. PEO method utilize not only substrate elements but also chemical components in electrolytes to form anodic films on Mg alloys. PEO films formed on AM50 magnesium alloy in an acidic fluozirconate electrolyte were observed to consist of mainly $ZrO_2$ and $MgF_2$. Liu et al reported that PEO coating on AM30 Mg alloy consists of $MgF_2$-rich outer porous layer and an MgO-rich dense inner layer. PEO films prepared on ACM522 Mg die-casting alloy in an aqueous phosphate solution were also reported to be composed of monoclinic $Mg_3(PO_4)_2$. $CeO_2$-incorporated PEO coatings were also reported to be formed on AZ31 Mg alloys in $CeO_2$ particle-containing $Na_2SiO_3$-based electrolytes. Magnesium tin hydroxide ($MgSn(OH)_6$) was also produced on AZ91D alloy by PEO process in stannate-containing electrolyte. Effects of $OH^-$, $F^-$, $PO{_4}^{3-}$ and $SiO{_3}^{2-}$ ions and alloying elements of Al and Sn on the formation of PEO films on pure Mg and Mg alloys and their protective properties against corrosion have been investigated in this work. $PO{_4}^{3-}$, $F^-$ and $SiO{_3}^{2-}$ ions were observed to contribute to the formation of PEO films but $OH^-$ ions were found to break down the surface films under high electric field. The effect of pulse current on the formation of PEO films will be also reported.

• Korean Journal of Optics and Photonics
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.219-222
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• 2011

Integrated optical waveguide polarization converters are among the essential components for constructing various functional optical integrated circuits. The RM materials have been widely used in liquid crystal displays for fabricating waveplates. In this work, the polarization converters are fabricated by using a solution of Reactive Mesogen(RM) dissolved in liquid crystal(LC). In the middle of the polymer waveguide, a groove is defined by an oxygen plasma etching in a direction perpendicular to the optical waveguide. The solution of RM-LC is inserted to fill up the groove, and then liquid crystal is aligned in a certain direction by applying an electric field. After the alignment, RM materal is crosslinked by UV light so as to form a permanent waveplate. The phase retardation of the waveplate is determined by the width of the groove, and by the birefringence and the degree of alignment of the LC. Polarization conversion efficiency of 90% is obtained for the wavelength of 1550 nm.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.128-137
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• 1997

The effects of cylindan, a polysaccharide isolated from the basidiocarps of Agrocybe cylindracea, on murine sarcoma 180 tumor and murine immune cells were examined after intraperitoneal administration. Cylindan exhibited a marked life extension effect in mice against ascite forms of sarcoma 180 and Lewis lung carcinoma at a dose of 50 mg/kg/day, although it did not show any direct cytotoxicity against sarcoma 180, X5563, and MM46 murine tumor cells. Cylindan increased numbers of bone marrow stem cells as well as peritoneal exudate cells in flow cytometry using monoclonal antibodies. The tumor bearing mice group apparently showed the increase of macrophages and cytotoxic T lymphocytes in mouse spleen cells during the early stage of tumor growth. But during the later stage, the control group decreased immune cells and cylindan restored the decreased immune cells in the tumor bearing mice to the normal level. In non-specific immune response, cylindan stimulated the bacterial phagocytosis and acid phosphatase production in macrophages. It also activated components of the alternative complement pathway and natural killer activity against YAC-1 lymphoma. In number of plasma cells as token of stimulation of the differentiation of B lymphocytes. In cellular immunity, cylindan restored the depressed response of delayed type hypersensitivity in the tumor bearing mice to 60% of the normal level and increased the interleukin-2 (IL-2) responsiveness in the IL-2 dependent CTLL-2 cells. These results suggest that cylindan did not show direct cytotoxic effects on tumor cells but restored the decreased immune response of the tumor bearing mice.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.95-103
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• 2008

The aim of this study was to compare nutrient intakes, dietary habits, and blood components of smokers with non-smokers in the Seoul area and its vicinity. The results showed that non-smokers had higher intakes of brown rice, grains, fruit, vegetable and kimchi than the smokers. Smokers consumed more protein (p<0.001), vitamin B1 (p<0.001), vitamin B2 (p<0.007), niacin (p<0.0001), zinc (p<0.031) and phosphorus (p<0.005) than did non-smokers, whereas non-smokers' intakes of vitamin A (p<0.037), and folic acid (p<0.043) was higher than that of smokers. Individuals who smoked tended to have significantly higher levels of hemoglobin and monocytes. There were no significant differences by smoking status for dihydrolipoic acid (DHLA), arachidonic acid (AA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), which were in normal ranges. No significant differences by smoking status were shown for plasma homocysteine, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, vitamin C, and vitamin A. In conclusion, because smokers maintain a less healthy diet and life-style, it is to be recommended that educational programs be developed for smokers, guiding them into adopting better dietary habits in order to maintain and improve their health.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.149-155
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• 1988

To increase fertilization rate in vitro, separation of viable spermatozoa from the seminal plasma and its other components may be a useful procedure. Ejaculates from healthy men, whose semen analysis findings were normal in 19, and abnormal in 10, were filtered using the glass-wool filtration technique to yield a concentrated, viable sperm samples for IVF, and the usefulness and safety of this method were evaluated. The recovery rate of motile sperm in abnormal groups was 46.2% and 54.5% in normal group. The % motility was increased significantly compared with original sample after filtration, and the grade motility was improved, too. The sperm population with normal morphology was also increased significantly in both group. Using transmission electron microscopy, the ultrastructural integrity of acrosomal segment was examined in order to evaluate the potentially hazardous effect of glass-wool filtration to sperm head, however, sperm population with normal ultrastructure was increased compared with that of original ejaculate after separation. The filtered sperm was then processed for IVF, as the fertilizing capacity is the ultimate parameter of the sperm function. In abnormal group, the fertilization rate(41.5 %) and the ET rate per stimulated cycle were much lower than that of mormal group(69.6%). However, the cleavage rate and the number of embryos transfered per ET cycle were comparable with those of nomal group. The results suggest that the glass-wool filtration of sperm, particularly in oligo-asthenozoospsrmia, may be useful and safe method in the preparation of sperm for IVF.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.315-323
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• 2018

Rapid increase of diabetic population is a major health concern in Korea. In a trial to develop food components which can prevent and/or cure diabetes, we investigated the anti-diabetic activity of curcumin in high fat diet (HFD)-induced type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) animal model. C57BL/6 mice were divided into three groups: normal diet (ND), high fat diet (HFD), and curcumin (CUR, HFD+0.02% curcumin). Mice were fed each diet for 16 weeks. CUR significantly reduced body weight gain, the levels of plasma glucose, insulin, total-cholesterol (T-C), and LDL-C, whereas increased HDL-C compared to those of HFD group. Notably, insulin signaling pathway was activated by CUR. This suggests that CUR improves obesity-associated T2DM by overcoming insulin resistance in part.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.38 no.10
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• pp.829-835
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• 2015

It has been suggested that AUXIN BINDING PROTEIN 1 (ABP1) functions as an apoplastic auxin receptor, and is known to be involved in the post-transcriptional process, and largely independent of the already well-known SKP-cullin-F-box-transport inhibitor response (TIR1) /auxin signaling F-box (AFB) ($SCF^{TIR1/AFB}$) pathway. In the past 10 years, several key components downstream of ABP1 have been reported. After perceiving the auxin signal, ABP1 interacts, directly or indirectly, with plasma membrane (PM)-localized transmembrane proteins, transmembrane kinase (TMK) or SPIKE1 (SPK1), or other unidentified proteins, which transfer the signal into the cell to the Rho of plants (ROP). ROPs interact with their effectors, such as the ROP interactive CRIB motif-containing protein (RIC), to regulate the endocytosis/exocytosis of the auxin efflux carrier PIN-FORMED (PIN) proteins to mediate polar auxin transport across the PM. Additionally, ABP1 is a negative regulator of the traditional $SCF^{TIR1/AFB}$ auxin signaling pathway. However, Gao et al. (2015) very recently reported that ABP1 is not a key component in auxin signaling, and the famous abp1-1 and abp1-5 mutant Arabidopsis lines are being called into question because of possible additional mutantion sites, making it necessary to reevaluate ABP1. In this review, we will provide a brief overview of the history of ABP1 research.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.60-68
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• 2018

In aqueous rechargeable lithium ion batteries, $LiV_3O_8$ exhibits obviously enhanced electrochemical performance after $AlF_3$ surface modification owing to improved surface stability to fragile aqueous electrolyte. The cycle life of $LiV_3O_8$ is significantly enhanced by the presence of an $AlF_3$ coating at an optimal content of 1 wt.%. The results of powder X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry, and galvanostatic charge-discharge measurements confirm that the electrochemical improvement can be attributed mainly to the presence of $AlF_3$ on the surface of $LiV_3O_8$. Furthermore, the $AlF_3$ coating significantly reduces vanadium ion dissolution and surface failure by stabilizing the surface of the $LiV_3O_8$ in an aqueous electrolyte solution. The results suggest that the $AlF_3$ coating can prevent the formation of unfavorable side reaction components and facilitate lithium ion diffusion, leading to reduced surface resistance and improved surface stability compared to bare $LiV_3O_8$ and affording enhanced electrochemical performance in aqueous electrolyte solutions.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.257-263
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• 2014

A mammalian cell renovates itself by autophagy, a process through which cellular components are recycled to produce energy and maintain homeostasis. Recently, the abundance of gap junction proteins was shown to be regulated by autophagy during starvation conditions, suggesting that transmembrane proteins are also regulated by autophagy. Transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1 (TRPV1), an ion channel localized to the plasma membrane and endoplasmic reticulum (ER), is a sensory transducer that is activated by a wide variety of exogenous and endogenous physical and chemical stimuli. Intriguingly, the abundance of cellular TRPV1 can change dynamically under pathological conditions. However, the mechanisms by which the protein levels of TRPV1 are regulated have not yet been explored. Therefore, we investigated the mechanisms of TRPV1 recycling using HeLa cells constitutively expressing TRPV1. Endogenous TRPV1 was degraded in starvation conditions; this degradation was blocked by chloroquine (CLQ), 3MA, or downregulation of Atg7. Interestingly, a glucocorticoid (cortisol) was capable of inducing autophagy in HeLa cells. Cortisol increased cellular conversion of LC3-I to LC-3II, leading autophagy and resulting in TRPV1 degradation, which was similarly inhibited by treatment with CLQ, 3MA, or downregulation of Atg7. Furthermore, cortisol treatment induced the colocalization of GFP-LC3 with endogenous TRPV1. Cumulatively, these observations provide evidence that degradation of TRPV1 is mediated by autophagy, and that this pathway can be enhanced by cortisol.