• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.415-421
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• 2016

The drug-resistance of malaria parasites is the main problem in the disease control. The huge Brazilian biodiversity promotes the search for new compounds, where the animal kingdom is proving to be a promising source of bioactive compounds. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the antiplasmodial and cytotoxic activity of the compounds obtained from the toad venoms of Brazilian Amazon. Toad venoms were collected from the secretion of Rhinella marina and Rhaebo guttatus in Mato Grosso State, Brazil. The powder was extracted at room temperature, yielding 2 extracts (RG and RM) and a substance ('1') identified as a bufadienolide, named telocinobufagin. Growth inhibition, intraerythrocytic development, and parasite morphology were evaluated in culture by microscopic observations of Giemsa-stained thin blood films. Cytotoxicity was determined against HepG2 and BGM cells by MTT and neutral red assays. The 2 extracts and the pure substance ('1') tested were active against chloroquine-resistant Plasmodium falciparum strain, demonstrating lower $IC_{50}$ values. In cytotoxic tests, the 2 extracts and substance '1' showed pronounced lethal effects on chloroquine-resistant P. faciparum strain and low cytotoxic effect, highlighting toad parotoid gland secretions as a promising source of novel lead antiplasmodial compounds.

• Journal of Magnetics
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.221-226
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• 2014

Significantly enhanced low-field magnetoresistance (LFMR) and maximum dMR/dH {$(dMR/dH)_{max}$} values were successfully achieved from $La_{0.7}Sr_{0.3}MnO_3$(LSMO)-manganese oxide composite samples prepared by liquid phase sintering, compared with those of the same composites prepared by solid state reaction. For this study, pure LSMO and LSMO-manganese oxide composites with various nominal compositions of (1-x)LSMO-$xMn_2O_3$ (x = 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, and 0.8) were sintered at $1450^{\circ}C$, above the eutectic temperature of $1430^{\circ}C$, for 1 h in air. The highest LFMR value of 1.28% with the highest $(dMR/dH)_{max}$ value of 21.1% $kOe^{-1}$ was obtained from the composite sample with x = 0.3 at 290 K in 500 Oe. This enhancement of LFMR and $(dMR/dH)_{max}$ values is ascribed to efficient suppression of magnetic disorder at the LSMO grain boundary, by forming a characteristic LSMO-manganese eutectic structure.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.45 no.12
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• pp.827-831
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• 2008

Spark plasma sintering (SPS) of AlN ceramics were carried out with ${Y_2}{O_3}$ as sintering additive at a sintering temperature $1,550{\sim}1,700^{\circ}C$. The effect of ${Y_2}{O_3}$ addition on sintering behavior and thermal conductivity of AlN ceramics was studied. ${Y_2}{O_3}$ added AlN showed higher densification rate than pure AlN noticeably, but the formation of yttrium aluminates phases by the solid-state reaction of ${Y_2}{O_3}$ and ${Al_2}{O_3}$ existed on AlN surface could delay the densification during the sintering process. The thermal conductivity of AlN specimens was promoted by the addition of ${Y_2}{O_3}$ up to 3 wt% in spite of the formation of YAG secondary phase in AlN grain boundaries because ${Y_2}{O_3}$ addition could reduced the oxygen contents in AlN lattice which is primary factor of thermal conductivity. However, the thermal conductivity rather decreased over 3 wt% addition because an immoderate formation of YAG phases in grain boundary could decrease thermal conductivity by a phonon scattering surpassing the contribution of ${Y_2}{O_3}$ addition.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.181-184
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• 2015

Background: Breast cancer is the most common female cancer in Kerala, South India, with the incidence increasing in the past two decades, also in young women. However, there are limited data regarding the burden of disease, its epidemiology and histopathological characteristics in the state. Materials and Methods: This desciptive study covered 303 breast cancers evaluated during the period of December 2011 to August 2013 in the Department of Pathology, Government Medical College, Kottayam.The patients were also interviewed regarding selected risk factors. Results: The majority of the cases were 41-60 years of age with a mean at presentation of 53 years. Infiltrating ductal carcinoma was the most common subtype, followed by pure mucinous carcinoma and then lobular carcinoma. Of the cases, 6.6% were nullipara and 52.8% had fewer than or equal to 2 children. Median age at first child birth was 23 years (national value-19.8 years). A significant proportion (15%) had family history of breast cancer. Some 13.5%(41 cases) comprised the young breast cancer group (${\leq}40$years) with a mean age at first child birth in them was 27.4 years, 5 being nullipara and 6 having a positive family history. Conclusions: Breast cancer awareness, better availability of screening techniques and identification and targeting high risk groups all help to tackle the increasing load of breast carcinoma. A good proportion of cases comprised the young breast cancer group (under 40). Younger women should thus also be educated about breast carcinoma-risk factors, symptoms and diagnostic techniques to help in early detection and effective approach esto treatment.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.10 no.7
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• pp.459-463
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• 2000

Direct use of negative ions for modification of materials has opened new research such as charging-free ion implantation and new materials syntheses by pure kinetic bonding reactions. For these purposes, a new solid-state ce-sium ion source has been developed in the laboratory scale. In this paper, diamond like carbon(DLC) films were prepared on silicon wafer by a negative cesium ion gun. This system does not need any gas in the chamber; deposition occurs under high vacuum. The ion source has good control of the C- beam energy(from 80 to 150eV). The result of Raman spectrophotometer shows that the degree of diamond-like character in the films, $sp^3$ fraction, increased as ion beam energy increases. The nanoindentation hardness of the films also increases from 7 to 14 GPa as a function of beam energy. DLC films showed ultra-smooth surface(Ra~1$\AA$)and an impurity-free quality.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.532-541
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• 2010

Peroxidase-like activity of Vitreoscilla hemoglobin (VHb) has been recently disclosed. To maximize such activity, two catalytically conserved residues (histidine and arginine) found in the distal pocket of peroxidases have successfully been introduced into that of the VHb. A 15-fold increase in catalytic constant ($k_{cat}$) was obtained in P54R variant,which was presumably attributable to the lower rigidity and higher hydrophilicity of the distal cavity arising from substitution of proline to arginine. None of the modifications altered the affinity towards either $H_2O_2$ or ABTS substrate. Spectroscopic studies revealed that VHb variants harboring the T29H mutation apparently demonstrated a spectral shift in both ferric and ferrous forms (406-408 to 411 nm, and 432 to 424-425 nm, respectively). All VHb proteins in the ferrous state had a $\lambda_{soret}$ peak at ~419 nm following the carbon monoxide (CO) binding. Expression of the P54R mutant mediated the downregulation of iron superoxide dismutase (FeSOD) as identified by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) and peptide mass fingerprinting (PMF). According to the high peroxidase activity of P54R, it could effectively eliminate autoxidation-derived $H_2O_2$, which is a cause of heme degradation and iron release. This decreased the iron availability and consequently reduced the formation of the $Fe^{2+}$-ferric uptake regulator protein ($Fe^{2+}$-Fur), an inducer of FeSOD expression.

• Journal of Power System Engineering
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.96-101
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• 2005

Magnesium alloys have been widely used for many structural components of automobiles and aircraft because of high specific strength and good cast ability in spite of hexagonal closed-packed crystal structure of pure magnesium. In this study, uniaxial tension tests at high temperature and creep tests are done in order to investigate the characteristics of high temperature and mechanisms for creep deformation of AZ31 Mg alloy. Yield stress and ultimate tensile stress decreased with increasing temperature, but elongation increased from results of uniaxial tension test at high temperature. The apparent activation energy Qc, the applied stress exponent n and rupture life have been determined during creep of AZ31 Mg alloy over the temperature range of 473K to 573K and stress range of 23.42 MPa to 93.59 MPa, respectively, in order to investigate the creep behavior. Constant load creep tests were carried out in the equipment including automatic temperature controller, whose data are sent to computer. At around the temperature of $473K{\sim}493K$ and under the stress level of $62.43{\sim}93.59%MPa$, and again at around the temperature of $553K{\sim}573K$ and under the stress level of $23.42{\sim}39.00MPa$, the creep behavior obeyed a simple power-law relating steady state creep rate to applied stress and the activation energy for the creep deformation was nearly equal, respectively, and a little low to that of the self diffusion of Mg alloy including aluminum. Also rupture surfaces at high temperature have had bigger dimples than those at lower temperature by SEM.

• Journal of Power System Engineering
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.60-69
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• 1999

The noise and vibration sources of rotary compressor for room air-conditioner are pressure pulsation of compression process, cavity resonance of inner space, structural radiation noise of shell and impact noise of discharge valve. Among them, pressure pulsation is very important noise and vibration source. Because it transferred various kinds of noise and vibration like as mentioned above. In this reason, muffler and resonator are used in order to absorb and remove these noises. But an analytical prediction using acoustic analysis does not coincident with the experimental result. The difference between analysis and actual state is due to the assumption of analysis. This paper covered with new concept of muffler design based on the turbulence kinetic energy of flow by using CFD. From this analysis, it is possible to decide the best position of discharge port of muffler. Therefore $2{\sim}3dB$ noise reduction effect is acquired in rotary compressor of 5000 BTU grade. Also new approach of resonator design is suggested. From this study, the characteristics of resonator and surge hole (a kind of resonator without pipe length) are identified. The former is useful for pure tone noise (narrow frequency band), and the latter is effective for broad frequency band. This paper shows that it is very available to use 3 dimensional analysis of resonator in order to predict more exact tuning frequency. The result is proved by a lot of experiments. From combination of fluid analysis and acoustic analysis, up stream position is effective location of resonator concerning turbulence motion of fluid.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2012.02a
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• pp.567-567
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• 2012

Since the carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have extraordinary material properties, many researchers are trying to make a practical application in various fields [1]. In particular, the high surface area of CNTs was fascinated for nano-template on the catalytic system. $RuO_2$ coated CNTs are useful functional nano-composites in many applications, including super capacitors, fuel cells, biosensors, and field emitters. However, the research of interaction between CNTs and $RuO_2$ was not satisfied with various fields [2]. In this study, we will introduce the change of chemical and electrical state of $RuO_2$/CNTs at different temperatures by synchrotron radiation photoemission spectroscopy (SRPES). The t-MWCNTs used in this experiment were grown on the Ni/TiN/Si substrates by chemical vapor deposition. $RuO_2$ of 4-20 nm in thickness was deposited on the t-MWNTs by sputter. The SRPES measurements were carried out at the 4B1 beamline of the Pohang Accelerator Laboratory in Korea. The result of XPS measurement indicates that the deposited $RuO_2$ on the CNTs was reduced into pure Ru at above $300^{\circ}C$. And we confirmed that the effective work function of $RuO_2$/CNTs was decreased with increasing temperature.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.215-220
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• 2015

The effect of Al content on the processing of reaction-bonded $Al_2O_3$ (RBAO) ceramics using 40v/o ~ 80v/o Al-Zn-Mg alloy powder was studied in order to improve traditional RBAO ceramic processes that use ~ 40v/o pure Al powder. The influence of high Al content in starting $Al_2O_3$-Al alloy powder mixtures on its particulate characteristics, reaction-bonding, microstructure, physical and mechanical properties was revealed. Starting $Al_2O_3$-Al alloy powder mixtures with 40v/o ~ 80v/o Al alloy powder were milled, reaction-bonded, post-sintered, and characterized. With an increasing Al alloy content, the milling efficiency of Al alloy powder was lowered, resulting in a larger particle size after milling. However, in spite of the larger particle size of Al alloy powder, the oxidation, i.e., reaction-bonding, of the Al alloy was successfully completed via solid and liquid state oxidation, in which the activation energy of the oxidation was nearly the same regardless of Al alloy content. After reaction-bonding and post-sintering at $1600^{\circ}C$, RBAO ceramics from 80v/o Al alloy content showed a relative density of ~97% and a flexural strength of 251 MPa compared to ~ 96% and 353 MPa for RBAO ceramics from 40v/o Al alloy content, respectively. The lower flexural strength at 80v/o Al alloy content was due to the weak spinel phase that formed from Zn, Mg alloying elements in Al.