• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.4 no.6
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• pp.455-461
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• 2010

The tumor microenvironment, particularly sufficient nutrition and oxygen supply, is important for tumor cell survival. Nutrition deprivation causes cancer cell death. Since apoptosis is a major mechanism of neuronal loss, we explored neuronal apoptosis in various microenvironment conditions employing neuroblastoma (NB) cells. To investigate the effects of tumor malignancy and differentiation on apoptosis, the cells were exposed to poor microenvironments characterized as serum-free, low-glucose, and hypoxia. Incubation of the cells in serum-free and low-glucose environments significantly increased apoptosis in less malignant and more differentiated N-type IMR32 cells, whereas more malignant and less differentiated I-type BE(2)C cells were not affected by those treatments. In contrast, hypoxia (1 % $O_2$) did not affect apoptosis despite cell malignancy. It is suggested that DLK1 constitutes an important stem cell pathway for regulating self-renewal, clonogenicity, and tumorigenicity. This raises questions about the role of DLK1 in the cellular resistance of cancer cells under poor microenvironments, which cancer cells normally encounter. In the present study, DLK1 overexpression resulted in marked protection from apoptosis induced by nutrient deprivation. This in vitro model demonstrated that increasing severity of nutrition deprivation and knock-down of DLK1 caused greater apoptotic death, which could be a useful strategy for targeted therapies in fighting NB as well as for evaluating how nutrient deprived cells respond to therapeutic manipulation.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.503-507
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• 2011

Objective: This paper presents the factors influencing the effectiveness of materials handling equipments in agriculture. Background: Agriculture is one of the job categories where work-related musculoskeletal disorders(MSDs) are the most common. Statistics shows that majority of farm workers is exposed to repetitive and forceful body movements, lifting, lowering, pushing, pulling, or carrying heavy materials. In such a working environment, materials handling equipments are required and introduced to assist in the prevention of MSDs and other farm injuries. Method: Examples of materials handling equipments are rail carts, portable lifts, and bale handlers. Contributing factors influencing the effectiveness of materials handling equipments supplied in agriculture were identified based on the lessons learned from previous government-funded ergonomic projects. Results: Contributing factors identified include: (1) forward-looking attitude for the standardization of farming, its environments, and handling equipments, (2) participation of farm members in the process and evaluation of project, (3) leadership of project manager, (4) reinforcement of safety education and training, and (5) project selection and priority of handling equipment. Conclusion: Government-funded research planners, farmers, ergonomists, and farm machine experts are recommended to consider the factors identified when implementing materials handling equipments in agriculture. Application: Actual or potential application of this research includes recommendation for the effective implementation of material materials handling equipments in agricultural sectors.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.270-275
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• 2017

Current progress in the development of semiconductor technology in applications involving high electron mobility transistors (HEMT) and power devices is hindered by the lack of adequate ways todissipate heat generated during device operation. Concurrently, electronic devices that use gallium nitride (GaN) substrates do not perform well, because of the poor heat dissipation of the substrate. Suggested alternatives for overcoming these limitations include integration of high thermal conductivity material like diamond near the active device areas. This study will address a critical development in the art of GaN on diamond (GOD) structure by designing for ideal heat dissipation, in order to create apathway with the least thermal resistance and to improve the overall ease of integrating diamond heat spreaders into future electronic devices. This research has been carried out by means of heat transfer simulation, which has been successfully demonstrated by a finite-element method.

• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
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• 2007.05a
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• pp.1690-1695
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• 2007

Lightweight metallic truss structures with open, periodic cell are currently being investigated because of their multi-functionality such as thermal management and load bearing. The Kagome truss PCM has been proved that it has higher resistance to plastic buckling, more plastic deformation energy and lower anisotropy than other truss PCMs. The subject of this paper is an examination of the failure mechanism of Wire woven Bulk Kagome(WBK). To address this issue, the out-of-plane compressive responses of the WBK has been measured and compared with theoretical and finite element (FE) predictions. For the experiment, 2 multi-layered WBK are fabricated and 3 specimens are prepared. For the theoretical analysis, the brazed joints of each wire in WBK are modeled as the pin-joint. Then, the peak stress of compressive behavior and elastic modulus are calculated based on the equilibrium equation and energy method. The mechanical structure with five by five cells on the plane are constructed is modeled using the commercial code, PATRAN 2005. and the analysis is achieved by the commercial FE code ABAQUS version 6.5 under the incremental theory of plasticity.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2009.06a
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• pp.640-643
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• 2009

The effect of the kind of gas diffusion layers (GDLs) on the freeze/thaw condition durability in polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs) were investigated. For this purpose, three kinds of GDLs, i.e., felt, paper and cloth types with different basic properties have been first prepared, then the changes in the properties and performance of cells was observed during the freeze/thaw cycles ranging from -30 to 70 $^{\circ}C$. The single cells consisting of different GDLs were evaluated for performance. The performance degradation and the cell resistance increase could be directly correlated. The physical destruction of electrode was shown by SEM analysis. It was presented that mechanical supporting force of interface between materials can help enhancing the durability of PEFCs in the freeze/thaw condition.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.137-141
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• 2005

Though many insecticides are commercially available, development of resistance, pest resurgence and effects on non-target organisms led to the search for alternate insect pest management (IPM) strategy based on larval growth and reproductive fitness. Reproductive potential of insects depends on its acquiring of vitellogenic competence which is under hormonal control. Exogenous application of analogues of JR (JHAs) and ecdysterone could derail normal development and reproduction in insects by manipulating an array of physiological processes. In the rice pest, brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens, JHA, hydroprene induced metathetely from the fifth (final) instar nymphs in an age-dependent manner. Day 0 of the final instar showed highest sensitivity to induce this abnormal development. Adults emerged from treated day 3 nymphs looked normal. Both the morphotypes were reproductively incompetent and showed partial to complete sterility. Pre-adult exposure of the ovarian tissue to hydroprene suppressed mitotic division of germinal cells and induced abnormalities in the later s1ages of growth and differentiation of ovary in N. lugens. More over the nymphal exposure to hydroprene inhibited patency changes of follicular epithelium and affected competence of the follicles for yolk sequestration. In the absence of ovarian growth and oocyte differentiation, germarium found disintegrated, trophic core regressed and terminal oocytes resorbed. Hydroprene exposure to newly ecdysed brachypterous females did not affect ovarian development and egg production. Proper larval-adult transition appeared as a. prerequisite for vitellogenic competence in N. lugens for which the ovarian tissues must be exposed to ecdysterone in the internal milieu devoid of JH.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.213-217
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• 1998

An assay for cytochrome P450 monooxygenase activity by determination of the products of organophosphate oxidation via inhibition of acetylcholinesterase was described. Extracts from strains of Oryzaephilus surinamensis selected for resistance to chlorpyrifos-methyl (QVOS 102), fenitrothion (VOS F) and malathion (VOS 3), and a standard susceptible strain VOS 48, were incubated with an organophosphate in the presence of a NADPH-generating system and acetylcholinesterase. The degree of inhibition of the acetylchoinesterase activity was converted to manooxygenase activity using standard curves for the inhibition of acetylcholiesterase by chlorpyrifos-methyl-oxon, fenitrooxon and malaoxan. Activity was detectable in VOS 48 and was present at different increased levels with the different organophosphates in the three resistant strains, suggesting that different forms of P450 might be involved in organophosphate oxidation in these insects. The assays were carried out using crude insect homogenates and much smaller samples of insect material than the standard aldrin to dieldrin assay. It should be possible to use the method for determination of monooxygenase activity in single insert.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.17-24
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• 2014

Gastric cancer is highly invasive, aggressively malignant, and amongst the most prevalent of all forms of cancer. Despite improved management strategies, early stage diagnosis of gastric cancer and accurate prognostic assessment is still lacking. Several recent reports have indicated that the pathogenesis of gastric cancer involves complex molecular mechanisms and multiple genetic and epigenetic alterations in oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes. Functional inactivation of the tumor suppressor protein PTEN (Phosphatase and Tensin Homolog) has been detected in multiple cases of gastric cancer, and already shown to be closely linked to the development, progression and prognosis of the disease. Inactivation of PTEN can be attributed to gene mutation, loss of heterozygosity, promoter hypermethylation, microRNA- mediated regulation of gene expression, and post-translational phosphorylation. PTEN is also involved in mechanisms regulating tumor resistance to chemotherapy. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of PTEN and its roles in gastric cancer, and emphasizes its potential benefits in early diagnosis and gene therapy-based treatment strategies.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.7-12
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• 2010

The aims of this study were to investigate the nosocomial infection route of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and explore preventative methods for this pathogen that involve blocking its dispersion. We cultured MRSA from nasal cavity swabs collected between June and July 2008 that we obtained from eight dental healthcare providers, 32 nurses and the sputum specimens of two patients from our hospital. In addition, we used VITEK 2 equipment to measure drug sensitivity, and we further performed biochemical testing and pulse-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) to isolate MRSA colonies. The incidence of these bacteria on the nasal swabs was 25.0% from dental clinic healthcare providers, 13.6% from the internal medicine ward nurses and 30.0% from intensive care unit nurses. Moreover, MRSA was detectable in sputum specimens of ward patients. The antimicrobial agents resistance and partial PFGE types of MRSA showed a similar pattern. We suggest from these analyses that nasal cavity infection by MRSA could occur by cross contamination between healthcare providers and patients which underscores the importance of stringent MRSA management practices.

• Journal of IKEEE
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.250-255
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• 2010

The interleaved power management IC(PMIC) with DTMOS(Dynamic Threshold voltage MOSFET) switching device is proposed in this paper. The buck-boost converter used to provide the high output voltage and low output voltage for portable applications. Also we used the PWM(Pulse Width Modulation) control method for high power efficiency at high current level. DTMOS with low on-resistance is designed to decrease conduction loss. The interleaved PMIC to reduce output ripple. And step-down DC-DC converter in stand-by mode below 1mA is designed with LDO in order to achive high efficiency.