• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.210-229
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• 2021

To safely operate domestic nuclear power plants approaching the end of their design life, the material degradation management strategy of the components is important. Among studies conducted to improve the soundness of nuclear reactor components, research methods for understanding the degradation of reactor internals and preparing management strategies were surveyed. Since the IGSCC (Intergranular Stress Corrosion Cracking) initiation and propagation process is associated with metal dissolution at the crack tip, crack initiation sensitivity was decreased in the hydrogenated water with decreased crack sensitivity but occurrence of small surface cracks increased. A stress of 50 to 55% of the yield strength of the irradiated materials was required to cause IASCC (Irradiation Assisted Stress Corrosion Cracking) failure at the end of the reactor operating life. In the threshold-stress analysis, IASCC cracks were not expected to occur until the end of life at a stress of less than 62% of the investigated yield strength, and the IASCC critical dose was determined to be 4 dpa (Displacement Per Atom). The stainless steel surface oxide was composed of an internal Cr-rich spinel oxide and an external Fe and Ni-rich oxide, regardless of the dose and applied strain level.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 1996.05a
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• pp.51-54
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• 1996

This paper reports the studies of the inversion layer mobility in p-channel Si MOSFET's under hot-carrier degradated condition. The validity of relationship of hot carrier degradations between the surface effective mobility and field effect mobility and are examined. The effective mobility(${\mu}$$\_$eff/) is derived from the channel conductances, while the field-effect mobility(${\mu}$$\_$FE/) is obtained from the transconductance. The characteristics of mobility curves can be divided into the 3 parts of curves. It was reported that the mobility degradation is due to phonon scattering, coulombic scattering and surface roughness. We are measured the mobility slope in curves with DC-stress [V$\_$g/=-3.1v]. It was found that the mobility(${\mu}$$\_$eff/ and ${\mu}$$\_$FE/) of p-MOSFET's was increased by increasing stress time and decreasing channel length. Because of the increasing stress time and increasing V$\_$g/ is changed oxide reliability and increased vertical field.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2008

Osteoarthritis (OA), one of the most common skeletal disorders characterized by cartilage degradation and osteophyte formation in joints, is induced by accumulated mechanical stress; however, little is known about the underlying molecular mechanism. Several experimental OA models in mice by producing instability in the knee joints have been developed to apply approaches from mouse genetics. Although proteinases like matrix metalloproteinases and aggrecanases have now been proven to be the principal initiators of OA progression, clinical trials of proteinase inhibitors have not been successful for the treatment, turning the interest of researchers to the upstream signals of proteinase induction. These signals include undegraded and fragmented matrix proteins like type II collagen or fibronection that affects chondrocytes through distinct receptors. Another signal is proinflammatory factors that are produced by chondrocytes and synovial cells; however, recent studies that used mouse OA models in knockout mice did not support that these factors have a role in the central contribution to OA development. Our mouse genetic approaches found that the induction of a transcriptional activator Runx2 in chondrocytes under mechanical stress contributes to the pathogenesis of OA through chondrocyte hypertrophy. In addition, chondrocyte apoptosis has recently been identified as being involved in OA progression. We hereby propose that these endochondral ossification signals may be important for the OA progression, suggesting that the related molecules can clinically be therapeutic targets of this disease.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.82 no.3
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• pp.369-383
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• 2022

In this study, an equivalent boundary conditions (BCs) determination method is developed numerically for a panel reinforced concrete (RC) slab to realistically analyze the deformation and fatigue behaviors of a bridge RC slab. For this purpose, a finite element analysis of a bridge RC slab is carried out beforehand to calculate the stiffness of the bridge RC slab, and then the equivalent BCs for the panel RC slab are determined to achieve the same stiffness at the BCs to the obtained stiffness of the bridge RC slab at the corresponding locations of the bridge RC slab. Moreover, for the simulation of fatigue behaviors, fatigue analysis of the panel RC slab is carried out employing a finite element method based on a numerical model that considers the bridging stress degradation. Both the determined equivalent BCs and the BCs that have been typically applied in past studies are employed. The analysis results confirm that, in contrast to the panel RC slab with typically used BCs, the panel RC slab with equivalent BCs simulate the same bending moment distribution and deformation behaviors of the bridge RC slab. Furthermore, the equivalent BCs reproduce the extensive grid crack pattern in the panel RC slab, which is alike the pattern normally witnessed in a bridge RC slab. Conclusively, the panel RC slab with equivalent BCs behaves identical to the bridge RC slab, and, as a result, it shows more realistic fatigue behaviors observed in the bridge RC slab.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.381-389
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• 2015

Autophagy is a lysosome-dependent intracellular degradation process that allows recycling of cytoplasmic constituents into bioenergetic and biosynthetic materials for maintenance of homeostasis. Since the function of autophagy is particularly important in various stress conditions, perturbation of autophagy can lead to cellular dysfunction and diseases. Accumulation of abnormal protein aggregates, a common cause of neurodegenerative diseases, can be reduced through autophagic degradation. Recent studies have revealed defects in autophagy in most cases of neurodegenerative disorders. Moreover, deregulated excessive autophagy can also cause neurodegeneration. Thus, healthy activation of autophagy is essential for therapeutic approaches in neurodegenerative diseases and many autophagy-regulating compounds are under development for therapeutic purposes. This review describes the overall role of autophagy in neurodegeneration, focusing on various therapeutic strategies for modulating specific stages of autophagy and on the current status of drug development.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 2006.11a
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• pp.669-672
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• 2006

Recently, large efforts have been made to develop and understand the behavior of Fiber Reinforced Concrete. As in the static loading cases, many researches have been done. However, a few studies have been conducted in cyclic behaviors of FRC. The main objective of the present work is to investigate the cyclic behavior of fiber reinforced concrete with theoretical method. First, cyclic constitutive relations which describe the crack bridging stress considering non-uniform interfacial bond degradation in short randomly oriented fiber reinforced matrix composites under uniaxial cyclic tension were considered. A cyclic degradation model of single fiber based on micromechanics also taken into consideration. As an example, fatigue analysis for ECC with PVA fiber was conducted using proposed equations. Results shows that proposed method can establish a basis for analyzing cyclic behavior of fiber reinforced composites.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.27-31
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• 2015

In urban area, many design projects related to geotechnical projects are controlled by serviceability rather than stability requirements. Accordingly, control of ground deformation has become more crucial and many researchers have studied soil stiffness. Recent experimental studies on the stress-strain response of Chicago glacial clays showed that the nonlinearity and anisotropy are the two key factors in evaluating the soil stiffness. In this study, experimental results are applied to analyze the deep excavation site locating in downtown Chicago. The stress paths observed from the observation points located behind and front of the supporting wall yield typical stress paths. Changes in soil stiffness nonlinearity and anisotropy were discussed by comparing experimental and computed stress paths. The stiffness anisotropy were significant even at the first few excavations. The stiffness degradation characteristics are significantly different according to relative location to the support wall even at the same elevation.

• BMB Reports
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• v.46 no.9
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• pp.439-447
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• 2013

Rice is a monocot gramineous crop, and one of the most important staple foods. Rice is considered a model species for most gramineous crops. Extensive research on rice has provided critical guidance for other crops, such as maize and wheat. In recent years, climate change and exacerbated soil degradation have resulted in a variety of abiotic stresses, such as greenhouse effects, lower temperatures, drought, floods, soil salinization and heavy metal pollution. As such, there is an extremely high demand for additional research, in order to address these negative factors. Studies have shown that the alternative splicing of many genes in rice is affected by stress conditions, suggesting that manipulation of the alternative splicing of specific genes may be an effective approach for rice to adapt to abiotic stress. With the advancement of microarrays, and more recently, next generation sequencing technology, several studies have shown that more than half of the genes in the rice genome undergo alternative splicing. This mini-review summarizes the latest progress in the research of splicing and alternative splicing in rice, compared to splicing in humans. Furthermore, we discuss how additional studies may change the landscape of investigation of rice functional genomics and genetically improved rice.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.279-282
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• 2009

"Two-cysteine" peroxiredoxins are antioxidant enzymes that exert a cytoprotective effect in many models of oxidative stress. However, under highly oxidizing conditions they can be inactivated through hyperoxidation of their peroxidatic active site cysteine residue. Sulfiredoxin can reverse this hyperoxidation, thus reactivating peroxiredoxins. Here we review recent investigations that have shed further light on sulfiredoxin's role and regulation. Studies have revealed sulfiredoxin to be a dynamically regulated gene whose transcription is induced by a variety of signals and stimuli. Sulfiredoxin expression is regulated by the transcription factor AP-1, which mediates its up-regulation by synaptic activity in neurons, resulting in protection against oxidative stress. Furthermore, sulfiredoxin has been identified as a new member of the family of genes regulated by Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor (Nrf2) via a conserved cis-acting antioxidant response element (ARE). As such, sulfiredoxin is likely to contribute to the net antioxidative effect of small molecule activators of Nrf2. As discussed here, the proximal AP-1 site of the sulfiredoxin promoter is embedded within the ARE, as is common with Nrf2 target genes. Other recent studies have shown that sulfiredoxin induction via Nrf2 may form an important part of the protective response to oxidative stress in the lung, preventing peroxiredoxin hyperoxidation and, in certain cases, subsequent degradation. We illustrate here that sulfiredoxin can be rapidly induced in vivo by administration of CDDO-TFEA, a synthetic triterpenoid inducer of endogenous Nrf2, which may offer a way of reversing peroxiredoxin hyperoxidation in vivo following chronic or acute oxidative stress.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.323-328
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• 2008

Eukaryotic cells continuously integrate intrinsic and extrinsic signals to adapt to the environment. When exposed to stressful conditions, cells activate compartment-specific adaptive responses. If these are insufficient, apoptosis ensues as an organismal defense line. The mechanisms that sense stress and set the transition from adaptive to maladaptive responses, activating apoptotic programs, are the subject of intense studies, also for their potential impact in cancer and degenerative disorders. In the former case, one would aim at lowering the threshold, in the latter instead to increase it. Protein synthesis, consuming energy for anabolic processes as well as for byproducts disposal, can be a significant source of stress, particularly when difficult-to-fold proteins are produced. Recent work from our and other laboratories on the differentiation of antibody secreting cells, revealed a regulatory circuit that integrates protein synthesis, secretion and degradation (proteostasis), into cell lifespan determination. The apoptotic elimination - after an industrious, yet short lifetime - of terminal immune effectors is crucial to maintain immune homeostasis. Linking proteostasis to cell death, this paradigm might prove useful for biotechnological purposes, and the design of novel anti-cancer therapies.