• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
• /
• v.14 no.1
• /
• pp.25-34
• /
• 2010

A method is presented for evaluating the seismic failure probability of bridge structures which show a nonlinear hysteretic dynamic behavior. Bridge structures are modeled as a bilinear dynamic system with a single degree of freedom. We regarded that the failure of bridges will occur when the displacement response of a deck level firstly crosses the predefined limit state during a duration of strong motion. For the estimation of the first-crossing probability of a nonlinear structural system excited by earthquake motion, we computed the average frequency of crossings of the limit state. We presented the non-Gaussian closure method for the approximation of the joint probability density function of response and its derivative, which is required for the estimation of the average frequency of crossings. The failure probabilities are estimated according to the various artificial earthquake acceleration sets representing specific seismic characteristics. For the verification of the accuracy and efficiency of presented method, we compared the estimated failure probabilities with the results evaluated from previous methods and the exact values estimated with the crude Monte-Carlo simulation method.

• KEPCO Journal on Electric Power and Energy
• /
• v.3 no.2
• /
• pp.79-88
• /
• 2017

In this paper, the wind tunnel test for the measurement of aerodynamic characteristics of transmission conductors with asymmetric sections is described. A single conductor model and bundled conductor models with ice accreted shapes are tested both in steady and turbulent flow, and the aerodynamic coefficients are acquired. Transmission conductor galloping is a kind of wind-induced vibration which is characterized by primarily vertical oscillation with a very low frequency and a high amplitude. It is well known that transmission conductor galloping is generally caused by moderately strong, steady winds when a transmission conductor has an asymmetric cross-section shaped by accreted ice. Galloping should be considered from the design stage of overhead lines because it can cause severe wear and fatigue damage to attachments as well as transmission conductors. It is reported that there have been normally 20 events of galloping per year in Korea, which may be followed by serious consequences in the electric power system. Therefore, this research is performed to measure aerodynamic characteristics of ice accreted transmission conductors to understand and control transmission conductor galloping so that it would help to prevent unexpected failures and reduce the maintenance costs caused by galloping.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
• /
• v.41 no.1
• /
• pp.112-118
• /
• 2013

This study was performed to investigate the possible use of Eisenia bicyclis (EB) ethanol extract to inhibit activity against lipase. In tests, the lipase inhibitory activity of EB ethanol extract was noted as being 43, 27, and 24% at concentrations of 5, 2.5, and 1 mg/ml, respectively. Isolation was carried out by liquid and liquid extraction, silica-gel column chromatography, and HPLC. The results showed that the lipase inhibitory activity of the ethyl acetate (EA) fraction from EB ethanol extract exhibited the strongest lipase inhibitory activity with an $IC_{50}$ value of 1.31 mg/ml. The EA fraction was separated using silica-gel column chromatography and we obtained 22 sub-fractions. Amongst them, the EA1 fraction showed the highest lipase inhibitory activity with an $IC_{50}$ value of 0.54 mg/ml. Eight peaks were obtained from the EA1 fraction by HPLC. Fraction 5 also showed a strong lipase inhibitory activity with an $IC_{50}$ value of 0.37 mg/ml. The fraction 5 was identified as dieckol and the inhibition pattern analyzed from Lineweaver-Burk plots revealed a non-competitive inhibitor. These results suggest that EB has potential as a natural anti-obesity agent.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.16 no.8
• /
• pp.5452-5457
• /
• 2015

Conjugating a phytochemical, a strong antioxidant, with a functional peptide not only compensates for its stability, but also improves its solubility and anti-wrinkle effects, thereby contributing to the possibility of becoming an excellent cosmetic ingredient. Thus, in this study we examined the potential cosmetic use of a phytochemical-peptide derivative using gallic acid, a phytochemical with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer effects. To evaluate the antioxidant and wrinkle-improving efficacy of 5 synthesized gallic acids conjugated with LVH, IVH, KTTKS, YGGFM, and YGGFLRKYP respectively, we observed the expression of genes related to wrinkle improvement using DPPH radical scavenging activity and real-time PCR. As a result, all 5 derivatives had excellent free radical scavenging effects. The expression level of genes involved collagen synthesis also increased, and the secreted peptides during collagen production contributed to their antioxidant and wrinkle improving effects. These results mark the potential use of gallic acid peptide derivatives as a cosmetic ingredient for anti-oxidation and wrinkle improvement.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
• /
• v.46 no.2
• /
• pp.147-157
• /
• 2020

Abalone, a marine organism inhabiting the west coast of Korea, has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, and is a resource with potential to be used in various industries such as antibiotic development and cosmetic raw materials. In this study, we chose abalone among various marine lives on the west coast. Antibacterial peptide (AMP) was separated from abalone and its derivative Ab4-7 was identified and its physiological activity was studied. The treatment of Ab4-7 in inflammatory RAW 264.7 to check the anti-inflammatory efficacy nhibited inflammatory cytokines, TLR4, TNF-α, IL-1β, COX-2, and iNOS and increased mRNA manifestation of HO-1, genes related to antioxidants. Based on the strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of Ab4-7, the effects of Ab4-7 in the inflammatory RAW 264.7 cells were identified through RT-PCR, which regulates the gene Matrix Metalloproteinase (MMPs) that induces a variety of inflammatory skin diseases by engaging in the decomposition of the extrocellular matrix metalloproteinase (ECM). Taken together, it is concluded that Ab4-7 has a powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effect and can be used as a functional material for various inflammatory skin disease treatments by controlling the genes associated with matrix metalloproteinase (MMPs).

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
• /
• v.29 no.6
• /
• pp.583-590
• /
• 2016

This paper presents a dynamic crack propagation algorithm with Rayleigh damping effect based on the MLS(Moving Least Squares) Difference Method. Dynamic equilibrium equation and constitutive equation are derived by considering Rayliegh damping and governing equations are discretized by the MLS derivative approximation; the proportional damping, which has not been properly treated in the conventional strong formulations, was implemented in both the equilibrium equation and constitutive equation. Dynamic equilibrium equation including time relevant terms is integrated by the Central Difference Method and the discrete equations are simplified by lagging the velocity one step behind. A geometrical feature of crack is modeled by imposing the traction-free condition onto the nodes placed at crack surfaces and the effect of movement and addition of the nodes at every time step due to crack growth is appropriately reflected on the construction of total system. The robustness of the proposed numerical algorithm was proved by simulating single and multiple crack growth problems and the effect of proportional damping on the dynamic crack propagation analysis was effectively demonstrated.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
• /
• v.36 no.2
• /
• pp.139-148
• /
• 2011

Objectives: This study investigated the effect of the strength and wetting characteristics of adhesives on the bond strength to dentin. The experimental adhesives containing various ratios of hydrophobic, low-viscosity Bis-M-GMA, with Bis-GMA and TEGDMA, were made and evaluated on the mechanical properties and bond strength to dentin. Materials and Methods: Five experimental adhesives formulated with various Bis-GMA/Bis-MGMA/TEGDMA ratios were evaluated on their viscosity, degree of conversion (DC), flexural strength (FS), and microtensile bond strength (MTBS). The bonded interfaces were evaluated with SEM and the solubility parameter was calculated to understand the wetting characteristics of the adhesives. Results: Although there were no significant differences in the DC between the experimental adhesives at 48 hr after curing (p > 0.05), the experimental adhesives that did not contain Bis-GMA exhibited a lower FS than did those containing Bis-GMA (p < 0.05). The experimental adhesives that had very little to no TEGDMA showed significantly lower MTBS than did those containing a higher content of TEGDMA (p < 0.05). The formers exhibited gaps at the interface between the adhesive layer and the hybrid layer. The solubility parameter of TEGDMA approximated those of the components of the primed dentin, rather than Bis-GMA and Bis-M-GMA. Conclusions: To achieve a good dentin bond, a strong base monomer, such as Bis-GMA, cannot be completely replaced by Bis-M-GMA for maintaining mechanical strength. For compatible copolymerization between the adhesive and the primed dentin as well as dense cross-linking of the adhesive layer, at least 30% fraction of TEGDMA is also needed.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.23 no.4
• /
• pp.367-373
• /
• 2015

Cordyceps species including Cordyceps bassiana are a notable anti-cancer dietary supplement. Previously, we identified several compounds with anti-cancer activity from the butanol fraction (Cb-BF) of Cordyceps bassiana. To expand the structural value of Cb-BF-derived anti-cancer drugs, we employed various chemical moieties to produce a novel Cb-BF-derived chemical derivative, KTH-13-amine-monophenyl [4-isopropyl-2-(1-phenylethyl) aniline (KTH-13-AMP)], which we tested for anti-cancer activity. KTH-13-AMP suppressed the proliferation of MDA-MB-231, HeLa, and C6 glioma cells. KTH-13-AMP also dose-dependently induced morphological changes in C6 glioma cells and time-dependently increased the level of early apoptotic cells stained with annexin V-FITC. Furthermore, the levels of the active full-length forms of caspase-3 and caspase-9 were increased. In contrast, the levels of total forms of caspases-3, caspase-8, caspase-9, and Bcl-2 were decreased in KTH-13-AMP treated-cells. We also confirmed that the phosphorylation of STAT3, Src, and PI3K/p85, which is linked to cell survival, was diminished by treatment with KTH-13-AMP. Therefore, these results strongly suggest that this compound can be used to guide the development of an anti-cancer drug or serve as a lead compound in forming another strong anti-proliferative agent.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
• /
• v.27 no.1
• /
• pp.77-82
• /
• 2004

DA-125, a novel derivative of adriamycin, is known for its anti-cancer activity. In this study, the inhibitory mechanism of DA-125 on topoisomerase was investigated in the simian virus 40 (SV40) replicating CV-1 cell by studying the SV40 DNA replication intermediates and DNA-topoisomerase complexes. DNA-protein complexes that were formed in the drug-treated cells were quantitated by using a glass filter assay. SV40 DNA replication intermediates that were accumulated in the drug-treated CV-1 cell were analyzed in a high resolution gel. DA-125 did not accumulate B-dimers of SV40 DNA replication intermediates which were found in the adriamycin-treated CV-1 cells. DA-125 induced a dose-dependent formation of the DNA-protein complexes, while adriamycin did not. When adriamycin and etoposide (VP16) were added to the SV40-infected cells at the same time, adriamycin blocked the formation of the DNA-protein complexes induced by VP16 in a dose-dependent manner. However, DA-125 blocked the formation of the DNA-protein complexes induced by VP16 up to the maximum level of the DNA-protein complexes that were induced by DA-125 alone. Adriamycin and DA-125 did not inhibit the formation of the DNA-protein complexes that were caused by camptothecin, a known topoisomerase I poison. DA-125 is bifunctional in inhibiting topoisomerase II because it simultaneously has the properties of the topoisomerase II poison and the DNA intercalator. As a topoisomerase II poison, DA-125 alone induced dose-dependent formation of the DNA-protein complexes. However, as a DNA intercalator, it quantitatively inhibited the formation of the DNA-protein complexes induced by a strong topoisomerase II poison VP16. Furthermore considering that the levels of the DNA-protein complex induced by VP16 were decreased by DA-125 in terms of the topoisomerase II poison, we suggest that DA-125 has a higher affinity to the drug-binding sites of DNA than VP16 has.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.32 no.9
• /
• pp.1126-1133
• /
• 2022

This study investigated the contribution of lipoxygenase (LOX) inhibitors, nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA), tetra-O-methyl nordihydroguaiaretic acid (M₄N) and zileuton (ZIL), and thromboxane A2 (TXA₂) inhibitor 4,5-diphenylimidazole (DPI) in the proliferation of Brucella abortus infection. None of the compounds affected the uptake of Brucella into the macrophages. We determined the effect of neutralizing leukotriene B4 (LTB4) receptor and showed that the uptake of the bacteria was inhibited at 30 min post-infection. M₄N treatment attenuated intracellular survival of Brucella at 2 h post-incubation but it was not observed in the succeeding time points. DPI treatment showed reduced survival of Brucella at 24 h post-incubation while blocking LTB4 receptor was observed to have a lower intracellular growth at 48 h post-incubation suggesting different action of the inhibitors in the course of the survival of Brucella within the cells. Reduced proliferation of the bacteria in the spleens of mice was observed in animals treated with ZIL or DPI. Increased serum cytokine level of TNF-α and MCP-1 was observed in mice treated with M₄N or ZIL while a lower IFN-γ level in ZIL-treated mice and a higher IL-12 serum level in DPI-treated mice were observed at 7 d post-infection. At 14 d post-infection, ZIL-treated mice displayed reduced serum level of IL-12 and IL-10. Overall, inhibition of 5-LOX or TXA₂ or a combination therapy promises a potential alternative therapy against B. abortus infection. Furthermore, strong ligands for LTB4 receptor could also be a good candidate for the control of Brucella infection.