Terrestrial n-alkanes and their carbon isotope records from the Hanon paleo-maar sediment, Jeju Island, Korea: Implications for paleoclimate and paleovegetation over the last 35 kyrs

Hyun, S.,Shin, K.H.,Lee, S.C.,Chang, S.W.,Nam, S.I. Pergamon Press 2017 QUATERNARY INTERNATIONAL Vol.441 No.1

<P>The carbon isotope of total carbon (delta C-13(org)), long-chain n-alkanes, and their compound-specific carbon isotope ratios (delta C-13(ALK)) were investigated in the Hanon paleo-maar sediment, Jeju Island of Korea to understand paleoclimate variabilities and their paleovegetation linkages. Based on the organic geochemical data (TOC (%), TN (%), and their delta C-13(org) and delta N-15), the core column stratigraphy was divided into three units, namely from the bottom to 14.5 ka (Unit I), from 14.5 ka to 3.01<a (Unit II), and from 3.0 ka to the core top (Unit III), respectively. In particular, delta C-13(org) showed marked fluctuation from -17.31%o to -28.68%o, suggesting different organic carbon sources. A relatively narrow range of variation in delta C-13(org) was observed in Unit III, and drastic changes in delta C-13(org) were observed from Unit I to Unit II. This may indicate a predominance of C-4 plants in Unit I, and drastic changes from terrestrial C-4 to C-3 in Unit II and predominance of C-3 plants in Unit III. The distributions of n-alkane were characterized by a continuous predominance of odd-numbered n-alkanes, particularly nC(29) and nC(31), and by high fluctuation of the total n-alkanes concentration. The average chain length (ACL), carbon preferences index (CPI), and paleoplant proxy (Paq) showed high fluctuation and glacial-interglacial variations with distinctive a high and low ratio at about 9.2 ka, corresponding to the switching points of delta C-13(org) and a high concentration of nalkane distribution. Individual n-alkane odd-numbered isotopes of delta C-13(Auc) ranged between -11.80%o in delta C-13n(21) and -34.93%o in delta C-13n(31), suggesting different sources of n-alkanes. The distribution of n-alkanes and their individual delta C-13(Auc), in particular delta C-13n(21), support paleovegetation changes, and their time dependent variations matched well with glacial-interglacial paleoclimate variations. Therefore, organic geochemical proxies recorded in Hanon paleo-maar sediment reflects paleoclimate variabilities as well as paleovegetation changes for the last 35 kyr in Jeju Island, Korea. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd and INQUA. All rights reserved.</P>

<i>CYP2A6</i> and <i>ERCC1</i> polymorphisms correlate with efficacy of S-1 plus cisplatin in metastatic gastric cancer patients

Park, S R,Kong, S-Y,Nam, B-H,Choi, I J,Kim, C G,Lee, J Y,Cho, S J,Kim, Y W,Ryu, K W,Lee, J H,Rhee, J,Park, Y-I,Kim, N K Nature Publishing Group 2011 The British journal of cancer Vol.104 No.7

<P><B>Background:</B></P><P>We evaluated the association between polymorphisms of cytochrome P450 2A6 (<I>CYP2A6</I>)/excision repair cross-complementation group 1 (<I>ERCC1</I>)/X-ray repair cross-complementing group 1(<I>XRCC1</I>) and treatment outcomes of metastatic gastric cancer (MGC) patients treated with S-1/cisplatin.</P><P><B>Methods:</B></P><P>Among MGC patients (<I>n</I>=108), who received S-1 (40 mg m<SUP>−2</SUP> b.i.d., days 1–14) and cisplatin (60 mg m<SUP>−2</SUP>, day 1) every 3 weeks, we analysed the wild-type allele (<I>W</I>) and variants (<I>V</I>) of <I>CYP2A6</I> (<I>*4</I>, <I>*7, *9, *10</I>), and the polymorphisms of <I>ERCC1</I> (rs11615, rs3212986) and <I>XRCC1</I> (rs25487).</P><P><B>Results:</B></P><P>Patients having fewer <I>CYP2A6</I> variants had better response rates (<I>W</I>/<I>W vs W</I>/<I>V</I> other than <I>*1/*4 vs V</I>/<I>V</I> or <I>*1/*4</I>=66.7 <I>vs</I> 58.3 <I>vs</I> 32.3% <I>P</I>=0.008), time to progression (TTP) (7.2 <I>vs</I> 6.1 <I>vs</I> 3.5 months, <I>P</I>=0.021), and overall survival (23.2 <I>vs</I> 15.4 <I>vs</I> 12.0 months, <I>P</I>=0.004). <I>ERCC1 19442C</I>><I>A</I> (rs3212986) was also associated with response rate (<I>C/C</I>, 46.7% <I>vs C/A</I>, 55.3% <I>vs A/A</I>, 87.5%) (<I>P</I>=0.048) and TTP (4.4 <I>vs</I> 7.6 <I>vs</I> 7.9 months) (<I>P</I>=0.012). Patients carrying both risk genotypes of <I>CYP2A6</I> (<I>V</I>/<I>V</I> or <I>1/*4</I>) and <I>ERCC1 19442C</I>><I>A</I> (<I>C/C</I>) <I>vs</I> those carrying none showed an adjusted odds ratio of 0.113 (<I>P</I>=0.004) for response, and adjusted hazard ratios of 3.748 (<I>P</I>=0.0001) for TTP and 2.961 (<I>P</I>=0.006) for death.</P><P><B>Conclusion:</B></P><P>Polymorphisms of <I>CYP2A6</I> and <I>ERCC1 19442C</I>><I>A</I> correlated with the efficacy of S-1/cisplatin.</P>

Solution-processed indium-free ZnO/SnO2 bilayer heterostructures as a low-temperature route to high-performance metal oxide thin-film transistors with excellent stabilities

Nam, S.,Yang, J. H.,Cho, S.,Choi, J.,Kwon, O. S.,Park, E. S.,Lee, S. J.,Cho, K. I.,Jang, J.,Hwang, C. S. Royal Society of Chemistry 2016 Journal of Materials Chemistry C Vol.4 No.47

<P>The realization of high performance solution-processable metal oxide thin-film transistors (TFTs) with low annealing temperatures remains a challenge in the field of flexible and/or transparent electronics. Indium-based metal oxides are one of the most widely used materials as channel layers of metal oxide TFTs. However, the need for developing indium-free metal oxide materials has become urgent because of the high cost and limited supply of indium. Herein, we report high-performance solution-processed indium-free metal oxide TFTs prepared with low annealing temperatures by introducing ZnO/SnO2 bilayer heterostructures. After photo- and thermal annealing, ZnO/SnO2 bilayers form a unique nanostructure composed of three zones: Zn-only, Zn-Sn-mixed, and Sn-rich zones. The resulting ZnO/SnO2 TFTs exhibit outstanding mobility values as high as 15.4 cm(2) V-1 s(-1) with a low annealing temperature of 300 degrees C. These values are the highest yet measured among indium-free and solution processed metal oxide TFTs prepared under similar annealing conditions. The ZnO/SnO2 TFTs also show remarkable outstanding operational stabilities under various external bias stresses. Their high performances and excellent stabilities can be attributed to the combinational effects of the highly conductive ultrathin Sn-rich channel and balanced carrier concentrations in the Zn-Sn-mixed region. We believe that our work provides a facile route to prepare inexpensive solution-processed electronic devices with earth-abundant materials such as backplane circuits for large-area and flexible displays.</P>

S6K1 Phosphorylation of H2B Mediates EZH2 Trimethylation of H3: A Determinant of Early Adipogenesis

Yi, S.,Um, S.,Lee, J.,Yoo, J.,Bang, S.,Park, E.,Lee, M.,Nam, K.,Jeon, Y.,Park, J.,You, J.,Lee, S.J.,Bae, G.U.,Rhie, J.,Kozma, Sara C.,Thomas, G.,Han, J.W. Cell Press 2016 Molecular Cell Vol.62 No.3

S6K1 has been implicated in a number of key metabolic responses, which contribute to obesity. Critical among these is the control of a transcriptional program required for the commitment of mesenchymal stem cells to the adipocytic lineage. However, in contrast to its role in the cytosol, the functions and targets of nuclear S6K1 are unknown. Here, we show that adipogenic stimuli trigger nuclear translocation of S6K1, leading to H2BS36 phosphorylation and recruitment of EZH2 to H3, which mediates H3K27 trimethylation. This blocks Wnt gene expression, inducing the upregulation of PPARγ and Cebpa and driving increased adipogenesis. Consistent with this finding, white adipose tissue from S6K1-deficient mice exhibits no detectable H2BS36 phosphorylation or H3K27 trimethylation, whereas both responses are highly elevated in obese humans or in mice fed a high-fat diet. These findings define an S6K1-dependent mechanism in early adipogenesis, contributing to the promotion of obesity.

혈청 Creatine Kinase측정 표준화에 관한 연구(Ⅵ)

이창규,이승관,조경진,정수경,박종성,박상숙,류정록,남현철,김상섭,김석수,장철수,최명재 高麗大學校 倂設 保健大學 保健科學硏究所 1998 保健科學論集 Vol.24 No.1

In European countries or Japan they made an attempt for the standardization of assays in AST, ALT, ALP, CK, LD and GGT 10 years ago. For the actualization of the trial, they managed to succeeded in development of certified reference material and enzyme reference material. And they are now forecasting the unification of test results produced differently under the respective situatons. Then, through the highly developed communication system, someone can access any test results whenever or whereever only if they want to. It means that we can expect much greater improvements in medical services through the information exchanges. In this study the authors tried to ascertain the interchangeability comparing the obtained results of the CK tests between two general hospitals. Fortunately, the data got in the internal QC programs came to fall within the normal tolerances. The reference intervals for the CK test were different accarding to the chosen reagents and the results from the pooled serum were also shown differently each other. However, from the two hospitals, we could get glucose K factors, upon which the measurements were obtained and compared. Using K factors we measured the CKs, then we multiply the CK values by correction coefficients. We could found that the two results were showing good coincidence in the comparison. The main purpose of the standardization of enzyme assays is the creation of a new unified value which can be expressed differently otherwise. Using the standardized values we can exploit the data everywhere, reduce the medical costs from repeated or duplicated tests, save the foreign exchanges preventing the diversification of impart connections.

국내 감염성 질환 병원체의 성상 분석을 통한 표준 실험실 체계 구축 : 우리나라의 AIDS reagent 프로그램 개발 및 국내 HIV/AIDS 물질 자원화

강춘,남정구,김성순,최병선,김옥진,김재인,이성래,구본기,서순덕,이주실,조해월 국립보건연구원 1999 국립보건원보 Vol.36 No.-

Effect of speciated HCs on the performance of modern commercial TWCs

Kang, S.B.,Nam, S.B.,Cho, B.K.,Nam, I.S.,Kim, C.H.,Oh, S.H. Elsevier Science Publishers 2014 CATALYSIS TODAY - Vol.231 No.-

Effects of speciated hydrocarbons on the TWC activity of modern commercial Pd and Rh catalysts were systematically investigated by using various HC species individually, selected from a group of eight HCs including methane, ethanol, propene, propane, toluene, m-xylene, n-octane and iso-octane. The oxidation activity of individual HCs decreased over both Pd and Rh catalysts in the following order: ethanol>propene~toluene>m-xylene>n-octane>iso-octane>propane>methane, in a good correlation with the C?H bonding energy of the HC species except for ethanol. The light-off temperature of CO (LOT<SUB>CO</SUB>) over the Pd catalyst shifted from 180<SUP>o</SUP>C in the absence of HCs to a range of 181-215<SUP>o</SUP>C in the individual presence of the HCs, a clear evidence of the inhibiting effect of HCs on the CO oxidation. However, the identical individual HCs exhibited little inhibiting effect on the CO oxidation activity over the Rh catalyst, mainly due to their negligible oxidation activities at the LOT<SUB>CO</SUB> of 214<SUP>o</SUP>C over the Rh catalyst. The NO reduction activity over both Pd and Rh catalysts - while displaying volcano-type profiles as a function of reaction temperature - was improved by the presence of an individual HC, with the extent of the improvement depending on the HC and temperature. This promoting effect of individual HCs on the NO reduction was stronger over Rh than over Pd; at 400<SUP>o</SUP>C for instance, the NO conversion increased from 20 to 65% due to the presence of propene over Rh, while it increased from 12 to 16% over Pd under the identical reaction condition. With the increasing O<SUB>2</SUB> concentration from 1 to 21vol.% in the feed stream, the Pd catalyst exhibited an increasing oxidation activity, while the Rh catalyst revealed the opposite trend. The concentrations of reaction intermediates formed on the surface of the Pd catalyst increased with the increasing O<SUB>2</SUB> concentration, while decreasing on the Rh catalyst surface as confirmed in an in situ DRIFT study. These opposite trends of the TWC performance over the Pd and Rh catalysts may be partially attributable to the oxides of Pd and Rh formed on the surface thereof.

Carbide/binder interfaces in Ti(CN)-(Ti,W)C/(Ti,W)(CN)-based cermets

Park, C.,Nam, S.,Kang, S. Elsevier Sequoia 2016 JOURNAL OF ALLOYS AND COMPOUNDS Vol.657 No.-

Partially solutionized carbide cermets (PSCs) were prepared for cutting tool applications by replacing a portion of Ti(CN) with (Ti<SUB>0.88</SUB>W<SUB>0.12</SUB>)C or (Ti<SUB>0.88</SUB>W<SUB>0.12</SUB>)(C<SUB>0.7</SUB>N<SUB>0.3</SUB>) in a conventional Ti(CN)-based cermet. The PSC containing (Ti<SUB>0.88</SUB>W<SUB>0.12</SUB>)C exhibited high fracture toughness with no loss of hardness. The elimination of Ti(C<SUB>0.7</SUB>N<SUB>0.3</SUB>) cores in the microstructure reduced the strain at the core/rim interfaces, leading to the increase in fracture toughness. The PSC containing (Ti<SUB>0.88</SUB>W<SUB>0.12</SUB>)C showed coherent relationships at the core/rim and rim/binder interfaces, contributing to the improved mechanical properties. In contrast, nitrogen in (Ti<SUB>0.88</SUB>W<SUB>0.12</SUB>)(C<SUB>0.7</SUB>N<SUB>0.3</SUB>) resulted in a different microstructure and properties. The major factors determining the mechanical properties of the cermets are discussed in terms of the carbide/binder interfaces and the thermal stability of the added carbides.

혈청 LDH 효소분석 검사의 효준화에 관한 연구(Ⅴ)

이창규,이승관,조경진,박종성,정수경,유병서,박상숙,류정록,남현철,김석수,김상섭,김재영,이국성 高麗大學校 倂設 保健大學 保健科學硏究所 1998 保健科學論集 Vol.24 No.1

Since the Korean Association of Quality Assurance for Clinical Laboratory was established in 1976, the numbers of the participating hospitals nowadays were increased from 40 to 450 or more hospitals all over the country. In the early day the both internal and external quality control programs were started at the same time, however, the external QC programs prevailed over the internal ones putting the cart before the horse. The accuracy and the precision of the data are not satisfying in spite of the 20 years experiences of quality control programs. All the daily data should be reported after the validity is assured by the self-evaluation not by third party evaluation. It is regret that the CVs of enzymatic tests in external QC are exceeding 10% and there is no sign of diminishing CVs. One of the major reasons is that the types of anaytical instrurments and reagents are diverisified. Moreover, most of them are subject to the standards of the respective country of manufacturer. Accordingly, we can make a suggestion that the reagents and instruments should be imported or supplied meeting the established requirements for Korean standardization.

Levels of 4-1BB transcripts and soluble 4-1BB protein are elevated in the adipose tissue of human obese subjects and are associated with inflammatory and metabolic parameters

Tu, T H,Kim, C-S,Kang, J-H,Nam-Goong, I S,Nam, C W,Kim, E S,Kim, Y I,Choi, J I,Kawada, T,Goto, T,Park, T,Yoon Park, J H,Choi, M-S,Yu, R Macmillan Publishers Limited 2014 International journal of obesity Vol.38 No.8

Background:4-1BB, a member of the TNF receptor superfamily, has a role in various inflammatory pathologies through its interaction with 4-1BB ligand. We previously demonstrated that it participates in initiating and promoting obesity-induced adipose inflammation in a rodent model.Objective:In this study, we examined whether 4-1BB is related to obesity-induced adipose inflammation and metabolic parameters in humans.Methods:A total of 50 subjects, 25 obese (body mass index (BMI)⩾25 kg m<SUP>−2</SUP>) and 25 lean (BMI<23 kg m<SUP>−2</SUP>) participated in the study. The levels of 4-1BB transcripts and soluble 4-1BB protein (s4-1BB) in subcutaneous adipose tissue were measured by quantitative real-time PCR and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. Inflammatory and metabolic parameters were measured by enzymatic analysis and immunoassay.Results:Obese subjects had higher levels of both 4-1BB transcripts and s4-1BB protein in subcutaneous adipose tissue than lean controls, and the levels were correlated with BMI and the expression of inflammatory markers, as well as with serum metabolic parameters. Moreover, s4-1BB was released from human adipocytes, and elicited chemotactic responses from human monocytes/T cells as well as enhancing their inflammatory activity, indicating that it may promote human adipose inflammation.Discussion:Our data demonstrate that elevated levels of 4-1BB transcripts and s4-1BB in adipose tissue are closely associated with obesity-induced inflammation and metabolic dysregulation. They suggest that both 4-1BB transcripts and s4-1BB could serve as novel biomarkers and/or therapeutic targets for obesity-induced inflammation and metabolic syndrome in humans.