L-ascorbic acid (L-AA; vitamin C) induces apoptosis in cancer cells. This study aimed to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of L-AA-induced apoptosis in human laryngeal epidermoid carcinoma Hep-2 cells. L-AA suppressed the viability of Hep-2 cells and induced apoptosis, as shown by the cleavage and condensation of nuclear chromatin and increased number of Annexin V-positive cells. L-AA decreased Bcl-2 protein expression but upregulated Bax protein levels. In addition, cytochrome c release from the mitochondria into the cytosol and activation of caspase-9, -8, and -3 were enhanced by L-AA treatment. Furthermore, apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) and endonuclease G (EndoG) were translocated into the nucleus during apoptosis of L-AA-treated Hep-2 cells. L-AA effectively inhibited the constitutive nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activation and attenuated the nuclear expression of the p65 subunit of NF-κB. Interestingly, L-AA treatment of Hep-2 cells markedly activated Akt and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK; extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2, p38, and c-Jun N-terminal kinase [JNK]) and and LY294002 (Akt inhibitor), SB203580 (p38 inhibitor) or SP600125 (a JNK inhibitor) decreased the levels of Annexin V-positive cells. These results suggested that L-AA induces the apoptosis of Hep-2 cells via the nuclear translocation of AIF and EndoG by modulating the Bcl- 2 family and MAPK/Akt signaling pathways.

이 연구는 자유단에 경사 종동력을 받는 변단면 기하 비선형 캔틸레버 기둥의 수치해석에 관한 연구이다. 기둥의 단면은 휨 강성이 부재축을 따라 함수적으로 변화하는 변단면으로 선택하였다. 이러한 기둥의 정확탄성곡선을 지배하는 미분방정식을 대변형 이론을 이용하여 유도하였다. 이 미분방정식은 자유단 수직변위, 수평변위 및 회전각의 3개의 미지변수를 갖는다. 이 미분방정식을 반복법으로 수치해석하여 기둥의 미지변수와 정확탄성곡선을 산정하였다. 이 연구의 이론을 검증하기 위하여 실험실 규모의 실험을 실행하였다.

Cyclosporin A (CsA) has been used clinically as an immunosuppressive drug to prevent organ transplant rejection and in basic research as a mitochondrial permeability blocker. It has been reported that CsA has a protective role in severed neurons and a neurotrophic effect in neuronal cells. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the stimulation of neuronal cell proliferation by CsA have not yet been elucidated. In our current study, we investigated CsA responsive proteins in PC12 cells using a systematic proteomic approach. The viability of these cells following CsA treatment increased in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Proteins in the CsA-treated PC12 cells were profiled by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) and identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of flight (MALDI-TOF) and electrospray ionization quadupole time-of-flight mass spectrometries (EIQ-TOFMS). This differential expression analysis showed significant changes for 10 proteins (6 up-regulated and 4 down-regulated) upon CsA treatment that were related to cell proliferation, metabolism and the stress response. These proteomics data further our understanding of the proliferation mechanisms of PC12 cells exposed to CsA and demonstrate that our methodology has potential to further elucidate the mechanisms and pathways involved.

Cellulose nanofibers from microfibril cellulose (MFC) was prepared by hydrobromic acid (HBr) treatment at different concentrations. Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) composite films at various loading level of nanofibers were manufactured by a film casting method. The analysis of degree of polymerization (DP), crystallinity (Xc) and molecular weight (Mw) of cellulose after acid treatment was conducted. The mechanical and thermal properties of the cellulose nanofibers reinforced PVA films were characterized using tensile tests and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The DP and Mw of MFC by HBr hydrolysis considerably decreased, but Xc showed no significant change. After acid hydrolysis, the diameter of cellulose nanofibers was in the range of 100 to 200 nm. The thermal stability of the films was steadily improved with the increase of nanofiber loading. There was a significant increase in the tensile strength of PVA composite films with the increase in MFC loading. Finally, 5 wt.% nanofiber loading exhibited the highest tensile strength and thermal stability of PVA composite films.

말뚝머리-확대기초 접합부는 상부구조물의 하중을 말뚝으로 전달하는 연결부분으로서 부재의 단면과 강성의 급격히 변화하는 부 위이기 때문에 응력이 집중되고 작용하는 휨모멘트와 전단력이 큰 취약부분이다. 이 연구에서는 제작조건에 따른 PHC말뚝 및 합성 PHC말뚝 과 확대기초 접합부의 구조성능을 평가하는데 목적이 있다. 반복가력 하중 조건하에서의 균열패턴, 하중-변위관계, 연성비, 초기 회전강성 및 에너지소산 특성을 각각 평가하였다. 접합부 초기 회전강성은 확대기초 내부로 삽입되는 말뚝삽입 깊이와 축방향철근 배근위치에 큰 영향을 받는 것으로 나타났다. 또한 접합부 강도, 연성비 및 누적 에너지소산 등의 접합부 거동은 말뚝의 종류와 축방향 철근 배근 위치에 영향을 받는 것으로 나타났다.