• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.8
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• pp.4031-4036
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• 2012

Background: The negative signaling provided by interactions of the co-inhibitory molecule, programmed death-1 (PD-1), and its ligands, B7-H1 (PD-L1) and B7-DC (PD-L2), is a critical mechanism contributing to tumor evasion; blockade of this pathway has been proven to enhance cytotoxic activity and mediate antitumor therapy. Here we evaluated the anti-tumor efficacy of AAV-mediated delivery of the extracellular domain of murine PD-1 (sPD-1) to a tumor site. Material and Methods: An rAAV vector was constructed in which the expression of sPD-1, a known negative regulator of TCR signals, is driven by human cytomegalovirus immediate early promoter (CMV-P), using a triple plasmid transfection system. Tumor-bearing mice were then treated with the AAV/sPD1 construct and expression of sPD-1 in tumor tissues was determined by semi quantitative RT-PCR, and tumor weights and cytotoxic activity of splenocytes were measured. Results: Analysis of tumor homogenates revealed sPD-1 mRNA to be significantly overexpressed in rAAV/sPD-1 treated mice as compared with control levels. Its use for local gene therapy at the inoculation site of H22 hepatoma cells could inhibit tumor growth, also enhancing lysis of tumor cells by lymphocytes stimulated specifically with an antigen. In addition, PD-1 was also found expressed on the surfaces of activated CD8+ T cells. Conclusion: This study confirmed that expression of the soluble extracellular domain of PD-1 molecule could reduce tumor microenvironment inhibitory effects on T cells and enhance cytotoxicity. This suggests that it might be a potential target for development of therapies to augment T-cell responses in patients with malignancies.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.682-697
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• 2023

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Tibetan tea is a kind of dark tea, due to the inherent complexity of natural products, the chemical composition and beneficial effects of Tibetan tea are not fully understood. The objective of this study was to unravel the composition of Tibetan tea using knowledge-guided multilayer network (KGMN) techniques and explore its potential antioxidant and hypolipidemic mechanisms in mice. MATERIALS/METHODS: The C57BL/6J mice were continuously gavaged with Tibetan tea extract (T group), green tea extract (G group) and ddH2O (H group) for 15 days. The activity of total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in mice was detected. Transcriptome sequencing technology was used to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying the antioxidant and lipid-lowering effects of Tibetan tea in mice. Furthermore, the expression levels of liver antioxidant and lipid metabolism related genes in various groups were detected by the real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) method. RESULTS: The results showed that a total of 42 flavonoids are provisionally annotated in Tibetan tea using KGMN strategies. Tibetan tea significantly reduced body weight gain and increased T-AOC and SOD activities in mice compared with the H group. Based on the results of transcriptome and qPCR, it was confirmed that Tibetan tea could play a key role in antioxidant and lipid lowering by regulating oxidative stress and lipid metabolism related pathways such as insulin resistance, P53 signaling pathway, insulin signaling pathway, fatty acid elongation and fatty acid metabolism. CONCLUSIONS: This study was the first to use computational tools to deeply explore the composition of Tibetan tea and revealed its potential antioxidant and hypolipidemic mechanisms, and it provides new insights into the composition and bioactivity of Tibetan tea.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.638-646
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• 2023

Recently, active research has been conducted to enhance the power characteristics and thermal stability of lithium-ion batteries (LiBs) by modifying separators using a ceramic coating method. However, since the thermal properties and surface features of the separator vary depending on the characteristics of the ceramic powders applied to the separator, it is crucial to manufacture ceramic powders optimized for the separator's performance. In this study, we evaluated the characteristics of three types of α-alumina (A-1, A-2, and A-3) produced with varying dispersant contents and milling times, in addition to commercial α-alumina (AES-11). Subsequently, the optimized powders (A-3) were coated onto the separator using an aqueous binder for comparison with the characteristics of an AES-11 coated separator and an uncoated PE separator. The A-3 coated separator improved electrolyte wettability with a low contact angle (44.69°) and increased puncture strength (538 gf). Furthermore, it exhibited excellent thermal stability, with a shrinkage value of 5.64% when exposed to 140℃ for 1 hour, compared to the AES11 coated separator (6.09%) and the bare PE separator (69.64%).

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.9-21
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• 2012

In this study, we investigated the chemical characteristics of soils collected from the several deserts and loess in China known as the typical source areas of Asian dust (the Taklamakan desert, the Alashan desert, the Ordos desert and the Loess Plateau). Based on our analysis, we examined the possibility of adverse effects on environments and human health. In each desert and loess, major elemental compositions of soils did not show large variations, implying that the long-periodic mixing of soils in each area made their chemical compositions homogeneous. Minor elements of soils in each desert and loess showed more complicated patterns with strong correlations each other (e.g., Cr, Cu, As, Co, Ni, V, Y, Sc, Sn, Pb, Zn, Cd, Cs, Li, Th, U). These results thus enable us to discriminate the soil of the Loess Plateau from those of the other deserts in China. The results of sequential extraction experiments for soils showed that the chemical speciation of Fe was dominant in residual fraction (>85%) in all deserts and loess, but the fractions of Mn and Ca chemical speciations were very different in each area. In the case of Mn, the fraction of amorphous Fe-Mn hydroxides (55.4%) in the Central Loess Plateau and the carbonate fraction (33.8%) in Taklamakan desert were higher as much as 2 to 5 times than other deserts. The chemical speciations of Ca are dominant in carbonate fraction in Taklamakan (75.9%) and Alashan (50.5%) deserts, but carbonate fractions of Ca in the Loess Plateau and Ordos deserts were low (6.6% and 2.1%, respectively). According to the mobility of trace elements inferred from the results of sequential extraction procedure, we could classify them into five groups, and the mobility of Cd, Pb and Cu are more than 87%, 33% and 30%, respectively. Therefore, Cd, Pb and Cu in soils of deserts and loess could be easily dissolved when interacted with surface water. As such, they could give adverse effects on surficial environments and human health.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.145-152
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• 2010

The gel polymer electrolyte(GPE) were prepared by in-situ thermal cross-linking reaction of homogeneous precursor solution of perfluorinated phosphate-based cross-linker and liquid electrolyte. Ionic conductivities and electrochemical properties of the prepared gel polymer electrolyte with the various contents of liquid electrolytes and perfluorinated organophosphate-based cross-linker were examined. The stable gel polymer electrolyte was obtained up to 97 wt% of the liquid electrolyte. Ionic conductivity and electrochemical properties of the gel polymer electrolytes with the various chain length of perfluorinated ethylene oxide and different content of liquid electrolytes were examined. The maximum ionic conductivity of liquid electrolyte was measured to be $1.02\;{\times}\;10^{-2}\;S/cm$ at $30^{\circ}C$ using the cross-linker($PFT_nGA$). The electrochemical stability of the gel polymer electrolyte was extended to 4.5 V. The electrochemical performances of test cells composed of the resulting gel polymer electrolyte were also studied to evaluate the applicability on the lithium polymer batteries. The test cell carried a discharge capacity of 136.11mAh/g at 0.1C. The discharge capacity was measured to be 91% at 2C rate. The discharge capacity decreased with increase of discharge rate which was due to the polarization. After 500th charge/discharge cycles, the capacity of battery decreased to be 70% of the initial capacity.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.43 no.8
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• pp.1248-1256
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• 2014

The purpose of this study was to investigate the mechanisms of behind $SO_2$ formation and elevated cause of reducing power in purple bamboo salt (PBS) along with an analysis of physicochemical properties, content of sulfur compounds, oxidation reduction potential (ORP), mineral contents of salt type (MSS, mudflat solar salt; BS, bamboo salt), and addition of raw bamboo (RB). $SO_2$ content of 630 ppm was detected in PBS. $SO_2$ was not detected in MSS, BS, or RB, whereas $SO_2$ (782 ppm) from $K_2SO_4$ was detected after heating a NaCl, KCl, $MgCl_2$, $MgSO_4$, MgO, $CaCl_2$, $K_2SO_4$, and $FeSO_4$ with RB. $SO_2$ content of BS increased with baking time, and it originated from BSRB1 (13.88 ppm) to BSRB4 (109.13 ppm). $SO_3{^{2-}}$ originated only from MSSRB4 and BSRB2~BSRB4. Sulfate ion content decreased along with increasing $SO_2$ and sulfite ion contents. ORP increased with baking time of MSS and BS, and it was present at higher levels in BSRB4 (-211.40 mV) of BS than MSS. Insoluble content was higher in BS than MSS. Further, Ca, K, and Mg ion contents decreased in MSS and increased in BS with baking time. BSRB4 had 1.4 fold higher levels of Ca, 1.5 fold higher levels of Mg, and 1.8 fold higher levels of K than BS. Li, Al, Mn, Fe, and Sr in MSS as well as Al, Fe, and Ni in BS increased with baking time. Anions (Cl, $NO_3$, and Br) and heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Hg, and As) between MSS and BS were not significantly different. These results suggest that the reducing power of BS was due to $SO_2$ and sulfite ion. To increase the amounts of these compounds and reducing power, higher melting temperature and longer baking time are necessary along with BS, which is created by the addition of RB to roasted salt.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.121-126
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• 1999

In order to degrade chitin by enzymatic hydrolysis, it is required from screening highly active deacetylase. To this end, we examined three fungal strains and it turned out that Mucor rouxii produced highly active deacetylase, this enzyme exhibited the highest enzymatic activity against colloidal chitin. The conditions for growing Mucor rouxii are as follows; the effective carbon source, nitrogen source, adequate initial pH, temperature and incubation time were $2\%$ glucose, $1.33\%$ yeast extract, $0.66\%$ pepton, 4.5, $25{\pm}2^{\circ}C$ and 48hr, respectively. The optimum pH and temperature for purified enzyme activity were 5.5 and $40^{\circ}C$, respectively. The purified enzyme was stable at pH ranging from 4.5 to 5.5. However, the enzyme activity was decreased to less than $50\%$ at pH blow 45 and above 7.5. At temperatures above $50^{\circ}C$, the enzyme activity was decreased remarkably. The enzyme was inhibited by LiC1, $HgCl_2$, and $BaCl_2$, but stimulated by $CaCl_2$ and $ZnC1_2$, The activity of purified enzyme was increased by L-cysteine and 2-mercaptoethanol, while decreased by O-phenanthroline, p-CMB, EDTA, and iodoacetate. The $K_m$ and the $V_{max}$ value of purified enzyme were $1.2\%$ and 59.5 U/mg, respectively. The deacetylation activity of purified enzyme was not detected at optimal reaction condition when chitin particle suspension was used.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.30 no.8
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• pp.383-392
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• 2020

In this paper, AgCl/Ag₃PO₄/diatomite photocatalyst is successfully synthesized by microemulsion method and anion in situ substitution method. X-ray diffraction (XRD), photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis) are used to study the structural and physicochemical characteristics of the AgCl/Ag₃PO₄/diatomite composite. Using rhodamine B (RhB) as a simulated pollutant, the photocatalytic activity and stability of the AgCl/Ag₃PO₄/diatomite composite under visible light are evaluated. In the AgCl/Ag₃PO₄/diatomite visible light system, RhB is nearly 100 % degraded within 15 minutes. And, after five cycles of operation, the photocatalytic activity of AgCl/Ag₃PO₄/diatomite remains at 95 % of the original level, much higher than that of pure Ag₃PO₄ (40 %). In addition, the mechanism of enhanced catalytic performance is discussed. The high photocatalytic performance of AgCl/Ag₃PO₄/diatomite composites can be attributed to the synergistic effect of Ag₃PO₄, diatomite and AgCl nanoparticles. Free radical trapping experiments are used to show that holes and oxygen are the main active species. This material can quickly react with dye molecules adsorbed on the surface of diatomite to degrade RhB dye to CO₂ and H₂O. Even more remarkably, AgCl/Ag₃PO₄/diatomite can maintain above 95 % photo-degradation activity after five cycles.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.35-63
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• 1989

Geochemical characteristics of the Guryongsan (Ogcheon) uraniferous black slate show that this is an analogue to the conventional Chattanooga and Alum shales in occurrences. Whereas, its highest enrichment ratio in metals including uranium, among others, is explained by the cyclic sedimentation of the black muds and quartz-rich silts, and the uniform depositional condition with some what higher pH condition compared to the conditions of the known occurrences. The cyclic sedimentation, caused by the periodic open and close of the silled basin, has brought about the flush-out) of the uranium depleted water and the recharge with the new metal-rich sea water, which consequently contributed to the high concentration of metals in mud. The metal-rich marine black muds, which mostly occur in the early to middle Palaeozoic times, is attributed by the geologic conditions which related to the atmospheric oxygen contents, and these are scarcely met in the late Precambrian and/or with the onset of Palaeozoic era in the geologic evolution of the earth.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.241-246
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• 2007

Purpose: $[^{11}C]6-OH-BTA-1$ ([N-methyl-$^{11}C$]2-(4'-methylaminophenyl)-6-hydroxybenzothiazole, 1), a -amyloid imaging agent for the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease in PET, can be labeled with higher yield by a simple loop method. During the synthesis of $[^{11}C]1$, we found the formation of by-products in various solvents, e.g., methylethylketone (MEK), cyclohexanone (CHO), diethylketone (DEK), and dimethylformamide (DMF). Materials and Methods: In Automated radiosynthesis module, 1 mg of 4-aminophenyl-6-hydroxybenzothiazole (4) in 100 l of each solvent was reacted with $[^{11}C]methyl$ triflate in HPLC loop at room temperature (RT). The reaction mixture was separated by semi-preparative HPLC. Aliquots eluted at 14.4, 16.3 and 17.6 min were collected and analyzed by analytical HPLC and LC/MS spectrometer. Results: The labeling efficiencies of $[^{11}C]1$ were $86.0{\pm}5.5%$, $59.7{\pm}2.4%$, $29.9{\pm}1.8%$, and $7.6{\pm}0.5%$ in MEK, CHO, DEK and DMF, respectively. The LC/MS spectra of three products eluted at 14.4, 16.3 and 17.6 mins showed m/z peaks at 257.3 (M+1), 257.3 (M+1) and 271.3 (M+1), respectively, indicating their structures as 1, 2-(4'-aminophenyl)-6-methoxybenzothiazole (2) and by-product (3), respectively. Ratios of labeling efficiencies for the three products $([^{11}C]1:[^{11}C]2:[^{11}C]3)$ were $86.0{\pm}5.5%:5.0{\pm}3.4%:1.5{\pm}1.3%$ in MEK, $59.7{\pm}2.4%:4.7{\pm}3.2%:1.3{\pm}0.5%$ in CHO, $9.9{\pm}1.8%:2.0{\pm}0.7%:0.3{\pm}0.1%$ in DEK and $7.6{\pm}0.5%:0.0%:0.0%$ in DMF, respectively. Conclusion: The labeling efficiency of $[^{11}C]1$ was the highest when MEK was used as a reaction solvent. As results of mass spectrometry, 1 and 2 were conformed. 3 was presumed.