• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.283-288
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• 2007

Acanthopanacis Cortex (AC) has been popularly used as an herbal medicine for medical treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, insomnia, impotence and diabetes. Here, we investigated immunostimulating effects of the aqueous extract of AC on macrophage. We studied nitric oxide (NO) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$ release in response to AC treatment, as they are important secretory products of macrophage. AC alone induce the NO and TNF-${\alpha}$ production. AC increase c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase 1/2 (JNK) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) phosphorylation but does not p38 activation in RAW 264.7 cells. Also AC resulted in the enhanced cell-surface expression of CD80 and CD14. In addition, AC resulted in enhanced T cell-stimulatory capacity and increased T cell secretion of interferon (IFN)-gamma. After feeding with AC to mouse for 10 days, the change of $CD28^+$ and $CD40^+$ population was analyzed. AC increased $CD28^+$ population in splenocytes in vivo. These studies indicate that AC induces macrophage activation and suggest the possible use of AC in macrophage-based immunotherapies.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.235-244
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• 2023

Acidovorax citrulli (Ac) is a phytopathogenic bacterium that causes bacterial fruit blotch (BFB) in cucurbit crops, including watermelon. However, there are no effective methods to control this disease. YggS family pyridoxal phosphate-dependent enzyme acts as a coenzyme in all transamination reactions, but its function in Ac is poorly understood. Therefore, this study uses proteomic and phenotypic analyses to characterize the functions. The Ac strain lacking the YggS family pyridoxal phosphate-dependent enzyme, AcΔyppAc(EV), virulence was wholly eradicated in geminated seed inoculation and leaf infiltration. AcΔyppAc(EV) propagation was inhibited when exposed to L-homoserine but not pyridoxine. Wild-type and mutant growth were comparable in the liquid media but not in the solid media in the minimal condition. The comparative proteomic analysis revealed that YppAc is primarily involved in cell motility and wall/membrane/envelop biogenesis. In addition, AcΔyppAc(EV) reduced biofilm formation and twitching halo production, indicating that YppAc is involved in various cellular mechanisms and possesses pleiotropic effects. Therefore, this identified protein is a potential target for developing an efficient anti-virulence reagent to control BFB.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.27 no.9
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• pp.1423-1428
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• 2006

In this study, we have prepared pitch binded AC (activated carbon)/$AC/TiO_2$ composites photocatalysts through carbon tetrachloride solvent method. The developed samples were characterized with surface properties, structural crystallinity between AC and $AC/TiO_2$, elemental identification and photocatalytic activity. The results of the textural surface properties demonstrate that there are slight increases in the BET surface area and adsorbed volume from adsorption isotherm of composite samples with increasing of the amount of AC. The SEM results present to the characterization of porous texture on the pitch/AC/$AC/TiO_2$ composites and homogenous compositions in the particle for all the materials used. From XRD data, a weak and broad carbon peak of graphene remained rutile peaks kept with anatase structure were observed in the X-ray diffraction patterns for the pitch/AC/$AC/TiO_2$ composites. The EDX spectra show the presence of C, O and S with strong Ti peaks. Most of these samples are richer in carbon and major Ti metal than any other elements. Finally, the excellent photocatalytic activity of the pitch/AC/$AC/TiO_2$ composites between relative concentration ($c/c_o$) of MB and UV irradiation time could be attributed to the both effects between photocatalysis of the supported $AC/TiO_2$ and adsorptivity of the two kinds of carbons.

• Nutritional Sciences
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.85-93
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• 2003

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a butanol fraction of fraction of Alisma canaliculatum All. Braun et Bouche (Ac), and of selenium (Se), on plasma gllucose and lipid levee in streptozotocin (STD-induced diabetic rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats, fed the AIN-93 recommended diet, were divided into five groups: a non-diabetic control group (no STZ treatment), and four 572-induced diabetic groups which consisted of a diabetic-control group, an Ac-treated group, an Ac-Se treated group, and a Se-treated group. Diabetes was induced in the rats by an injection of STZ into the tail vein at a dose of 45 mg/kg body weight. The butanol (BuOH) fraction of Ac was orally administered at a rate of 400 mg/kg body weight for 21 days to both the Ac and Ac-Se groups. The supplementation of selenium in the Se and Ac-Se groups was achieved by adding (freshly, every day) 2 mg of Se as Na$_2$SeO$_3$ per kg of feed. The rats'body weights and hematocrit (Hct) levels were measured, along with plasma levels of glucose, insulin, cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglyceride (TG), and free fatty acids (FFA). Aminotransferase activities were also analyzed. The non-diabetic rats gained weight, while the diabetic rats lost weight - except in the Ac-Se group, which maintained their initial weight. The blood glucose levels of the Ac group and the Se group were significantly lower than for the diabetic-control group. The plasma triglyceride levels were lowered when both Ac and Se were administered to diabetic rats. The concentrations of plasma FFA in the Ac-Se group were significantly lower compared with the diabetic-control group. Plasma cholesterol levels and alanine aminotransferase activity in the Ac, Ac-Se, and Se groups were significantly lower when compared with the diabetic-control group. Aspartate aminotransferase activity was significantly lower in the Se group compared to the other diabetic groups. These data show that treatment with a butanol fraction of Ac in combination with Se has no synergistic effect. Plasma glucose levels tended to be low when Se was administered to diabetic rats. Supplementation of Se in diabetic rats did not elicit a significant increase in plasma insulin levels or result in hypolipemic effects.

• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Power Electronics
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.207-217
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• 2010

Recently, the use of DC power increased due to the increased use of digital load. Power factor of input current decrease and input current harmonics increase, and conversion loss which is occurred in the AC / DC converter is a problem to provide the proper DC voltage to the device equipped with an internal AC / DC converter. Hybrid system supplies the AC power and DC power to AC load (motor load and the transformer load) and DC loads (computers, TV, LED fluorescent light) at the same time it supplies the renewable energy and utility energy taken power from Utility to user for improving the efficiency and renewable energy improvements in ease of use. This paper studies DC characteristics of traditional AC load for Hybrid distributions.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Illuminating and Electrical Installation Engineers
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• v.23 no.12
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• pp.127-135
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• 2009

In this paper, the Interleaved AC/DC boost converter using two inductor with voltage-doubler characteristic when it operates with a duty cycle greater than 0.5 is proposed. Generally, the low-line(Input AC 110[V]) operation of the AC/DC boost converter is much less efficient than high-line (Input AC 220[V]) operation. The proposed Interleaved AC/DC boost converter operates as a voltage doubler at low-line. Its low-line range have higher power factor and improved efficiency compared with that of conventional converter. This research proposed the Interleaved AC/DC boost converter for voltage-doubler characteristic. The principle of operation, feature and design considerations is illustrated and the validity of verified through the experiment with a 300[W] based experimental circuit.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.249-258
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• 2003

This paper presents a high-efficient and cost effective three-phase AC/DC-DC/AC power conversion system with a single two-switch type active Auxiliary Resonant DC Link (ARDCL) snubber circuit, which can minimize the total power dissipation. The active ARDCL snubber circuit is proposed in this paper and its unique features are described. Its operation principle in steady-state is discussed for the three phase AC/DC-DC/AC converter, which is composed of PWM rectifier as power factor correction (PFC) converter, sinewave PWM inverter. In the presented power converter system not only three-phase AC/DC PWM rectifier but also three-phase DC/AC inverter can achieve the stable ZVS commutation for all the power semiconductor devices. It is proved that the proposed three-phase AC/DC-DC/AC converter system is more effective and acceptable than the previous from the cost viewpoint and high efficient consideration. In addition, the proposed two-switch type active auxiliary ARDCL snubber circuit can reduce the peak value of the resonant inductor injection current in order to maximize total system actual efficiency by using the improved DSP based control scheme. Moreover the proposed active auxiliary two-switch ARDCL snubber circuit has the merit so that there is no need to use any sensing devices to detect the voltage and current in the ARDCL sunbber circuit for realizing soft-switching operation. This three-phase AC/DC-DC/AC converter system developed for UPS can achieve the 1.8% higher efficiency and 20dB lower conduction noise than those of the conventional three-phase hard-switching PWM AC/DC-DC/AC converter system. It is proved that actual efficiency of the proposed three-phase AC/DC-DC/AC converter system operating under a condition of soft switching is 88.7% under 10kw output power.

• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Power Electronics
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.415-429
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• 2011

In this study, a single-phase quasi Z-source AC-AC converters with a series connection of the output terminals is proposed. The proposed system has configuration that the input terminals of two quasi Z-source AC-AC converters are connected in parallel and its output terminals are connected in series. The out of phase mode and in phase mode of the proposed system are presented. To verify the validity of the proposed converter, a DSP controlled hardware was made and PSIM simulation was executed. As a result, controlling the duty ratio of the converter, the desired buck-boost output voltages could be generated. For each modes, as compared with the single converter operation, the proposed converter could enhance the efficiency and input power factor according to different loads. Also, in case of the out of phase mode under the constant load, the efficiency and input power factor of the proposed system are increased 10[%], 35[%] respectively in compared with the single converter. And, the output voltage is constantly controlled in dynamic state in case while the load is suddenly changed.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.432-439
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• 2018

Metal catalysts such as Fe, Co, Mn, and Pd supported on the activated carbon (AC) were prepared to improve functional groups for the chemical adsorption and catalytic ozonation. Following ascending orders of the phenol decomposition rate, dissolved ozone decomposition ratio and TOC (total organic carbon) removal from experimental results of advanced oxidation process (AOP) were observed: Fe-AC < AC < Co-AC < Mn-AC < Pd-AC. BET analysis results showed that the physical properties of the metal impregnated activated carbon had no effect on the catalytic ozonation, and the catalytic effect was dependent on the kind of impregnated metal. The ratio of the formed concentration of OH radical to that of ozone (RCT) was measured by using the decomposition outcome of p-chlorobenzoic acid, a probe compound that reacts rapidly with OH radical but slowly with ozone. The measured values of RCT were $5.48{\times}10^{-9}$ and $1.47{\times}10^{-8}$ for the ozone alone and activated carbon processes, respectively, and $2.13{\times}10^{-9}$, $1.51{\times}10^{-8}$, $4.77{\times}10^{-8}$, and $5.58{\times}10^{-8}$ for Fe-AC, Co-AC, Mn-AC, and Pd-AC processes, respectively.

• Composites Research
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.1-8
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• 2000

The fabrication Process of $Al_2O_{3p}$/AC8A composites by pressureless infiltration technique and the effects of additive Mg content and volume fraction of particulate reinforcement on mechanical and wear properties were investigated. It was found that the bending strength decreased with increasing volume fraction of $Al_2O_{3p}$ particles. Whereas hardness increased with volume fraction of $Al_2O_{3p}$ particles. The decrement of strength in case of high volume fraction of $Al_2O_{3p}$ particles was attributed to high porosity level. In terms of additive Mg content, $Al_2O_{3p}$/AC8A composites containing around 5~7wt% of additive Mg indicated the highest strength, and hardness values increased with additive Mg contents. Wear resistance of AC8A alloy were improved by reinforcement of $Al_2O_{3p}$ particles especially at high sliding velocity. Wear property of $Al_2O_{3p}$/AC8A composites and AC8A alloy exhibited different aspects. $Al_2O_{3p}$/AC8A composites indicated more wear loss than AC8A alloy at slow velocity region. However a transition point of wear loss was found at middle velocity region which shows the minimum wear loss and wear loss at high velocity region exhibited almost same value as at slow velocity region, whereas wear loss of AC8A alloy almost linearly increased with sliding velocity. It was found that $Al_2O_{3p}$/AC8A composites containing $Al_2O_{3p}$ volume fraction of 20% exhibited abrasive wear surface regardless of sliding velocity and $Al_2O_{3p}$/AC8A composites containing $Al_2O_{3p}$ volume fraction of 40% showed slightly adhesive wear surface at low sliding velocity, and it progressed to severe wear as increasing the sliding velocity.