• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.187-192
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• 2011

Photoelectrochemical performances of ZnO electrodes are enhanced by coupling with cobalt-based catalyst (CoPi) in phosphate electrolyte (pH 7). For this study, hexagonal pillar-shaped ZnO nanorods are grown on ZnO electrodes through a chemical bath deposition, onto which CoPi is deposited with different photodeposition times (10-30 min). A scanning electron microscopic study indicates that CoPi deposition does not induce any change of ZnO morphology and an energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopic analysis shows that inorganic phosphate ions (Pi) exist on ZnO surface. Bare ZnO electrodes generate the current of ca. $0.36mA/cm^2$ at a bias potential of 0.5 V vs. SCE, whereas ZnO/CoPi (deposited for 10 min) has ca. 50%-enhanced current ($0.54mW/cm^2$) under irradiation of AM 1.5G-light ($400mW/cm^2$). The excess loading of CoPi on ZnO results in decrease of photocurrents as compared to bare ZnO likely due to limited electrolyte access to ZnO and/or CoPi-mediated recombination of photogenerated charge carriers. The primary role of CoPi is speculated to trap the photogenerated holes and thereby oxidize water into molecular oxygen via an intervalency cycle among Co(II), Co(III), and Co(IV).

• Anatomy and Cell Biology
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.538-551
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• 2023

Exposure to environmental pollutants such as carbon tetrachloride (CCL₄) causes liver damage. This study aimed to compare the ameliorative activity of the dates flesh extract (DFE) and selenium-nanoparticles (SeNPs) on CCL₄-induced hepatotoxicity and if DFE could be a useful alternative supplement. Twenty-four male albino rats were enrolled and randomly divided into four equal groups (6 rats in each group): control group received only basal diet with no medications. Group II received CCL₄ in a dose of 0.5 mg/kg intraperitoneal injection twice weekly for four weeks. Group III rats were pretreated with SeNPs in a dose of 2.5 mg/kg once a day orally three times/wk for four weeks alone then combined with the previously described dose of CCL₄ for another four weeks. Group IV rats were pretreated with DFE in a dose of 8 ml of the aqueous extract/kg/d orally for four weeks alone then combined with the previously described dose of CCL₄ for another four weeks. The liver damage was assessed by estimation of plasma concentration of albumin and enzymes activities of alanine aminotransferase and tissue genes expression. Liver oxidation levels were assessed by measuring the tissue concentration of the malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase, and the total glutathione. Additionally, inflammatory mediators tumour necrosis factor--α and interleukin-6 were estimated. Detecting the liver's cellular structural damage was done by histopathological and immunohistochemical examination. This study suggests that CCL₄-induced liver damage in rats can be protected by administration whether the costly SeNPs or the economical DFE.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.104-110
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• 2015

It is known that polymer concretes are 8~10 times more expensive than ordinary Portland cement concretes; therefore, in the production of polymer concrete products, it is very important to reduce the amount of polymer binders used because this occupies the most of the production cost of polymer concretes. In order to develop a technology for the reduction of polymer binders, smooth and spherical aggregates were prepared by the atomizing technology using the oxidation process steel slag (electric arc furnace slag, EAFS) and the reduction process steel slag (ladle furnace slag, LFS) generated by steel industries. A reduction in the amount of polymer binders used was expected because of an improvement in the workability of polymer concretes as a result of the ball-bearing effect and maximum filling effect in case the polymer concrete was prepared using the smooth and spherical atomized steel slag instead of the calcium carbonate (filler) and river sand (fine aggregate) that were generally used in polymer concretes. To investigate physical properties of the polymer concrete, specimens of the polymer concrete were prepared with various proportions of polymer binder and replacement ratios of the atomized reduction process steel slag. The results showed that the compressive strengths of the specimens increased gradually along with the higher replacement ratios of the atomized steel slag, but the flexural strength showed a different maximum strength depending on the addition ratio of polymer binders. In the hot water resistance test, the compressive strength, flexural strength, bulk density, and average pore diameter decreased; but the total pore volume and porosity increased. It was found that the polymer concrete developed in this study was able to have a 19% reduction in the amount of polymer binders compared with that of the conventional product because of the remarkable improvement in the workability of polymer concretes using the spherical atomized oxidation steel slag and atomized reduction steel slag instead of the calcium carbonate and river sand.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.19-27
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• 1976

Perilla (frutescens) seed oil, which is widely used as a source of vegetable oil in Korea, contains a strikingly large amount (58.4% of total fatty acids) of polyunsaturated linolenic acid (18 : 3) which is one of the essential fatty acids. Our hypothesis was that vitamin E contained in this oil would not be enough to prevent peroxidation of this polyunsaturated oil. A comparative study was carried out using rats and chicks devided into seven groups with various diet combinations emphasizing fat sources for the period of four weeks. The level of fat in each diet was 15% and animals were fed ad libitum. Various diet combinations were as follows; perilla seed oil and sesame seed oil with and without vitamin E supplementation, tallow as a saturated fat source and perilla seed hull group (10% at the expense of carbohydrate). The fat constituents of control group were consisted of 50% vegetable oil and 50% animal fat. A few important findings are as follows: 1. Rats fed perilla seed oil lost their hair focally around the neck and suffered from a bad skin lesion at the same place. In chicks, yellow pigmentation both of feather and of skin was clearly observed only in groups fed perilla seed oil with or without vitamin E supplementation. The basis of biochemical mechanisms of this phenomena remains as an important research interest. 2. The mean value for hematocrit was significantly lower for the chicks fed perilla seed oil than for those fed control diet. This result seems to be attributable to the effect on the red cell membrane known as peroxidation-hemolysis of vitamin E deficiency. 3. The serum cholesterol level was higher for the rats fed perilla seed oil than for those fed control diet, whereas in chicks the group fed perilla seed oil showed lower value than the control group indicating that different animal species could vary in their responses to the same diet. 4. In pathological examinations, the sign of hepatic fibrosis was seen in the perilla seed hull group and it was noticeable that the level of hepatic RNA was significantly increased in the rat recovering from vitamin E deficiency. It is hoped that more detailed studies on perilla seed oil and hulls will soon be carried out in many aspects especially i) at various levels of fat in the diet, ii) in relation to dietary selenium level and iii) to find an optimum level of dietary essential fatty acids in terms of P/S ratio using various animal species. In the mean time, the public should be informed to preserve this particular oil with care to minimize fatty acid oxidation and should be discouraged from overconsuming this oil. This study was supported by UB (United Board) Research Grant (Graduate School, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea)

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.593-597
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• 2010

This study investigated the properties and antioxidative activities of phenolic acid concentrates of rice bran. Rice bran contains bioactive substances such as phenolic compounds, which can provide health benefits as natural antioxidants. This study examined how levels of phenolic acids can be obtained efficiently through various extraction methods. The extractions of defatted rice bran were followed by using ethylacetate (RBE-I), ethylacetate after alkaline hydrolysis (RBE-II), and 80% methanol (RBE-III). For all extracts, yields (%), total polyphenol contents (TPC), various phenolic acids and antioxidative activities were estimated. RBE-II had the highest total polyphenol contents (526.72 mg/100 g rice bran) and showed high antioxidative activity (74.7%). To concentrate the phenolic acids, RBE-II was passed through Sep-pak $C_{18}$ Vac cartridge and F1-RBE-II was collected by the elution of 50% methanol. The total phenolic content of F1-RBE-II (736.8 mg/100 g rice bran) was higher than that of RBE-II (367.1 mg/100 g rice bran), and the ratios of ferulic acid (73%) and sinapic acid (14%) increased. As RBE-II was analysed by HPLC, 6 different phenolic acids were found via chromatography, whereas F1-RBE-II showed 5 different peaks and the major phenolic acid was identified as ferulic acid. The ABTS radical scavenging activity of F1-RBE-II was the highest among the rice bran extracts. In a ${\beta}$-carotene-linoleic acid model system, linoleic acid oxidation was reduced by F1-RBE-II (73%) and RBE-II (35%).

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.251-257
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• 2011

Cobalt is a naturally occurring element found in rocks, soil, water and/or is among the harmful pollutants as generated by industrialized. In the environment, cobalt has two oxidation states, cobalt (II) (Co (II)) and cobalt (III) (Co (III)). If coastal water is contaminated by cobalt, it through the food chain can have an impact on marine ecosystems. Therefore, we examined the gametotoxic and embryotoxic effects of Co (II) at various concentrations (10, 100, 500, 1000, 2500 ppb) in the sea urchin $Hemicentrotus$ $pulcherrimus$. Spawning was induced by injecting 1 mL of 0.5 M KCl into coelomic cavity. Males released white or cream-colored sperms and females released yellow or orange-colored eggs. Experiment was begun within 30 min the collection of both gametes. The fertilization and embryo development rates test were performed for 10 min and 64 h after fertilization, respectively. The fertilization rates in the control condition (not including Co (II)) and experimental group were not significantly changed. The embryo development rates in the control condition were greater than 90% and were significantly decreased with concentration dependent manner. The normal embryogenesis rate was significantly inhibited in exposed to cobalt (II) ($EC_{50}$=71.84 ppb, 95% Cl=16.71-203.36 ppb). The NOEC and LOEC of normal embryogenesis rate were <10 ppb and 10 ppb, respectively. These results suggest that the early embryo stages of $H.$ $pulcherrimus$ have toxic effect at greater than 10 ppb of Co (II) concentration.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.329-343
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• 2001

The deep environment and geochemical evolution of the Bugok geothennal waters, located in the Kyeongnam Province, was re-interpreted based on the hydrochemical and isotopic data published by Yun et al. (1998). The geothermal waters of the Bugok area is geochemically divided into three groups; Geothennal water I, II and III groups. Groups I and II are geochemically similar; high temperature (55.2-77.2$^{\circ}$C) and chemically belonging to Na-S04 types. However, pH and Eh values are a little different each other and Group II water is highly enriched in S04 compared to Group I water. Group III water, occurring from peripheral sites of the central part of the geothennal waters, shows temperature range of 29.3 to 47.0$^{\circ}$C and belongs to $Na-HCO_3-S0_4$ types. The deep environment and geochemical evolution of the Bugok geothennal waters, showing the diversity of geochemistry, can be interpreted as follows; I) Descending to great depth of meteoric waters that originated at high elevation and reacting with sediments and/or granites in depth. The $S0_4$ concentration of the waters has been increased by the dissolution of sulfate minerals in sediments. 2) During the continuous descending, the waters has met with the reduction environment, producing the $H_2S$ gas due to sulfate reduction. The waters has been heated up to 130$^{\circ}$C and the extent of water-rock reaction was increased. At this point, pH of waters are increased, S04 concentration decreased and calcite precipitated, therefore, the waters show the $Na-S0_4$ type. 3) Ascending of the geothennal waters along the flow path of fluids and mixing with less-deeply circulated waters. The $S0_4$ concentration is re-increased due to the oxidation of $H_2S$ gas and/or sulfide minerals in sediments. During continuous ascending, these geothennal waters are mixed with shallow groundwater.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.22 no.10
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• pp.1869-1879
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• 2000

A series of experiments were conducted for modeling the fate and effect of the coupled oxidation reduction reaction of ethanol and propionate recognized as important intermediates in anaerobic degradation metabolism. Anaerobic kinetics for conversion of propionate and the interaction with ethanol were investigated using the model of specific substrate priority utilization effect. Seed cultures for the experiment were obtained from an anaerobically enriched steady-state propionate master culture reactor (HPr-MCR), ethanol-propionate master culture reactor (EtPr-MCR) and glucose master culture reactor (Glu-MCR). Experiments were consisted of four phases. Phase I, II and III were conducted by fixing the propionate organic loading as 1.0 g COD/L with increasing ethanol loading of 0, 100, 200, 400 and 1,000 mg/L, to find metabolic interaction of ethanol and propionate degradation by each enriched anaerobic culture. In phase IV, different mixing ratios of Glu-MCR and HPr-MCR cultures with fixed propionate organic loading, 1.0 g COD/L, were applied to observe the propionate degradation metabolic behavior. In the results of this study, different pathways of propionate and ethanol conversion were found using a modified competitive inhibition kinetic model. Increase of $K_{s2}$ value reflected the formation of acetate followed by ethanol degradation. In addition. $K_3$ value was increased slightly as the reactions of acetate formation and degradation were occurred in acetoclastic methanogenesis.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.193-200
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• 2010

This study evaluated treatability of soluble Mn(II) using multifunctional sand media simultaneously coated with iron and manganese. In the preparation of IMCS(Iron and Manganese Coated Sand), 0.05 M Mn(II) solution and Fe(III) solution was mixed with sand at pH 7. The mineral type of IMCS was identified as the mixture of ${\gamma}-MnO_2$, goethite and magnetite($F_{e3}O_4$). The contents of Mn and Fe coated onto sand were 826 and 1676 mg/kg, respectively. The $pH_{pzc}$ of IMCS was measured as 6.40. The removal of soluble Mn(II) using IMCS and oxidants such as NaOCl and $KMnO_4$ was investigated with variation of the solution pH, reaction time and Mn(II) concentration in a batch test. The removal of Mn(II) on IMCS was 34% at pH 7.4 and the removals of Mn(II) on IMCS in the presence of NaOCl(13.6 mg/L) at pH 7 and $KMnO_4$(4.8 mg/L) at pH 7.6 were 96% and 89%, respectively. The removal of Mn(II) using IMCS and oxidants followed a typical cationic type, showing a gradual increase of removal as the solution pH increased. The removal of Mn(II) was rapid in the first 6 hrs and then a constant removal was observed. The maximum removed amount of Mn(II) on IMCS-alone and IMCS in the presence of oxidants such as NaOCl(13.6 mg/L) and $KMnO_4$(4.8mg/L) were 833.3, 1428.6 and 1666.7 mg/kg, respectively. Mn(II) removal onto the IMCS in the presence of oxidants was well described by second-order reaction and Langmuir isotherm expression.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.135-146
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• 2022

Obesity is closely associated with profound dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, and fatty liver disease. Recent reports have suggested that alterations in gut microbiota can be linked to diet-induced obesity. In this study, the anti-obesity effects of Weissella confusa WIKIM51 isolated from kimchi were investigated, as evidenced by: i) reduced lipid accumulation and downregulated adipogenesis-related genes in 3T3-L1 adipocytes; ii) suppressed gains in body weight and epididymal fat mass; iii) reduced serum lipid levels, for example, triglyceride and total cholesterol; iv) increased serum adiponectin levels and reduced serum leptin levels; v) downregulated lipogenesis and upregulated β-oxidation-related genes in the epididymal fat; and vi) altered microbial communities. The collective evidence indicate the potential value of W. confusa WIKIM51 as a functional food supplement for the prevention and amelioration of obesity.