• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.58-65
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• 2016

This study was a preparatory experiment aimed the development of membrane scaffolds for tissue engineering. A PCL composite solution contained sodium chloride(NaCl). PCL porous membrane scaffolds were formed on a glass casting plate using a film applicator and immersed in distilled water to remove the NaCl reaching after drying. NaCl was used as a pore former for a 3 dimensional pore net-work. The dry condition parameters were $4^{\circ}C$, room temperature (RT) and $40^{\circ}C$ for each different temperatures in the drying experiment. SEM revealed the morphology of the pores in the membrane after drying and evaluated the in vitro cytotoxicity for basic bio-compatibility. The macro and micro pores existed together in the scaffold and showed a 3-dimensional pore net-working morphology at RT. The in vitro cytotoxicity test result was "grade 2" in accordance with the criterion for cytotoxicity by ISO 10993-5. The dry condition affected the formation of a 3 dimensional pore network and micro and macro pores. Therefore, these results are expected provide the basic process for the development of porous membrane scaffolds to control degradation and allow drug delivery.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.201-209
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• 2016

Theoretical maximum methane yield of glucose at STP (1 atm, $0^{\circ}C$) is 0.35 L $CH_4/g$ COD. However, most researched actual methane yields of anaerobic digester (AD) on lab scale is lower than theoretical ones. A wide range of them have been reported according to experiments methods and types of organic matters. Recent year, a MET (Microbial electrochemical technology) is a promising technology for producing sustainable bio energies from AD via rapid degradation of high concentration organic wastes, VFAs (Volatile Fatty Acids), toxic materials and non-degradable organic matters with electrochemical reactions. In this study, methane yields of food waste leachate and sewage waste sludge were evaluated by using BMP (Biochemical Methane Potential) and continuous AD tests. As the results, methane production volume from the anaerobic digester equipped with MET (AD + MET) was higher than conventional AD in the ratio of 2 to 3 times. The actual methane yields from all experiments were lower than those of theoretical value of glucose. The methane yield, however, from the AD + MET occurred similar to the theoretical one. Moreover, biogas compositions of AD and AD + MET were similar. Consequently, methane production from anaerobic digester with MET increased from the result of higher organic removal efficiency, while, further researches should be required for investigating methane production mechanisms in the anaerobic digester with MET.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.11
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• pp.1599-1606
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• 2011

To evaluate the effects of microorganism agents on oil biodegradation, treatability and microcosm studies were conducted. Petroleum oil degrading bacteria were isolated from enriched cultures of oil-contaminated sediment samples using a mineral salts medium (MSM) containing 0.5% Arabian heavy crude oil as the sole carbon source. After a 5 day-incubation period using MSM, mixed microorganisms of three species (strains BS1, BS2 and BS4) degraded 48.4% of aliphatic hydrocarbons and 30.5% of aromatic hydrocarbons. Treatability and microcosm tests were performed in the three different treatment conditions (AO: Arabian heavy crude oil, AO+IN: Arabian heavy crude oil+inorganic nutrient, AO+IN+MM: Arabian heavy crude oil+inorganic nutrient+mixed microorganism agents). Among these, significantly enhanced biodegradation of aliphatic hydrocarbons were observed in AO+IN and AO+IN+MM conditions, without showing any different biodegradation rates in either condition. However, the degradation rates of aromatic hydrocarbons in an AO+IN+MM condition were increased by 50% in the treatability test and by 13% in the microcosm test compared to those in an AO+IN condition. Taken together, it can be concluded that mixed microorganism agents enhance the biodegradation of aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons in laboratory, a treatability test, and a microcosm test. This agent could especially be a useful tool in the application of bioremediation for removal of aromatic hydrocarbons.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.54-60
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• 2014

Aromatic hydrocarbons are toxic environmental pollutants that are detrimental to the ecosystem and human health. Among them, chlorotoluene and nitrotoluene are toxic to hydrobios and irritate the skin, eyes, and respiratory organs of humans. We herein report the development of recombinant microbial biosensors for cheap and rapid monitoring of chlorotoluene and nitrotoluene compounds. Plasmids were constructed by inserting the xylR regulatory gene for BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene) degradation into upstream of Po' (the DmpR activator promoter Po with the deletion of its own upstream activating sequences) or Pu (the cognate promoter of XylR)::lacZ (the ${\beta}$-galactosidase gene) and transformed into Escherichia coli $DH5{\alpha}$. In the presence of inducers, the biosensor cells immobilized in agarose developed a red color in 1-2 h due to the hydrolysis of chlorophenol red ${\beta}$-D-galactopyranoside (CPRG), a substrate of ${\beta}$-galactosidase that was expressed by the inducers. Among BTEX, high responses were specifically observed with o-, m-, p-chlorotoluene ($0.1{\mu}M-100 mM$) and o-, m-, p-nitrotoluene (0.1 mM-100 mM). Po' demonstrated higher responses than those with Pu. The biosensors immobilized in agarose showed good stability after 21 days' storage at $4^{\circ}C$, and responses in untreated wastewater spiked with chlorotoluene and nitrotoluene, suggesting they can be used to detect compounds in wastewater.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.67-71
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• 2003

Alginates were irradiated in an aqueous solution with $Co^{60}$ gamma rays in the dose ranges from 0 to 100 kGy, and investigated the relationship between the intrinsic viscosity $([{\eta}])$ and the molecular weight $(M_w)$ of alginates. The molecular weight of alginate was measured by gel permeation chromatography and the ranges from 1,894 to 135,174 Da were obtained. The molecular weight of alginate decreased markedly with increasing the degree of ${\gamma}-ray$ dose rate. The intrinsic viscosity of alginate solution after ${\gamma}-irradiation$ showed the ranges from 9.83 (g/g) to 602.69 (g/g), depending upon the ${\gamma}-irradiation$ dose. The molecular weight of alginate dependence of the intrinsic viscosity of the alginate solution would be expressed by Mark-Houwink equation. With a linearization of molecular weight and the intrinsic viscosity of the alginate solution, Mark-Houwink equation could be expressed with constant variables and the real data fitted to the equation of $[{\eta}]=2.2{\times}10^{-6}\;{M_w}^{1.656}\;(R^2=0.998)$.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.107-116
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• 2006

Purpose:Maxillay sinus grafting is an effective treatment procedure to improve bone height in the posterior maxillar area for implant installation. Beta-tricalciumphosphate(${\beta}$-TCP) was introduced to be grafting substitute material, providing a reasonable bio-degradation time, no need for harvesting procedure. The purpose of this study is to evaluate bone healing & regeneration phase using histomorphometric and immunohistochemical analysis. Material & Methods:Sixteen rabbits were divided into 4 groups. Bi-lateral maxillary sinus membranes were elevated at each rabbits, ${\beta}$-TCP was augmented in left sinus, autogenous bone was augmented in right sinus. The rabbits were sacrificed at 2, 4, 8 and 12 weeks. We investigated the bone regeneration & growth factor expression. Results: 1. The mean new bone volume formation was 28.99${\pm}$6.55%, 49.54${\pm}$5.47%, 69.09${\pm}$8.90% in autogenous grafted area, and 22.86${\pm}$5.56%, 24.00${\pm}$4.09%, 34.11${\pm}$3.37% in ${\beta}$-TCP area at 4, 8, 12 weeks. Therefore, new bone formation in autogenous bone was significantly higher than ${\beta}$-TCP (p<0.05). 2. The BMP 2/4 expression in autogenous bone grafted area was higher at 4, 8 weeks. 3. There was no difference in expression pattern of BMP-7/PDGF/VEGF during grafted bone regeneration. Conclusion:The authors we conclude that the autogenous bone graft was faster than ${\beta}$-TCP in bone regeneration, and the BMP 2/4 were more important in graft bone regeneration.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.249-255
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• 2015

Schisandrae fructus [Schizandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baillon] is a medicinal herb widely used for treating various inflammatory and immune diseases in East Asian countries. The Schisandrae Semen essential oil (SSeo) from this plant has pharmacological activities, including antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antitumoral activities. Nevertheless, the biological activities and underlying molecular mechanisms of the potential anti-cancer effects of this oil remain unclear. In the present study, we investigated the potential inhibition of apoptosis signaling pathways by SSeo in human leukemia U937 cells and evaluated the underlying molecular mechanism. Exposure to SSeo resulted in a concentration-dependent growth inhibition due to apoptosis, which was verified by DNA fragmentation, the presence of apoptotic bodies, and an increase in the sub-G1 ratio. Induction of apoptotic cell death by SSeo was correlated with the down-regulation of members of the inhibitor of apoptosis protein (IAP) family (including X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP), cIAP-1, and surviving) and anti-apoptotic Bcl-2, and with up-regulation of death receptor (DR) 4 and DR5, depending on dosage. SSeo treatment also induced Bid truncation, mitochondrial dysfunction, proteolytic activation of caspase-3, -8 and -9, and concomitant degradation of activated caspase-3 target proteins such as poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase. Taken together, these findings suggest that SSeo may be a potential chemotherapeutic agent for use in the control of human leukemia cells. Further studies are needed to identify its active compounds.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.518-528
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• 2013

Scutellaria baicalensis, belonging to the family Labiatae, is widely distributed in Korea, China, Mongolia, and eastern Siberia. It has been used in traditional medicine for various diseases, such as dysentery, pyrexia, jaundice, and carbuncles. In addition, S. baicalensis is reported to possess various beneficial pharmacological activities, including anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, antiviral, antihypertension, antioxidant, and anticancer effects. However, the molecular mechanisms of its anticancer activity have not been clearly elucidated. In the present study, we investigated the proapoptotic effects of ethanol extract of S. baicalensis (EESB) on human renal cell carcinoma Caki-1 cells. The anti-proliferative activity of EESB was associated with apoptosis induction, which was associated with the up-regulation of death receptor 4, the Fas ligand, and Bax and the down-regulation of Bid, XIAP, and cIAP-1 proteins. EESB treatment also induced mitochondrial dysfunction, proteolytic activation of caspase-3, -8, and -9 and degradation of caspase-3 substrate proteins, such as poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase, ${\beta}$-catenin, and phospholipase C-${\gamma}1$. However, pretreatment of a pan-caspase inhibitor, z-VAD-fmk, significantly attenuated the EESB-induced apoptosis. Taken together, these findings suggest that EESB may be a potential chemotherapeutic agent. Further studies will be needed to identify the active compounds that confer the anticancer activity of S. baicalensis.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.555-561
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• 2005

A new graphical method was developed to separate two distinctive decay rate coefficients($k_1$ and $k_2$) at their respective degradable substrate fractions($S_1 and $S_2$). The mesophilic batch reactor showed $k_1$ of $0.151\;day^{-1}$ for wasted activated sludge(WAS), $0.123\;day^{-1}$ for thickened sludge(T-S), $0.248{\sim}0.358\;day^{-1}$ at S/I ratio of $1{\sim}3$ for sorghum and $0.155{\sim}0.209\;day^{-1}$ at S/I ratio $0.2{\sim}1.0$ for swine waste, whereas their long term batch decay rate coefficients($k_2$) were $0.021\;day^{-1}$, $0.001\;day^{-1}$, $0.03\;day^{-1}$ and $0.04\;day^{-1}$ respectively. At least an order of magnitude difference between $k_1$ and $k_2$ was routinely observed in the batch tests. The portion of $S_1$, which degrades with each $k_1$ appeared 71% for WAS, 39% for T-S, 90% for sorghum, and $84{\sim}91%$ at S/I ratio of $0.2{\sim}1.0$ for swine waste. Ultimate biodegradabilities of 50% for WAS, 40% of T-S, $82{\sim}92%$ for sorghum, and $81{\sim}89%$ for swine waste were observed.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.840-845
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• 2011

Degradation products of agarose are biologically active and thus used as an ingredient in pharmaceuticals or functional cosmetics. Furthermore, it has been strongly considered as a substrate for bio-ethanol fermentation. Recently, we isolated new agarase-producing microorganism, Pseudoalteromonas sp. from south sea of Korea. In this study, we aimed to separate and purify the agarase from culture broth of this strain. Separation of agarase was performed by ion- exchange chromatography on DEAE-Sepharose resin. Equilibrium pH and volume ratio of resin to the amount of protein were optimized for the efficient adsorption of protein. 410 ${\mu}g$ of protein was completely adsorbed to 3 mL of resin at pH 7.5. The total amount of eluted protein increased as NaCl concentration increased to 400 mM at isocratic elution. Agarase was separated by linear gradient elution of NaCl (0~1,000 mM). Three major protein peaks were observed and the presence or absence of agarase in these eluted proteins was measured by Lugol's staining technique. Only six eluted protein fractions showed strong agarase activity.