• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.57 no.6
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• pp.758-762
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• 2019

Sodium borohydride,$NaBH_4$, has many advantages as hydrogen source for portable proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC). When PEMFC is used for marine use, $NaBH_4$ hydrolysis using seawater is economical. Therefore, in this study, hydrogen was generated by using seawater instead of distilled water in the process of hydrolysis of $NaBH_4$. Properties of $NaBH_4$ hydrolysis reaction using activated carbon supported Co-B/C catalyst were studied. The yield of hydrogen decreased as $NaBH_4$ concentration and NaOH concentration were increased during $NaBH_4$ hydrolysis using sea water. At higher concentrations of $NaBH_4$ and NaOH, byproducts adhered to the surface of the catalyst after hydrolysis reaction using sea water, reduced hydrogen yield compared to distilled water. The activation energy of $NaBH_4$ hydrolysis is 59.3, 74.4 kJ/mol for distilled water and sea water, respectively. In order to increase the hydrogen generation rate in seawater as high as distilled water, the reaction temperature has to be increased by $80^{\circ}C$ or more.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.57 no.6
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• pp.768-773
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• 2019

The Fenton reaction, which evaluates the electrochemical durability of polymer membranes of polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEMFC), and the degradation of polymer membranes by OCV holding method are compared. The Fenton reaction is a method that can evaluate the chemical durability of the polymer membrane at outside the cell in a shorter time than the OCV Holding method. The Fenton reaction was carried out at 30% hydrogen peroxide, 10 ppm iron, and $80^{\circ}C$ for 24 hours. OCV Holding was driven at $90^{\circ}C$, 30% relative humidity and OCV for 168 hours. The Fenton reaction caused a lot of degradation inside the polymer membrane. On the other hand, in OCV Holding, the membrane thickness was thinned by the entire surface and internal degradation. The fluorine emission rate was more than 10 times higher than that of OCV Holding due to the Fenton reaction. The hydrogen permeation rate increased about 30% at 24 hours of Fenton reaction. At OCV Holding, hydrogen permeability decreased after 24 hours and then increased. As a whole, there was a difference in a membranes deteriorated by Fenton reaction and OCV Holding.

• Journal of Radiopharmaceuticals and Molecular Probes
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.65-72
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• 2018

Prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA) is a cell surface membrane protein, which is overexpressed in most prostate cancer. Recently, PET imaging with $[^{68}Ga]$PSMA-HBED-CC has been widely used for the diagnosis of recurrent prostate cancer and the studies on the diagnostic potential of $^{64}Cu$-labeled PSMA ligands reported actively. In this study, we monitored with biological evaluation in vivo and PET imaging of $^{64}Cu$-labeled PSMA ligand ($[^{64}Cu]$PSMA-617). The radiolabelling efficiency and stability of $[^{64}Cu]$PSMA-617 were confirmed by radio-thin layer chromatography. The radiolabeling efficiency of $[^{64}Cu]$PSMA-617 showed over 95%, and stabilities of intact remained over 98% in both human and mouse serum for 48 h. In normal male mice, in vivo uptake of $[^{64}Cu]$PSMA-617 in several organs was measured at 2, 4, 6, 24, 48 h after injection. Rapid blood clearance was observed for $[^{64}Cu]$PSMA-617. The high uptake was observed in the lung, liver, intestines and kidneys at 2 h postinjection, but was low in the other organs (1-2 %ID/g) at 4 h. The dynamic PET/CT images of 22RV1 tumor-bearing nude mice were acquired during 60 min and additionally acquired 24 h and 48 h after injection. In dynamic PET images, $[^{64}Cu]$PSMA-617 uptake ratio in tumors versus muscle was increased as time elaplsed until 60 minutes and remained in tumors at 48 h. In these results, the PET/CT imaging using $[^{64}Cu]$PSMA-617 in prostate cancer is expected to be useful for the diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer patients.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.236-248
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• 2019

We investigated occurrence and molecular phylogeny of the toxic epiphytic dinoflagellate Ostreopsis at seven sampling sites in the coastal waters off Jeju Island of Korea in April, 2017. During the sampling period, surface water temperature ranged from 15.7 to $18.3^{\circ}C$ and salinity was relatively constant, ranging from 33.4 to 34.9. Of a total of 13 macroalgal species collected from all sampling sites, Ostreopsis cells were observed from 8 macroalgal species and the highest cell abundance ($157.5cells\;g^{-1}$) was recorded on the red alga Grateloupia filicina at St. 6. LSU rDNA D8/D10 sequences of all Korean Ostreopsis strains isolated from the 4 sampling sites were 100% identical. Molecular phylogentic analyses (BI and ML) inferred from LSU rDNA alignment showed that the Korean Ostreopsis strains placed into the previously described the Ostreopsis sp. 1 clade, which contained strains isolated from the temperate coastal waters of Japan. The Korean Ostreopsis sp. 1 strain grew in a wide range of temperature ($10-30^{\circ}C$) and salinity (25-30), with its maximum growth rate of $0.49d^{-1}$ at $25^{\circ}C$ and salinity of 30, indicating that they can be tolerated in temperate areas.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.354-361
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• 2018

This study was carried out to isolate soil bacteria with antimicrobial activity and evaluate antimicrobial substances produced by isolated bacteria. Among many isolates Bacillus subtilis DS660 and Paenibacillus polymyxa DS842 showed high antimicrobial activities against 6 species of microbial residents on human skin and 3 species of pathogenic bacteria. DS660 and DS842 showed 15.3~26.8 and 11.3~27.5 mm of inhibition zone diameter, respectively on nutrient agar medium against most target bacteria and fungi. DS660 and DS842 produced $57{\pm}8$ and $170{\pm}15{\mu}mol/ml$ of siderophore, respectively as an antimicrobial substance. Analysis of ethyl acetate extract of culture supernatants of DS660 and DS842 suggested production of glycolipid biosurfactant which reduced surface tension of culture supernatant of DS660 and DS842 from 60.0 to 40.3 and 30.3 mN/m, respectively. DS660 and DS842 also showed $169.2{\pm}9.9$ and $357.2{\pm}13.7nmol/min/mg$ protein of ${\beta}-1,3$-glucanase activity, respectively, and hydrolyzed cell wall components of 3 bacterial species. These results suggest that B. subtilis DS660 and P. polymyxa DS842 may be utilized as an environment-friendly biocontrol agent against some skin microbes and pathogenic bacteria.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.343-353
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• 2018

Our previous research demonstrated the essential role of the xenB gene in stress response to RDX by using Pseudomonas sp. HK-6 xenB knockout. We have extended this work to examine the cellular responses and altered proteomic profiles of the HK-6 xenA knockout mutant under RDX stress. The xenA mutant degraded RDX about 2-fold more slowly and its growth and survival rates were several-fold lower than the wild-type HK-6 strain. SEM revealed more severe morphological damages on the surface of the xenA mutant cells under RDX stress. The wild-type cells expressed proportionally-increased two stress shock proteins, DnaK and GroEL from the initial incubation time point or the relatively low RDX concentrations, but slightly less expressed at prolonged incubation period or higher RDX. However the xenA mutant did not produced DnaK and GroEL as RDX concentrations were gradually increased. The wild-type cells well maintained transcription levels of dnaA and groEL under increased RDX stress while those in the xenA mutant were decreased and eventually disappeared. The altered proteome profiles of xenA mutant cells under RDX stress also observed so that the 27 down-regulated plus the 3 up-regulated expression proteins were detected in 2-DE PAGE. These all results indicated that the intact xenA gene is necessary for maintaining cell integrity under the xenobiotic stress as well as performing an efficient RDX degradation process.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.273-288
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• 2021

We analyzed the spatio-temporal distribution characteristics of water quality and phytoplankton communities in the Isa Stream systems (ISS) from Sangsa Lake to Suncheon Bay. Sangsa Lake showed relatively oligotrophic and mesotrophic conditions, but the freshwater and mixed brackish water zones showed more severe eutrophication than Sangsa Lake and Suncheon Bay due to the influence of industrial waste such as livestock waste. In terms of the phytoplankton community, the number of phytoplankton species was higher in freshwater and mixed brackish water zones than in Sangsa Lake and Suncheon Bay, but the cell density and Chlorophyll-a concentrations (Chl-a) were relatively high in Sanga Lake and Suncheon Bay. In particular, the mesotrophic species Fragilaria crotonensis and Asterionella formosa showed different dominance in the surface and bottom layers, and the influence of A. formosa was significant in the freshwater and mixed brackish water zones in spring and summer. However, Skeletonema costatum-ls, a eutrophic indicator species, dominated in mixed brackish water zones to seawater in autumn and winter. Thus, the severe eutrophication and rapid environmental changes in the ISS could seriously damage the coastal ecosystem in Suncheon Bay. These ecosystem changes are threatening in terms of conservation and management of the UNESCO Suncheon Biosphere Reserve and Yeoja Bay including Suncheon Bay, which recorded the first Ramsar wetland in Korea. Therefore, further research is needed to establish an in-depth management plan.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.59 no.4
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• pp.542-547
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• 2021

Glass lined impellers are corrosion resistant to most chemicals, including strong acids, and also have a smooth, non-stick surface, easy to clean and free from impurities in the process. Glass lined home base impeller is a multi-purpose impeller designed to stir a wide viscosity range of liquids from low viscosity fluids to high viscosity fluids, among others, cell culture, yeast culture, and beer fermentation pots, especially used for air-water system breathable stirring. The glass lining for HB impellers, which are simple in structure and competitive in performance, is essential to have upper and lower division in order to make the joint area between the impeller and shaft as small as possible. The upper and lower division of the impeller hardly affects the mixing performance, but the aeration performance. In this study, in order to optimize the shape of the Glass Lining HB impeller, a study was conducted on the effect of the angle between the upper and lower impellers, the clearance between the impellers, and the number of baffles on the aeration power. The optimal shape and baffle plate conditions for the Glass lined HB impeller were derived through the study results that the angle and the clearance between the upper and lower impellers decreased the ration of the power consumption with aeration P_g and that without aeration P₀, P_g/P₀.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2019.10a
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• pp.92-92
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• 2019

Excessive or chronic inflammation contributes to the pathogenesis of many inflammatory diseases such as sepsis, rheumatoid arthritis, and ulcerative colitis. Hibiscus syriacus L. has been used as a medicinal plant in many Asian countries, even though its anti-inflammatory activity has been unclear. Therefore, we investigated the anti-inflammatory effect of anthocyanin fractions from the H. syriacus L. varieties Pulsae (PS) on the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced expression of proinflammatory mediators and cytokines in RAW264.7 macrophages. PS suppressed LPS-induced nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$) secretion concomitant with downregulation of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression. Furthermore, PS inhibited the production of proinflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha ($TNF-{\alpha}$), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and IL-12 in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages. Further study showed that PS significantly decreased LPS-induced nuclear translocation of the nuclear $factor-{\kappa}B$ ($NF-{\kappa}B$) subunits, p65 and p50. Molecular docking data showed that many anthocyanins from PS fit into the hydrophobic pocket of MD2 and bound to Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), indicating that PS inhibits the TLR4-MD2-mediated inflammatory signaling pathway. Especially, apigenin-7-O-glucoside most powerfully bound to MD2 and TLR4 through LYS122, LYS122, and SER127 at a distance of $2.205{\AA}$, $3.098{\AA}$, and $2.844{\AA}$ and SER441 at a distance of $2.873{\AA}$ (docking score: -8.4) through hydrogen bonding, respectively. Additionally, PS inhibited LPS-induced TLR4 dimerization/expression on the cell surface, which consequently decreased MyD88 recruitment and IRAK4 phosphorylation. PS completely blocked LPS-mediated mortality in zebrafish larvae by diminishing the recruitment of neutrophil and macrophages accompanied by low levels of proinflammatory cytokines. Taken together, our results indicate that PS attenuates LPS-mediated inflammation in both in vitro and in vivo by blocking the TLR4/MD2-MyD88/IRAK4-$NF-{\kappa}B$ axis. Therefore, PS might be used as a novel modulatory candidate for effective treatment of LPS-mediated inflammatory diseases.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.30 no.12
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• pp.1128-1139
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• 2020

Over recent years, it has become evident that food and agricultural products are easily contaminated by fungi of Aspergillus, Fusarium, and Penicillium due to rapid climate change, which is not only a global food quality concern but also a serious health concern. Owing to consumers' interest in health, resistance to preservatives such as propionic acid and sorbic acid (which have been used in the past) is increasing, so it is necessary to develop a substitute from natural materials. In this review, the role of lactic acid bacteria as a biological method for controlling the growth and toxin production of fungi was examined. According to recent studies, lactic acid bacteria effectively inhibit the growth of fungi through various metabolites such as organic acids with low molecular weight, reuterin, proteinaceous compounds, hydroxy fatty acids, and phenol compounds. Lactic acid bacteria effectively reduced mycotoxin production by fungi via adsorption of mycotoxin with lactic acid bacteria cell surface components, degradation of fungal mycotoxin, and inhibition of mycotoxin production. Lactic acid bacteria could be regarded as a potential anti-fungal and anti-mycotoxigenic material in the prevention of fungal contamination of food and agricultural products because lactic acid bacteria produce various kinds of potent metabolic compounds with anti-fungal activities.