• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.18 no.4 s.94
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• pp.449-458
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• 2006

The discharge of fly ash that is produced by coal-fired electric power plants is rapidly increasing in Korea. The utilization of fly ash in the raw materials would contribute to the elimination of an environmental problem and to the development of new high-performance materials. So it is needed to study the binder obtained by chemically activation of pozzolanic materials by means of a substitute for the cement. Fly ash consists of a glass phase. As it is produced from high temperature, it is a chemically stable material. Fly ash mostly consists of $SiO_2\;and\;Al_2O_3$, and it assumes the form of an oxide in the inside of fly ash. Because this reaction has not broken out by itself, it is need to supply it with additional $OH^-$ through alkali activators. Alkali activators were used for supplying it with additional $OH^-$. This paper concentrated on the strength development according to the kind of chemical activators, the curing temperature, the heat curing time. Also, according to scanning electron microscopy and X-Ray diffraction, the main reaction product in the alkali activated fly ash mortar is Zeolite of $Na_6-(AlO_2)_6-(SiO_2)_{10}-12H_2O$ type.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.348-354
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• 2008

Bisphenol A (BPA), an environmental endocrine disrupter, enters the human body continuously in food and drink. Young children are likely to be more vulnerable than adults to chemical exposure due to the immaturities of their organ systems, rapid physical development, and higher ventilation, metabolic rates, and activity levels. The direct effect of BPA on peripheral tissue might also be of importance to the development of insulin resistance. However, the influence that BPA has on insulin signaling molecules in skeletal muscle has not been previously investigated. In this study, we examined the effect of BPA on fasting blood glucose (FBG) in post-weaned Wistar rats and on insulin signaling proteins in C2C12 skeletal muscle cells. Subsequently, we investigated the effects of BPA on insulin-mediated Akt phosphorylation in C2C12 myotubes. In rats, BPA treatment (0.1-1,000 ng/mL for 24 hours) resulted in the increase of FBG and plasma insulin levels, and reduced insulin-mediated Akt phosphorylation. Furthermore, the mRNA expression of insulin receptor (IR) was decreased after 24 hours of BPA treatment in C2C12 cells in a dose-dependent manner, whereas the mRNA levels of other insulin signaling proteins, including insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) and 5'-AMP-dependent protein kinase (AMPK), were unaffected. Treatment with BPA increased GLUT4 expression and protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) activity in C2C12 myotubes, but not in protein levels. We conclude that exposure to BPA can induce insulin resistance by decreasing IR gene expression, which is followed by a decrease in insulin- mediated Akt activation and increased PTP1B activity.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.385-391
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• 2000

A kinetic study on the preparation of iron powder by hydrogen reduction of ferrous chloride vapor has been carried out both experimentally and theoretically. For the preparation of iron powder, ferrous chloride was vaporized and transported to a reaction zone by Ar gas used as carrier. Ferrous chloride vapor and hydrogen were mixed and subject to a reduction reaction at high temperature to produce iron powder and HCI gas. Iron powder was collected with organic solvent at the end of reaction zone and HCI gas was also absorbed in a caustic soda solution to determine the conversion ratio of ferrous chloride. For the development of rate equations, a 1st-order reaction and equilibration of ferrous chloride vapor with Ar gas were assumed. According to the results, the rate constant, k could be expressed as $k=7,879exp(-53,840/RT)\textrm{dm}^3/mole.sec$ and the activation energy was found to be 53.84kJ/mole. From TEM observation, the particle size distribution of iron powder produced was found to be in the range of $0.1~1.0{\mu\textrm{m}}$ which was not significantly influenced by reaction temperature or gas flow rates.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.42-50
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• 1992

We conducted screening on Chinese medicinal herbs to examine their anti-complementary activity by hemolytic complementary assay $(TCH_{50})$. Among 55 kinds of herbs, several herbs showed relatively potent anti-complementary activity which decreased $TCH_{50}$, more than 70% in comparison with control. Then, hot water extracts of the following herbs, Curcuma aromatica, Areca catechu, Gleditsiae spina, Euonymus alata, Acanthopanax senticous. Lonicera japonica, Aconitum carmichaeli, Curcuma zedoaria and Cinnamoum cassia, which were shown relatively potent anti-complementary activity were partially purified and analyzed their chemical properties. These activities were resistant to digestion with pronase but decreased by treatment with $NaIO_4$. These results may indicate that the complement activating ability in their herbs is due to polysaccharide. Furthermore, the anti-complementary activity of Areca catechu which was showed the most potent activity, was reduced partially in the absence of the $Ca^{++}\;ion$. After incubation of the normal human serum with partially purified polysaccharide of A. catechu in the absence of $Ca^{++}\;ion$, a cleavage of C3 in the serum was found to have occurred through immunoelectrophoresis using rabbit anti-human C3 serum. These results indicate that the mode of complement activation by polysaccharide of A. catechu is via both the alternative and classical pathway.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.568-574
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• 2007

Crack-free dried gel monoliths of the composition $Li_2O1{\cdot}7Al_2O_3{\cdot}8.6SiO_2$ have been prepared as a precursor of transparent glass-ceramic by the hydrolysis and polycondensation of mixed metal alkoxides in solutions containing N,N-dimethylformamide as the drying control chemical additive, alcohols, and water. It was investigated that activation energy for gelation according to the variation of water concentration ranged from 13 to 14 kcal/mol. Only when the amount of water for gelation was 3 times higher than the stoichiometric amount, monolithic dry gels were successfully prepared after drying at $70{\sim}75^{\circ}C$ and at a rate of 0.1~0.3%/h. The specific surface area, the pore volume, the average pore diameters of dried gel at $180^{\circ}C$ were about $239.40m^2/g$, 0.001~0.03 mL/g, and $145.62{\AA}$, respectively. It showed that the dried monolithic gel had a porous body. The DTA curve had the first exothermic peak around $800^{\circ}C$ and the 2nd peak around $980^{\circ}C$, which may correspond to crystallization of the gel.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.632-638
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• 2014

Batch adsorption studies including equilibrium, kinetics and thermodynamic parameters for the adsorption of new fuchsin dye using granular activated carbon were investigated with varying the operating variables such as initial concentration, contact time and temperature. Equilibrium adsorption data were fitted into Langmuir, Freundlich, Dubinin-Radushkevich and Temkin isotherms. Adsorption equilibrium was mostly well described by Langmuir Isotherm. From the estimated separation factor of Langmuir ($R_L$ = 0.023), and Freundlich (1/n = 0.198), this process could be employed as an effective treatment for the adsorption of new fuchsin dye. Also based on the adsorption energy (E = 0.002 kJ/mol) from Dubinin-Radushkevich isotherm and the adsorption heat constant (B = 1.920 J/mol) from Temkin isotherm, this adsorption is physical adsorption. From kinetic experiments, the adsorption reaction processes were confirmed following the pseudo second order model with good correlation. The intraparticle diffusion was a rate controlling step. Thermodynamic parameters including changes of free energy, enthalpy, and entropy were also calculated to predict the nature of adsorption. The change of enthalpy (92.49 kJ/mol) and activation energy (11.79 kJ/mol) indicated the endothermic nature of adsorption processes. The change of entropy (313.7 J/mol K) showed an increasing disorder in the adsorption process. The change of free energy found that the spontaneity of process increased with increasing the adsorption temperature.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.343-349
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• 2012

Polysaccharides isolated from Korean black raspberry wine were examined for their chemical properties and immuno-modulating activities. The molecular mass of RB-1b-I, the main polysaccharide in black raspberry wine, was estimated as 180 kDa and it contained a significant proportion of mannose (76.8%) and 4 different minor component sugars such as galactose (15.8%), arabinose (3.8%), glucose (2.6%) and rhamnose (1.2%). This indicated that RB-1b-I was mainly present as a mannan, which had originated from the cell walls of fermenting yeasts. On the other hand, RB-1b-I induced high levels of macrophage activation as well as mitogenicity regarding murine splenocytes in vitro. The intravenous administration of RB-1b-I significantly augmented NK cytotoxicity against YAC-1 tumor cells. RB-1b-I also showed potent anti-complementary activity in a dose-dependent manner via both alternative and classical pathways. Results indicated that Korean black raspberry wine contains peculiar polysaccharides which provide beneficial immuno-stimulating activities for human health.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.87-92
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• 2006

The steam reforming of methane over Ru-promoted $Ni/Al_2O_3$ was carried out. Compared with $Ni/Al_2O_3$, which needs pre-reduction by $H_2$, $Ru/Ni/Al_2O_3$ catalysts exhibited relatively higher activity than conventional $Ni/Al_2O_3$. According to $H_2-TPR$ of reduced or used catalysts and $CH_4-TPR$, it was revealed that the reduction of $RuO_x$ by $CH_4$ decomposition begins at a lower temperature ($220^{\circ}C$) and the reduced Ru facilitates the reduction of NiO, and leads to self-activation. To improve metal dispersion, the catalyst was soaked in 7 M aqueous $NH_4OH$ for 2 h at $45^{\circ}C$ while stirring. As a result, $Ru/Ni/Al_2O_3$ catalysts with aqueous $NH_4OH$ treatment have higher activity, larger metal surface area (by $H_2$-chemisorption), and small particle size (by XRD and XPS). It is noted that the amount of noble metal could be reduced by aqueous $NH_4OH$ treatment.

• Journal of Hydrogen and New Energy
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.29-38
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• 2001

The alloys $ZrMn_2Ni_x$ (x=0.0, 0.3, 0.6, 0.9 and 1.2) as the alloys of Zr-Mn-Ni three component system were prepared and their hydrogen-storage properties and their electrochemical properties were investigated. The C14 Laves phase formed in all the alloys $ZrMn_2Ni_x$. Among these alloys $ZrMn_2Ni_{0.6}$ was activated relatively easily(after about 11 charge-discharge cycles), and had the largest discharge capacity(max. 45mAh/g). For all the alloys Zr was dissolved most easily into the 6M KOH solution. More Mn and Ni were dissolved from the $ZrMn_2Ni_{0.6}$ alloy than from the other alloys. Due to the active charge and discharge of the $ZrMn_2Ni_{0.6}$ alloys, related to the easier activation and the larger discharge capacity, Zr, Mn and Ni in this alloy were considered to be dissolved more easily into the 6M KOH solution, compared with the other alloys.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.115-122
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• 1998

The maintenance of a viable pregnancy has long been viewed as an immunological paradox. The deveolping embryo and trophoblast are immunologically foreign to the maternal immune system due to their maternally inherited genes products and tissue-specific differentiation antigens (Hill & Anderson, 1988). Therefore, speculation has arisen that spontaneous abortion may be caused by impaired maternal immune tolerance to the semiallogenic conceptus (Hill, 1990). Loss of recall antigen has been reported in immunosuppressed transplant recipients and is associated with graft survival (Muluk et al., 1991; Schulik et al., 1994). Progesterone $(10^{-5}M)$ has immunosuppressive capabilities (Szekeres-Bartho et al., 1985). Previous study showed that fertile women, but not women with unexplained recurrent abortion (URA), lose their immune response to recall antigens when pregnant (Bermas & Hill, 1997). Therefore, we hypothesized that immunosuppressive doses of progesterone may affect proliferative response of lymphocytes to trophoblast antigen and alloantigen. Proliferative responses using $^3H$-thymidine ($^3H$-TdR) incorporation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) to the irradiated allogeneic periperal blood mononuclear cells as alloantigen, trophoblast extract and Flu as recall antigen, and PHA as mitogen were serially checked in 9 women who had experienced unexplained recurrent miscarriage. Progesterone vaginal suppositories (100mg b.i.d; Utrogestan, Organon) beginning 3 days after ovulation were given to 9 women with unexplained RSA who had prior evidence of Th1 immunity to trophoblast. We checked proliferation responses to conception cycle before and after progesterone supplementation once a week through the first 7 weeks of pregnancy. All patients of alloantigen and PHA had a positive proliferation response that occmed in the baseline phase. But 4 out of 9 patients (44.4%) of trophoblast antigen and Flu antigen had a positive proliferative response. The suppression of proliferation response to each antigen were started after proliferative phase and during pregnancy cycles. Our data demonstrated that since in vivo progesterone treated PBMCs suppressed more T-lymphocyte activation and $^3H$-TdR incorporation compare to PBMCs, which are not influenced by progesterone. This data suggested that it might be influenced by immunosuppressive effect of progesterone. In conclusion, progesterone may play an important immunological role in regulating local immune response in the fetal-placental unit. Furthermore, in the 9 women given progesterone during a conception cycle, Only two (22%) repeat pregnancy losses occured in these 9 women despite loss of antigen responsiveness (one chemical pregnancy loss and one loss at 8 weeks of growth which was karyotyped as a Trisomy 4). These finding suggested that pregnancy loss due to fetal aneuploidy is not associated with immunological phenomena.