• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.1745-1749
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• 2014

Background: Platycodin D (PD), a triterpenoid saponin isolated from the Chinese medicinal herb Platycodonis radix, possesses anti-cancer effects in several cancer cell lines. The aim of this study was to evaluate its anticancer activities in hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Materials and Methods: MTT and colony formation assays were performed to evaluate cell proliferation, along with flow cytometry and Western blotting for apoptosis. Cell adhesion was tested by observing cellular morphology under a microscope, while the transwell assay was employed to investigate the cell migration and invasion. Results: PD concentration-dependently inhibited cell proliferation in both HepG2 and Hep3B cells, and significantly suppressed colony formation and induced apoptosis in HepG2 cells. The protein levels of cleaved poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) and Bax were up-regulated while that of survivin was down-regulated after treatment with PD. Moreover, PD not only obviously suppressed the adhesion of HepG2 cells to Matrigel, but also remarkably depressed their migration and invasion induced by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA). Conclusions: PD presents anti-cancer potential in hepatocellular carcinoma cells via inducing apoptosis, and inhibiting cell adhesion, migration and invasion, indicating promising features as a lead compound for anti-cancer agent development.

• Proceedings of the Membrane Society of Korea Conference
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• 2004.05a
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• pp.86-89
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• 2004

The present study reports the preparation of a compact ZSM-5 membrane showing high thermal stability and high separation factors, especially n-/i-butane isomers at high temperatures. ZSM-5 membrane was prepared on a porous $\alpha$-Al$_2$O$_3$ tube (an average pore diameter, ca. 100 nm) at 18$0^{\circ}C$ by the seed-assisted crystallization method. The XRD and SEM results showed that a thin zeolite layer (ca. 1 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$) was formed on the support surface. The single gas permeances of $N_2$, H$_2$, SF$_{6}$, n-butane, and i-butane were taken at 27$0^{\circ}C$. i-Butane permeance hardly changed after repeated thermal treatments up to 40$0^{\circ}C$, indicating the membrane is thermally stable. On the other hand, other single gas permeances increased when the membrane was further dried at 40$0^{\circ}C$, indicating thermal pretreatment at 27$0^{\circ}C$ could not remove all the adsorbed species in the membrane. i-Butane and SF$_{6}$ permeances were significantly lower than the permeances of smaller molecules, indicating that the membrane has a low concentration of defects. The ideal selectivities at 27$0^{\circ}C$ were 61 for $H_2$/i-butane and 47 for $H_2$/SF$_{6}$. The temperature dependency of n/i-butane ideal selectivities and separation factors for an equimolar n/i-butane mixture was studied. The ideal selectivity showed a maximum of 36 at 30$0^{\circ}C$. The separation factors increased with temperature and reached around 12 at 300-40$0^{\circ}C$, which were much higher than those reported in the literature.ature.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.62-68
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• 2014

To improve the compatibility of bentonite with rubber matrix, organo-modified bentonite was synthesized with a silane coupling agent, [3-(2-aminoethylamino)propyl]trimethoxysilane (AEAPTMS) in the suspension of bentonite. The structure and characteristics of organo-modified bentonite were investigated using FTIR-spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Ethylene-propylene-diene monomer (EPDM) rubber/organo-bentonite composites were compounded by a two-roll mill. The vulcanization and mechanical properties were studied. Results showed that the concentration of hydrochloric acid and $H_2O$ in the synthesis had significant influence on the modification of bentonite, which further contributed to the properties of the composites. Filled with 20 phr modified bentonite, the tensile strength and elongation at break of the rubber increased from 1.95 to 4.8 MPa and 300% to 500%, respectively.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.23 no.7
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• pp.993-1003
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• 2013

Methanotrophs are the most important sink of $CH_4$, which is a more highly potent greenhouse gas than $CO_2$. Methanotrophic abundance and community diversity in cover soils from two typical semi-aerobic landfills (SALs) in China were detected using real-time polymerase chain reaction (real-time-PCR) and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) based on 16S rRNA genes, respectively. Real time-PCR showed that Type I methanotrophs ranged from $1.07{\times}10^6$ to $2.34{\times}10^7$ copies/g soil and that of Type II methanotrophs from $1.51{\times}10^7$ to $1.83{\times}10^8$ copies/g soil. The ratio of Type II to Type I methanotrophic copy numbers ranged from 5.61 to 21.89, indicating that Type II methanotrophs dominated in SAL. DGGE revealed that Type I methanotrophs responded more sensitively to the environment, changing as the community structure varied with different soil types and locations. Methylobacter, Methylosarcina, and Methylomicrobium for Type I, and Methylocystis for Type II were most prevalent in the SAL cover layer. Abundant interflow $O_2$ with high $CH_4$ concentration in SALs is the reason for the higher population density of methanotrophs and the higher enrichment of Type II methanotrophs compared with anaerobic landfills and other ecosystems, which proved a conclusion that increasing the oxygen supply in a landfill cover layer would greatly improve $CH_4$ mitigation.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.7-11
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• 2016

The aerial part of Trichosanthes kirilowii Maxim. (Cucurbitaceae), has long been used in traditional Korean and Chinese medicines for the treatment of heatstroke. We isolated and identified three flavones, luteolin-7-O-${\beta}$-D-glucopyranoside(1), luteolin-4'-O-${\beta}$-D-glucopyranoside(2), luteolin(3) from its methanolic extract. In the present study, we found that luteolin attenuates the lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced inflammation in BV2 microglial cells. Luteolin significantly inhibited LPS-induced production of pro-inflammatory mediators such as nitric oxide(NO) and prostaglandin $E_2(PGE_2)$ in BV2 microglia in a concentration-dependent manner without cytotoxic effect. Luteolin dose-dependently suppressed the protein expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2). In addition, luteolin also showed significant induction of heme oxygenase(HO)-1. These results suggest that both the aerial part of T. kirilowii and luteolin may be good candidates to regulate LPS-induced inflammatory response.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.141-148
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• 2021

Microplastic contamination in waterbodies is a growing source of concern for researchers and other stakeholders. We investigated oxidative stress and toxicity in goldfish (Carassius auratus) in response to exposure to 1-㎛ diameter micro-polystyrene (MP) at concentrations of 0, 10, 100, and 1000 beads/mL (MP 0, MP 10, MP 100, and MP 1000 groups) for 7 d (at day 0, 1, 3, 5, and 7). We analyzed the survival rates; superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) mRNA expression levels in the liver; SOD and CAT activity in the plasma; caspase-3 mRNA expression in the liver; and the levels of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) in plasma. Terminal transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assays were also conducted to determine apoptosis levels in the liver. All fish in the MP 1000 group died by day 7 and the MP 100 group had a lower survival rate than the MP 10 and MP 0 groups. The mRNA expression as well as SOD, CAT, and caspase-3 activity levels were increased significantly with increases in MP concentration and exposure time. Finally, according to the TUNEL assay, more apoptosis was observed in the MP 1000 group at day 5 than in other groups. In summary, MP concentrations above 100 beads/mL caused death and oxidative stress to goldfish. We conclude that MP can cause oxidative stress and apoptosis in goldfish, which leads to death.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.207-216
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• 2021

Supplement of high-protein food plays an important role in improving the symptoms of malnutrition and the immune capacity of the body, but the association of high-protein diet and gut microbiota remained unaddressed. Here, we systematically analyzed the internal organs and gut microbiota in C57(WT) or PD-1H-depleted (KO) mice (T cells were activated) fed with pupae or feed for six weeks. We observed that the body weight gain in the mice fed with pupae increased less significantly than that of the feed group, while the villi and small intestine lengths in the pupa group were reduced compared with that of mice given feed. However, the average body weight of the KO mice increased compared with that of the WT mice fed with pupae or feed. Pupae increased the concentration of blood glucose in WT, but not in KO mice. Moreover, in the feed group, there was no difference in the weight of the internal organs between the WT and KO mice, but in the pupae-fed group, liver weight was decreased and spleen weight was increased compared with that of KO mice. The amounts/plural/amounts of Melainabacteria, Chloroflexi, and Armatimonadetes were specifically upregulated by pupae, and this upregulation was weakened or eliminated by PD-1H depletion. Some bacteria with high abundance in the feed-fed KO mice, such as Deferribacteres, Melainabacteria, Acidobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Spirochaetes and Verrucomicrobia, were decreased in pupae-fed KO mice, and Proteobacteria and Deinococcus were specifically enriched in pupae-fed KO mice. Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes and Akkermansia were associated with weight loss in the pupae-fed group while Lachnospiraceae and Anaerobiospirillum were related glucose metabolism and energy consumption. Based on high-throughput sequencing, we discovered that some gut bacteria specifically regulated the metabolism of a high-protein diet, and PD-1H deficiency improved life quality and sustained blood glucose. Moreover, PD-1H responses to high-protein diet through modulating the type and quantity of gut bacteria. These findings provide evidence about the association among gut microbiota, T cell activation (for PD-1H depletion) and high-protein diet metabolism, have important theoretical significance for nutrition and health research.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.158-165
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• 2000

The purity of gypsum and quantitation of impurities of flue gas gypsum will not only play an important role in deciding of the optimal condition during a trial run of FGD (flue gas desulfurization), but also can be utilized in quality control of gypsum. The purity of gypsum can be determined from combined water, sulfur trioxide and calcium concentration. We found that the thermal analysis by TGA (thermogravimetric analysis) was the most accurate and convenient method to determine the purity of gypsum. This method will be done in a hour and the results were reproducible. On the other hand, the best way of the analysis of impurities in gypsum was fusion method using $LiBO_2$ as a fusion agent. We also determined the amount of $CO_2$ gas to analyze magnesium carbonate and calcium carbonate contents. The analyses of combined water by TGA, fusion method followed by ICP-AES (inductively coupled plasmaatomic emission spectroscopy) and determination of $CO_2$ amount can lead to more accurate and convenient method for gypsum analysis.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.351-359
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• 2010

The objectives of this study were to understand the characteristics of residents in industrial areas and factors affecting exposure to the Volatile Organic Compounds(VOCs : Benzene, Toluene, Xylene) as well as to assess exposure levels according to house-type, and whether residents were indoors or outdoors. This research was designed to assess the differences in exposure levels to indoor, outdoor and personal VOCs in a case group and a control group across all areas, as well as in each different area, from May to October 2007, in. 110 residents of the G, Y and H industrial areas of the Jun-nam province. The geometric mea-levels of airborne benzene for the case group 1.31part per billion(ppb) indoor, 1.29 ppb outdoor, and 1.32 ppb for personal exposure were significantly higher than for the control group 0.99, 0.87 and 0.57 ppb, respectively. The geometric mean level for toluene personal exposure across the G, Y and H areas was 5.70 ppb for the case group and 6.31 ppb for the control group. While the outdoor level was 4.27 ppb for the case group and 5.06 ppb for the control group, The indoor level for the case group was 4.78 ppb, similar to that of the control group 4.69 ppb. The geometric mean levels for airborne xylene across the G, Y and H areas were 0.16 ppb(outdoor), 0.12 ppb(personal exposure) and 0.10 ppb(indoor) for the case group, and for the control group were 0.17(personal exposure) and 0.09 ppb(indoor and outdoor). The indoor/outdoor(I/O) ratio for case group is 1.19, while that of the control group is 1.15, indicating that the indoor level was higher than the outdoor level. The interrelationship differences among the three different types of levels in the air in the G, Y and H areas are statistically significant, except for the difference between the indoor and outdoor figures for xylene. In terms of the different types of houses and energy type uesd, the geometric mean level for airborne benzene, toluene and xylene for houses were 1.61, 5.39 and 0.12 ppb, respectively. while the figures for flats were 0.67, 3.32 and 0.05 ppb, respectively. Outdoors, the levels of benzene and toluene in flats were 0.71 and 2.62 ppb, respectively. and 1.58 and 5.35 ppb in houses. For personal exposure, the house levels of benzene, toluene and xylene were all higher than for flats. Houses using oil for heating have significantly higher levels than flats, which use gas for heating.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.35-63
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• 1989

Geochemical characteristics of the Guryongsan (Ogcheon) uraniferous black slate show that this is an analogue to the conventional Chattanooga and Alum shales in occurrences. Whereas, its highest enrichment ratio in metals including uranium, among others, is explained by the cyclic sedimentation of the black muds and quartz-rich silts, and the uniform depositional condition with some what higher pH condition compared to the conditions of the known occurrences. The cyclic sedimentation, caused by the periodic open and close of the silled basin, has brought about the flush-out) of the uranium depleted water and the recharge with the new metal-rich sea water, which consequently contributed to the high concentration of metals in mud. The metal-rich marine black muds, which mostly occur in the early to middle Palaeozoic times, is attributed by the geologic conditions which related to the atmospheric oxygen contents, and these are scarcely met in the late Precambrian and/or with the onset of Palaeozoic era in the geologic evolution of the earth.