• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.90-93
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• 2007

The effects of the host on the aggregation behavior of Oxaxine 720 (Ox720) were studied using absorption, fluorescence, and excitation spectra. The host materials used in this study were water, ethanol, and $TiO_2/P123$ nanocomposite. Ox720 aqueous solution contains a significant amount of H-aggregates, which increases with the increase in the concentration. In ethanol solution, Ox720 mainly exists in the monomer form and tiny amount of Ox720 exists in H- and J-aggregate forms. In the $TiO_2/P123$ nanocomposite thin film, the amount of H-aggregates was smaller than that in the aqueous solution but greater than that in the ethanol solution. $TiO_2$ nanocomposite thin film was proven to be a moderately good host for Ox720.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.47-53
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• 1995

The aggregation of Pyronin G($PG^+$) with tetraphenylborate($TPB^-$) anion has been investigated in aqueous solution by absorption and fluorescence spectrophotometries. The addition of 1,4-dioxane in aqueous solution of $PG^+$ and $TPB^-$ dissociates the aggregates of PG-TPB due to the increased hydrophobicity of the mixed solvent as compared to pure water, and yields higher $PG^+$ momomer concentration than aqueous $PG^+$ solution. The aggregation is not observed in any organic solvents except in water. The absorption maxima of $PG^+$ are correlated relatively well with ${\pi}^*$ scale and $(n^2-1)/(2n^2+1)$ funtion. But better linear relationship was obtained with ${\pi}^*$ scale for alcohols.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.38 no.9
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• pp.632-639
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• 1994

For dye sensitization of zinc oxide in the visible region, copper phthalocyanine(CuPc) and sunfast yellow(SY) were adsorbed in two layers on zinc oxide powder. The adsorption structures of $\alpha-and\beta-CuPc$ on zinc oxide were investigated by photoacoustic, IR and Raman spectra. The ${\alpha}-and\;{\beta}$-polymorphs exhibited dimeric structure or molecular aggregates. The surface photovoltaic effect of ZnO/CuPc/SY showed higher than that of ZnO/SY/CuPc and $ZnO/\beta-CuPc/SY$ indicated better photosensitive than $ZnO/\alpha-CuPc/SY.$ Electrophotographic sensitivity of $ZnO/\beta-CuPc/SY$ was $$S_{1/2}=2.99{\times}10^{-2}(erg/cm^2)^{-1}$ at 630 nm.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.395-404
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• 2017

Fungal cell walls and cell membranes are the main targets of antifungals. In this study, we report on the antifungal activity of an ethanol extract from Paeonia lactiflora against Candida albicans, showing that the antifungal activity is associated with the synergistic actions of preventing cell wall synthesis, enabling membrane depolarization, and compromising permeability. First, it was shown that the ethanol extract from P. lactiflora was involved in damaging the integrity of cell walls in C. albicans. In isotonic media, cell bursts of C. albicans by the P. lactiflora ethanol extract could be restored, and the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the P. lactiflora ethanol extract against C. albicans cells increased 4-fold. In addition, synthesis of $(1,3)-{\beta}-{\small{D}}-glucan$ polymer was inhibited by 87% and 83% following treatment of C. albicans microsomes with the P. lactiflora ethanol extract at their $1{\times}MIC$ and $2{\times}MIC$, respectively. Second, the ethanol extract from P. lactiflora influenced the function of C. albicans cell membranes. C. albicans cells treated with the P. lactiflora ethanol extract formed red aggregates by staining with a membrane-impermeable dye, propidium iodide. Membrane depolarization manifested as increased fluorescence intensity by staining P. lactiflora-treated C. albicans cells with a membrane-potential marker, $DiBAC_4(3)$ ((bis-1,3-dibutylbarbituric acid) trimethine oxonol). Membrane permeability was assessed by crystal violet assay, and C. albicans cells treated with the P. lactiflora ethanol extract exhibited significant uptake of crystal violet in a concentration-dependent manner. The findings suggest that P. lactiflora ethanol extract is a viable and effective candidate for the development of new antifungal agents to treat Candida-associated diseases.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.79-88
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• 2024

Modification of Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) hollow fiber membranes (HFMs) characteristics and performance were investigated via post treatment using different oxidants. sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and potassium persulfate (KPS). Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and Proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H-NMR) results revealed no structural differences after post treatment. Cross-sectional micrographs show finger-like structures at the outer and inner walls of the HFMs and sponge-like structures in middle, where NaOCl and KPS post treated fibers exhibited a decrease in finger-like structures in addition to aggregates appearing on the surface, consequently leading to an increase in the surface roughness (Ra) from 48 nm to 52.8nm and 56 nm, respectively. Hydrogen peroxide post treatment only was observed to decrease the water contact angle from 98° to 81.4°. It was also observed that the elongation at break and the modulus deceased after NaOCl post treatment from 34.5 to 28.5% and from 19.3 Mpa to 16.6 Mpa, respectively. Moreover, pure water flux after H₂O₂ post treatment increased from 87.8 LMH/bar to 113 LMH/bar at 0.45 bar, while no changes were detected for the methylene blue dye rejection (74%) between raw and hydrogen peroxide post treated fibers at the same pressure. According to the findings hydrogen peroxide post treated PVDF HFMs have the most uniform surfaces, with almost no alterations in structural and mechanical properties or porosities with enhanced hydrophilicity and pure water flux maintaining appropriate rejection. Therefore, it is considered an efficient surface modifying agent for UF/NF membranes or low-pressure separators.