• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2003.04a
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• pp.222.2-223
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• 2003

Renal dipeptidase (RDPase, EC 3.4.13.19), an ectoenzyme of renal proximal tubules, is covalently bound to outer leaflet of lipid bilayer via glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchor. Chitin is a major component of the shells of crustacea such as crab, shrimp and crawfish. This study was conducted to examine the effect of chitosan on RDPase release from renal proximal tubules. Nitric oxide (NO), highly reactive free radical, inhibits the release of RDPase from porcine proximal tubules. (omitted)

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.319.2-319.2
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• 2002

Chitin is a major component of the shells of crustacea such as crab. shrimp and crawfish. Renal dipeptidase (RDPase. EC 3.4.13.19), an ectoenzyme of renal proximal tubules. is covalently bound to outer leaflet of lipid bilayer via glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchor. The biological role of RDPase was suggested as the hydrolysis of dipeptide into free-amino acids before renal reabsorption. The underlying biochemical mechanism of decreased RDPase release was suggested as nitric oxide (NO) production. (omitted)

• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.277-290
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• 2023

In order to study the mechanical properties of basalt fiber reinforced ultra-fine fly ash concrete (BFUFARC), the effects of ultra-fine fly ash (UFA) content, basalt fiber content, basalt fiber length and water reducing agent content on the compressive strength, splitting tensile strength and flexural strength of the composite material were studied through experimental and theoretical analysis. Also, a scanning electron microscope (SEM) was employed to analyze the mesoscopic structure in the fracture surface of composite material specimens at magnifications of 500 and 3500. Besides, the energy release rate (G_c) and surface free energy (γ_s) of crack tip cracking on BFUFARC in different basalt fiber content were studied from the perspective of fracture mechanics. Further, the cracking resistance, reinforcement, and toughening mechanisms of basalt fibers on concrete substrate were revealed by surface free energy of BFUFARC. The experimental results indicated that basalt fiber content is the main influence factor on the splitting tensile strength of BFUFARC. In case that fiber content increased from 0 to 0.3%, the concrete surface free energy at the tip of single-sided crack showed a trend of increased at first and then decreased. The surface free energy reached at maximum, about 3.59 × 10^-5 MN/m. During the process of increasing fiber content from 0 to 0.1%, G_C-2_γS showed a gradually decreasing trend. As a result, an appropriate amount of basalt fiber can play a preventing cracking role by increasing the concrete surface free energy, further effectively improve the concrete splitting tensile performance.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.241-257
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• 2003

The first seismically isolated structure in Taiwan was completed in early 1999. Seven new bridges of the Second National Freeway located at Bai-Ho area, a region which is considered to be of high seismic risk, have been designed and constructed with lead-rubber seismic isolation bearings. Since this is the first application of seismic isolation method to the practical construction in Taiwan, field tests were conducted for one of the seven bridges to evaluate the assumptions and uncertainties in the design and construction. The test program is composed of ambient vibration tests, forced vibration tests, and free vibration tests. For the free vibration tests, a special test setup composed of four 1000 kN hydraulic jacks and a quick-release mechanism was designed to perform the function of push-and-quick release. Valuable results have been obtained based on the correlation between measured and analytical data so that the analytical model can be calibrated. Based on the analytical correlation, it is concluded that the dynamic characteristics and free vibration behavior of the isolated bridge can be well captured when the nonlinear properties of the bearings are properly considered in the modeling.

• Composites Research
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.8-14
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• 2001

A simplified method for determining the three mode(I, II, III) components of the strain energy release rate of free-edge delaminations in composite laminates is proposed. The interlaminar stresses are evaluated using the interface moment and the interface shear forces which are obtained from the equilibrium equations at the interface between the adjacent layers. Deformation of an edge-delaminated laminate is analysed by using a generalized quasi-three dimensional classical laminated plate theory. The analysis provides closed-form expression for the three components of the strain energy release rate. The analyses are performed for composite laminates subjected to uniaxial tension, with free-edge delaminations located symmetrically and asymmetrically with respect to the laminate midplane. The analysis results agreed with a finite element solution using the virtual crack closure technique.

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 1993.09a
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• pp.36-39
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• 1993

We reported earlier (Br. J. Pharmac. 82. 485 - 491. 1984) that ginsenosides from Panax ginseng CA. Meyer antagonized noradrenaline or prostaglandin $F_{2\alpha}-induced$ contractions of pulmonary and intrapulmonary arterial rings of rabbits. Because this effect resembled that of acetylcholine (ACh). we questioned whether these acitons were due to release of nitric oxide from vaseular endothelium. We therefore determined whether ginsenosides could vasodilate preconstricted lungs and also protect against free radical injury. which normally eliminates the vasodilator response to ACh(J. Appl. Physiol. 71. 821 - 825. 1991 J. We found that ginsenoside $Rg_1$ or a mixture of saponins could ,a) vasodilate perfused. $U_{46619}-preconstricted$ lungs. b) promote increased synthesis of nitric oxide by endothelial cells in culture and c) prevent the pulmonary edema often associated with free radical injury (Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm. 189. 670 - 676. 1992). Thus, vasodilator and protective effects of ginsenosides against free radical injury may reflect enhanced synthesis and release of nitric oxide. These data suggest that ginsenosides may be useful in treatment of pulmonary and systemic hypertension. Aided by grants from the National Institutes of Health. Bethesda.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.27 no.11
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• pp.1577-1583
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• 2014

Encapsulation is a method used to protect material from certain undesirable environments, for controlled release at a more favorable time and place. Animal productivity would be enhanced if feed additives are delivered to be utilized at their site of action, bypassing the rumen where they are likely to be degraded by microbial action. A novel method of encapsulation with sesame gum was used to coat nitrate, a known enteric methane mitigating agent, and tested for the effect on methane reduction and other in vitro fermentation parameters using rumen fluid from cannulated Hanwoo steers. Orchard grass was used as basal diet for fermentation. The treatments were matrix (1.1 g sesame gum+0.4 g sesame oil cake) only, encapsulated nitrate (matrix+nitrate [21 mM]), free nitrate (21 mM), and a control that contained no additive. Analyses of fermentation parameters were done at 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, 24, and 48 h time periods. In comparison to control, both free and encapsulated nitrate produced significantly reduced (p<0.01) methane (76% less) and also the total volatile fatty acids were reduced. A significantly higher (p<0.01) concentration of ammonia nitrogen was obtained with the encapsulated nitrate treatment (44%) compared to the free form (28%) and matrix only (20%) (p = 0.014). This might suggest slow release of encapsulated nitrate so that it is fully reduced to ammonia. Thus, this pioneering study found a significant reduction in methane production following the use of sesame gum encapsulated nitrate that shows the potential of a controlled release system in enhancing sustainability of ruminant production while reducing/eliminating the risk of nitrite toxicity.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.69-73
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• 2005

To overcome the main disadvantages of non-viral gene delivery systems such as repeated administration due to the low transfection efficiency, poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) was applied to encapsulate pDNA in its microsphere formulation. Free pDNA or various ratios (w/w) of chitosan/pDNA complexes was used for encapsulation, with the resulting encapsulation efficiency of 44%, 5%, and 8% for free pDNA, 0.7:1 and 1:1 ratios, respectively. Scanning electron micrographs of poly(D,L-lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microspheres encapsulating pDNA or chitosan-condensed pDNA revealed a smooth spherical shape immediately after microsphere preparation and a collapsed porous shape in 41 days due to the degradation of PLGA. In vitro release profile showed that the 0.7:1 (w/w) ratio formulation exerted 47% release in 26 days, whereas free pDNA or 1:1 (w/w) ratio formulation did only 15% or 32%, respectively.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Crop Science Conference
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• 2022.10a
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• pp.157-157
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• 2022

Plants being sessile are prone to various abiotic challenges, including salinity. Plants generally cope with salt stress by regulating their endogenous NO levels. NO exogenously applied in various forms also successfully impedes the salt stress, but its small size, short half life, and high volatility rate hamper its application in agriculture. NO application via CS as a nanocarrier is an alternate option to ensure the optimal kinetic release of NO for a long period compared to the free NO form. Herein, we synthesized and characterized GSNO-CS NP by ionic gelation of TPP with CS and then reacting with GSH, followed by reaction with NaNO₂ suspension. The synthesized NPs were characterized using non-destructive analytical techniques such as DLS, FTIR, and SEM to ensure their synthesis and surface morphology. NO-release profile confirmed optimal kinetic NO release for 24 h from NO-CS NP as compared to free NO form. The efficiency of NO-CS NP was checked on Arabidopsis plants under salinity stress by gauging the morphological, physiological, and enzymatic antioxidant system and SOS pathway gene expression levels. Overall, the results revealed that NO-CS NP successfully mitigates salinity stress compared to free GSNO. Concluding, the findings provide sufficient experimental evidence for the application of nanotechnology to enhance NO delivery, thus inducing more benefits for the plants under stress conditions by mitigating the deleterious impacts of salt stress on the morphological and physiological status of the plants, and regulating the ions exchange by overexpression of SOS pathway candidate genes.

• Environmental Mutagens and Carcinogens
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.229-235
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• 2002

Thimerosal, a widely used preservative, has been well known to induce intracellular calcium mobilization in various cell types. However, the mechanism of its calcium mobilization is not clearly understood yet. For studying the mechanism of thimerosal-mediated calcium release, we have used HL60 cells in calcium-free Lockes solution that has no extracellular calcium. Thimerosal significantly reduced the lag period of initial calcium release whereas it enhanced the rate and magnitude of the calcium release in a dose-dependent manner. At the same time, we found that thimerosal generated superoxide anion by activating NADPH oxidase in dose- and time-dependent manner. Interestingly, the kinetics and the dosedependency of superoxide anion generation were very similar to those of intracellular calcium mobilization. In inhibitors study, the thimerosal-induced superoxide anion generation was significantly suppressed by DMSO as well as superoxide dismutase but not by genistein or EGTA. Surprisingly, the pretreatment with N-Acetyl-$_{L}$-Cysteine blocked almost completely the thimerosal-induced calcium increase, indicating that ROS playa key role in the calcium mobilization. The present results suggest that thimerosal-induced calcium mobilization is possibly mediated by the activation of NADPH oxidase and subsequent ROS generation.n.