• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.66
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• pp.519-526
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• 2023

Present study explored immunostimulatory effects of Astragalus membranaceus and Zanthoxylum schinifolium 1:1 (w:w) mixture (AZM-1:1) in Raw264.7 cells, mouse macrophage derived cells. Treatment with 100-400 ㎍/mL of AZM-1:1 in Raw264.7 cells significantly increased nitric oxide production in parallel with inducible nitric oxide synthase mRNA expression without affecting cytotoxicity. In addition, AZM-1:1 dose-dependently increased prostaglandin E₂ production in conditioned medium along with cyclooxygenase-2 mRNA induction. Moreover, AZM-1:1 induces the transcription of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1. Immunoblot analyses revealed that AZM-1:1 significantly increased the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases, provoked phosphorylation-mediated degradation of inhibitory-κBα, and phosphorylated p65. Furthermore, treatment with AZM-1:1 promoted phagocytosis of Escherichia coli particle labeled with green fluorescence. Taken together, AZM-1:1 may be a promising nutraceutical for stimulation the innate immune system, including macrophages.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2016

The new movement towards green chemistry and renewable feedstocks makes microbial production of chemicals more competitive. Among the numerous chemicals, organic acids are more attractive targets for process development efforts in the renewable-based biorefinery industry. However, most of the production costs in microbial processes are higher than that in chemical processes, among which over 60% are generated by separation processes. Therefore, the research of separation and purification processes is important for a promising biorefinery industry. This review highlights the progress of recovery processes in the separation and purification of organic acids, including their advantages and disadvantages, current situation, and future prospects in terms of recovery yields and industrial application.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.151-159
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• 2016

Nanoparticles have wide-scale applications in various areas, including medicine, chemistry, electronics, and energy generation. Several physical, biological, and chemical methods have been used for synthesis of silver nanoparticles. Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles using plants provide advantages over other methods as it is easy, efficient, and eco-friendly. Nanoparticles have been extensively studied as potential antimicrobials to target pathogenic and multidrug-resistant microorganisms. Their applications recently extended to development of antivirals to inhibit viral infections. In this study, we synthesized silver nanoparticles using Cinnamomum cassia (Cinnamon) and evaluated their activity against highly pathogenic avian influenza virus subtype H7N3. The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized using UVVis absorption spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Cinnamon bark extract and its nanoparticles were tested against H7N3 influenza A virus in Vero cells and the viability of cells was determined by tetrazolium dye (MTT) assay. The silver nanoparticles derived from Cinnamon extract enhanced the antiviral activity and were found to be effective in both treatments, when incubated with the virus prior to infection and introduced to cells after infection. In order to establish the safety profile, Cinnamon and its corresponding nanoparticles were tested for their cytotoxic effects in Vero cells. The tested concentrations of extract and nanoparticles (up to 500 μg/ml) were found non-toxic to Vero cells. The biosynthesized nanoparticles may, hence, be a promising approach to provide treatment against influenza virus infections.

• Textile Coloration and Finishing
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.57-62
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• 2016

We have synthesized five novel phthaloperinone dyes via a condensation reaction to be applied as yellow colorants for liquid crystal display(LCD) color filters. The reaction between 1,8-naphthalic anhydride(1a), 4-chloro-1,8-naphthalic anhydride(1b), 4-bromo-1,8-naphthalic anhydride(1c), 3-nitro-1,8-naphthalic anhydride(1d), 4-nitro-1,8-naphthalic anhydride(1e) and 1,2-diaminoanthraquinone(2) proceeded readily giving a product in 72-88% yields. The synthesized dyes were characterized by UV-Vis, mass spectrometry and elemental analysis. The spectral properties and thermal stability of the dyes were examined. The dyes absorb at around 400-450nm. All five dyes showed satisfactory thermal stability: the dyes retain 99-100% of its original weight at $300^{\circ}C$, 98-100% at $350^{\circ}C$, 92-98% at $400^{\circ}C$, and 84-92% at $450^{\circ}C$. We have quantitatively evaluated the reaction mechanism and reactivity of dye molecules by means of Pariser-Parr-Pople Molecular Orbital Method(PPP-MO).

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.79-85
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• 2014

Silicon (Si) has been investigated as promising negative-electrode (anode) materials because its theoretical specific capacity of 4200 mAh/g for $Li_{4.4}Si$ is far higher than that of carbonaceous anodes in current commercial products. However, in practice, the application of Si to Li-ion batteries is still quite challenging because Si suffers from severe volume expansion and contraction and lead to a continuous solid electrolyte interphase (SEI)-filming process by cracking of Si. This process consumes the limited $Li^+$ source, builds up thick and unstable SEI layer on the Si active materials, and will eventually disable the cell. Since unstable SEI reduces electrochemical performance and thermal stability of the Si anode, the surface chemistry of the anode should be modified by using a functional additive. It is found that lithium bis(oxalato)borate (LiBOB) as an additive effectively protected the Si anode surface, improved capacity retention when stored at $60^{\circ}C$, and alleviated exothermic thermal reactions of fully lithiated Si anode.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.432-438
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• 2013

Mixed-matrix membranes (MMMs) containing MIL-100(Fe), a MOF type, were fabricated in this study. MMMs up to 30 wt% MOF loading were prepared, and their gas permeabilities were tested. $H_2$, $CO_2$, $O_2$, $N_2$, and $CH_4$ gas permeabilities increased with the MOF loading, while $SF_6$, the largest kinetic diameter in this study, exhibited reduction of gas permeability with the loading. Ideal gas selectivity of $N_2/SF_6$ improved by 40% as compared with pure polyimide membrane, suggesting the proposed MMMs were suitable for $N_2/SF_6$ separation.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.24 no.12
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• pp.1583-1590
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• 2015

The aim of this study was to examine the morphological responses of Hosta longipes, an ornamental plants for heavy metal contaminated soils in urban landscaping, to heavy metals Cd, Pb, and Zn. Plants were grown in artificial soil amended with Cd, Pb, and Zn at concentation of 0, 100, 250, and 500 mg/kg. Plant height, leaf length, leaf width, total leaf number, deaf leaf number, new leaf number, chlorophyll contents, and ornamental value were monitored from May to August. At 4 months after planting, the survival and morphological responses of H. longipes grown in soil amended with Cd at concentrations ${\geq}100mg/kg$ were severely affected compared to those grown in the control soil. Relative leaf length rate and relative leaf width rate were significantly decreased when the concentration of Pb was increased. Total leaf number, chlorophyll contents, and ornamental value were the lowest value in plants grown in soil amended with Pb at level of 500 mg/kg. Relative leaf length rate and relative leaf width rate, total leaf number, dead leaf number, new leaf number, and ornamental values had a tendency of decrease when plants were grown in soils amended with Zn. However, no significant difference was found among treatments except for plants were grown in soils amended with 500 mg/kg Zn. Therefore, Hosta longipes might be useful for phytoremediation of Zn contaminated sites as herbaceous ornamental plants.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.299-307
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• 2002

In this proposed study, a new emerging shape forming technique Direct Coagulation Casting(DCC) which enables to fabricate complex-shaped ceramic parts has been investigated using colloid surface chemistry. Various process variables affected by dispersant, coagulation agent and sintering additives, have been evaluated in order to achieve highly concentrated stabilized silicon nitride suspensions. A high solid loading of 51 vol% in the dispersed silicon nitride suspension was prepared with 1.0wt% Tetraethylammonium Hydroxide (TEAH), which obtained a stable silicon nitride suspension with sintering additives $(Al_2O_3\;and\;Y_2O_3)$ in alkaline regions. The addition of hydroxyaluminium diacetate into the suspension, which decomposed at elevated temperatures, led to coagulate of a silicon nitride suspension. In a basic medium, aluminum ions precipitated to aluminum hydroxide $(Al(OH)_3)$, leading to decreased $OH^-$ concentration and, thus, coagulated suspension.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.77-82
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• 2018

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of natural Eriobotrya japonica Lindl. vinegar on the liver protective effect of animals exposed to carbon tetrachloride. Eriobotrya japonica Lindl. vinegar (200 mg/kg) was administered at the same time for 28 days, and hepatotoxicity was induced by intraperitoneal injection of carbon tetrachloride on the $29^{th}$ day. The aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase levels were significantly decreased (p < 0.001) and the superoxide dismutase and catalase activities were significantly increased (p < 0.001) in the Eriobotrya japonica Lindl. vinegar group compared to the control group. Histopathological observations showed that the Eriobotrya japonica Lindl. vinegar showed hepatic cell structure similar to normal group, and these results showed that it had an effect of suppressing and protecting the damage of liver cell. Therefore, Eriobotrya japonical Lindl. vinegar is considered to be a healthy functional food of the liver.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.310-314
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• 2011

Nonstructural protein 3 (NS3) encoded by RNA3 of Rice stripe virus (RSV), known to be a suppressor of gene silencing, was cloned and sequenced. The cloned NS3 gene is composed of 636 nucleotides encoding 211 deduced amino acids, and showed a high degree of similarity with the equivalent genes isolated from Korea, Japan and China. The NS3 gene promoted the enhancement of transient gene expression and suppressed transgene co-silencing. In the transient GFP expression via agroinfiltration, GFP expression was dramatically enhanced in terms of both protein yield and expression period in the presence of NS3. The highest accumulation of GFP protein reached to 6.8% of total soluble proteins, which corresponded to a two-fold increase compared to that obtained in the absence of NS3. In addition, NS3 significantly suppressed the initiation of GFP co-silencing induced by the additive GFP infiltration in GFP-transgenic Nicotiana benthamiana. The NS3 gene was also found to be a stronger suppressor than Cucumber mosaic virus 2b. These observations are believed to be derived from the strong suppressive effect of NS3 on gene silencing, and indicate that NS3 could be used as an effective enhancer for the rapid production of foreign proteins in plants.