• Journal of the Korea Institute of Information and Communication Engineering
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.115-120
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• 2009

The 3wt.% Al-doped zinc oxide (AZO) thin films were fabricated on Coming 1737 substrates at a fixed oxygen pressure of 200 mTorr with various substrate temperatures ($100\;{\sim}\;250^{\circ}C$) by using pulsed laser deposition in order to investigate the microstructure, optical, and electrical properties of AZO thin films. All thin films were shown to be c-axis oriented, exhibiting only a (002) diffraction peak. The AZO thin film, fabricated at 200 mTorr and $250^{\circ}C$, showed the highest (002) orientation and the full width at half maximum (FWHM) of the (002) diffraction peak was $0.44^{\circ}$. The optical transmittance in the visible region was higher than 85 %. The Burstein-Moss effect, which shifts to a high photon energy, was observed. The electrical property indicated that the highest carrier concentration ($3.48{\times}10^{20}cm^{-3}$) and the lowest resistivity ($1.65{\times}10^{-2}{\Omega}cm$) were obtained in the AZO thin film fabricated at 200 mTorr and $250^{\circ}C$.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.389-398
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• 2018

p-Cresol, found at high concentrations in the serum of chronic kidney failure patients, is known to cause cell senescence and other complications in different parts of the body. p-Cresol is thought to mediate cytotoxic effects through the induction of autophagy response. However, toxic effects of p-cresol on mesenchymal stem cells have not been elucidated. Thus, we aimed to investigate whether p-cresol induces senescence of mesenchymal stem cells, and whether melatonin can ameliorate abnormal autophagy response caused by p-cresol. We found that p-cresol concentration-dependently reduced proliferation of mesenchymal stem cells. Pretreatment with melatonin prevented pro-senescence effects of p-cresol on mesenchymal stem cells. We found that by inducing phosphorylation of Akt and activating the Akt signaling pathway, melatonin enhanced catalase activity and thereby inhibited the accumulation of reactive oxygen species induced by p-cresol in mesenchymal stem cells, ultimately preventing abnormal activation of autophagy. Furthermore, preincubation with melatonin counteracted other pro-senescence changes caused by p-cresol, such as the increase in total 5'-AMP-activated protein kinase expression and decrease in the level of phosphorylated mechanistic target of rapamycin. Ultimately, we discovered that melatonin restored the expression of senescence marker protein 30, which is normally suppressed because of the induction of the autophagy pathway in chronic kidney failure patients by p-cresol. Our findings suggest that stem cell senescence in patients with chronic kidney failure could be potentially rescued by the administration of melatonin, which grants this hormone a novel therapeutic role.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.29 no.12
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• pp.1345-1352
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• 2007

To predict the effects of nutrient releasing on the water quality of Namyang Reservoir, nutrient releasing rates from sediments in oxic and anoxic conditions were estimated in a small microcosm. Organics and nitrogens were not released. The releasing pattern of inorganic phosphate and total phosphorus was depend on the oxygen concentration. The releasing rate of inorganic phosphate and total phosphorus in oxic condition was $1.01\sim2.48$ and $2.14\sim3.54$ mg-P/$m^2$/day, respectively. It was high in the upstream sediments indicating the particles containing easily degradable organic compounds are flowed into the area. Because the depth of Namyang Reservoir at the downstream adjacent to the Dam is $7\sim14$ m, the condition of most area of sediment surface will be oxic. Based on these results, the appropriate counterplans are required to reduce phosphorus release in oxic conditions to control water pollution.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.7 no.5
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• pp.417-431
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• 2016

Poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) powder was treated with aqueous sodium hydroxide to obtain partially defluorinated fluoropolymers with expected properties such as improving hydrophilicity and fouling resistance. Raman spectrum and FT-IR results confirmed the existence of conjugated carbon double bonds after alkaline treatment. As the concentration increased, the degree of defluorination increased. The morphology and structure of membranes were examined. The permeation performance was investigated. The results showed that membrane's hydrophilicity increased with increase of the percentage of alkaline treated PVDF powder. Moreover, in terms of the water contact angle, it decreased from $92^{\circ}$ to a minimum of $68^{\circ}$; while water up take increased from 128 to 138%. Fluxof pure water and the cleaning efficiency increased with the increase of alkaline treated PVDF powder. The fouling potential also decreased with the increase of the percentage of alkaline treated PVDF powder. The reason that makes blending PVDF show different characteristics because of partial defluorination, which led the formation of conjugated C = C bonds and the inclusion of oxygen functionalities. The polyene structure followed by hydroxide attack to yield hydroxyl and carbonyl groups. Therefore, the hydrophilicity of blending membrane was improved. The SEM and porosity measurements showed that no obvious variations of the pore dimensions and structures for blend membranes were observed. Mechanical tests suggest that the high content of the alkaline treated PVDF result in membranes with less tolerance of tensile stress and higher brittleness. TGA results exhibited that the blend of alkaline treated PVDF did not change membrane thermal stability.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.336-342
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• 2009

Avian embryos at high altitude are independent of maternal protection against hypoxia, which is contrary to mammals. It is well known that chronic hypoxic exposure at key points can significantly impact on avian development. Tibetan Chicken, a Chinese indigenous breed, living in Tibetan areas with an altitude of 2.2 to 4.1 thousand meters, has an adaptive mechanism to hypoxia. In the present study, fertilized eggs of Tibetan Chicken were incubated under 13% and 21% oxygen concentration. Two lowland chicken breeds, Shouguang Chicken, an indigenous chicken breed in Shandong Province of China, and Dwarf Recessive White Chicken, an imported breed in Beijing, were used as control groups. The embryo mass and some organs such as brain, heart, liver, stomach and eye weight in the three species were measured at Hamburger-Hamilton stage 39, 41, 43 and 45 under hypoxic and normal conditions. The results showed that in hypoxia Tibetan Chicken significantly differed from the two lowland chicken breeds in embryo mass at Hamburger-Hamilton stage 41, 43 and 45 (p<0.01). In particular, Dwarf Recessive White Chicken and Shouguang Chicken showed retarded growth in hypoxic incubation (p<0.01), whereas Tibetan Chicken showed no significant difference between hypoxic and normal conditions (p>0.05). In addition, heart and the other organs showed different susceptibility to hypoxia at the studied stages. In conclusion, chronic hypoxia induced a change in the embryo development of the three different species and Tibetan Chicken showed adaptation to hypoxia. Of note, the embryo developmental physiology of Tibetan Chicken in response to hypoxia will shed light on the process of physiological acclimation or evolutionary adaptation as well as the study of clinical disease.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.25 no.12
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• pp.2116-2124
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• 2015

To understand the effects of physicochemical factors on nitrite transformation by microalgae, a lipid-rich Chlorella with high nitrite tolerance was cultured with 8 mmol/l sodium nitrite as sole nitrogen source under different conditions. The results showed that nitrite transformation was mainly dependent on the metabolic activities of algal cells rather than oxidation of nitrite by dissolved oxygen. Light intensity, temperature, pH, NaHCO₃ concentrations, and initial cell densities had significant effects on the rate of nitrite transformation. Single-factor experiments revealed that the optimum conditions for nitrite transformation were light intensity: 300 μmol/m²/s; temperature: 30℃ pH: 7-8; NaHCO₃ concentration: 2.0 g/l; and initial cell density: 0.15 g/l; and the highest nitrite transformation rate of 1.36 mmol/l/d was achieved. There was a positive correlation between nitrite transformation rate and the growth of Chlorella. The relationship between nitrite transformation rate (mg/l/d) and biomass productivity (g/l/d) could be described by the regression equation y = 61.3x (R² = 0.9665), meaning that 61.3 mg N element was assimilated by 1.0 g dry biomass on average, which indicated that the nitrite transformation is a process of consuming nitrite as nitrogen source by Chlorella. The results demonstrated that the Chlorella suspension was able to assimilate nitrite efficiently, which implied the feasibility of using flue gas for mass production of Chlorella without preliminary removal of NO_X.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.91-98
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• 2006

There is a possibility of the production of the air bubbles in membrane pores due to the reduction in pressure during membrane filtration. The effect of fine air bubbles from dissolved gases on microfiltration was investigated in the submerged membrane bio-reactor (SMBR). The $R_{air}$ (air bubble resistance) was defined as the filtration resistance due to the air bubbles formed from the gasification of dissolved gases. From the results of filtration tests using pure water with changes in the dissolved oxygen concentration, the air bubbles from dissolved gases were confirmed to act as a foulant and; thus, increase the filtration resistance. The standard pore blocking and cake filtration models, SPBM and CFM, respectively, were applied to investigate the mechanism of air bubble fouling on a hollow fiber membrane. However, the application of the SPBM and CFM were limited in explaining the mechanism due to the properties of air bubble. With a simple comparison of the different filtration resistances, the $R_{air}$ portion was below 1% of the total filtration resistance during sludge filtration. Therefore, the air bubbles from dissolved gases would only be a minor foulant in the SMBR. However, under the conditions of a high gasification rate from dissolved gases, the effect of air bubble fouling should be considered in microfiltration.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.134-139
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• 2005

The purpose of this study is to quantify the penetration behavior of spilled weathered oil and dispersed oil and to evaluate the influence of the penetrated oils on seawater infiltration in tidal flat environment. The penetration depths of the spilled oils into the tidal flat sediments were gradually deeper according to increase the stranded oil volume. The penetration depth of stranded oil were abruptly dropped at first falling tide, but were not significantly fluctuated after that. Moreover, hydrocarbon concentration was most high within the upper 2 cm. Seawater infiltration was decreased in proportion to the stranded oil volume. Dispersed oil was easily permitted the seawater infiltration than weathered oil and crude oil. Therefore, quick cleaning actions fur penetrated oil will be required far recovery of seawater infiltration, because the seawater contains oxygen and nutrients required for the survival of benthic organisms in tidal flat.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.263-270
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• 2012

Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) becomes unstable in the aqueous phase by oxygen, light and alkali, etc. The properties are limited in application to cosmetics. The most important factor that determines the destabilization of ascorbic acid in the aqueous phase was tried to understand considering its molecular deformation and degradation. In this study, we changed the polyols and emulsification technique for the stability of ascorbic acid. Then we observed the color and concentration change of ascorbic acid at room temperature and high temperature ($42^{\circ}C$) for 6 weeks and identified the stability using HPLC regularly. As a result, we found that glycerin was the most appropriate polyol for stability of the ascorbic acid. Also the technique of nonaqueous emulsification stabilized ascorbic acid than P/S emulsification. Also, P/S emulsification, glycerin was more stable than propylene glycol. By the results we suggest that ascorbic acid could be stabilized by nonaqueous emulsification method and this data could be applied to stabilization methods for cosmetic products.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.43-50
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• 2014

We fabricated undoped and Sb-doped $SnO_2$ thin films on glass substrates by a pulsed laser deposition (PLD) process. Undoped and 2 - 8 wt% $Sb_2O_3$-doped $SnO_2$ targets with a high density level of ~90% were prepared by the spark plasma sintering (SPS) process. Initially, the effects of the deposition temperature on undoped $SnO_2$ thin films were investigated in the region of $100-600^{\circ}C$. While the undoped $SnO_2$ film exhibited the lowest resistivity of $1.20{\times}10^{-2}{\Omega}{\cdot}cm$ at $200^{\circ}C$ due to the highest carrier concentration generated by the oxygen vacancies, 2 wt% Sb-doped $SnO_2$ film exhibited the lowest resistivity value of $5.43{\times}10^{-3}{\Omega}{\cdot}cm$, the highest average transmittance of 85.8%, and the highest figure of merit of 1202 ${\Omega}^{-1}{\cdot}cm^{-1}$ at $400^{\circ}C$ among all of the doped films. These results imply that 2 wt% $Sb_2O_3$ is an optimum doping content close to the solubility limit of $Sb^{5+}$ substitution for the $Sb^{4+}$ sites of $SnO_2$.