• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.32 no.11
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• pp.1054-1062
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• 2010

Oxidative coupling reactions of humic substances (HS) can be catalyzed by a variety of natural extracellular enzymes and metal oxides. In this study, property changes of HS induced by a natural enzyme, horseradish peroxidase (HRP), and the effect of it to microfiltration (MF) were investigated. PAHA was transformed by oxidative coupling reaction with HRP and hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$), verifying the catalytic effects of the HRP. Size exclusion chromatography (SEC) revealed that weight-average molecular weight (MWw) of PAHA was proportionally increased with the dosages of HRP and $H_2O_2$, indicating the transform action of HS into larger and complex molecules. An increase in the conformational stability of HS was achieved through the promotion of intermolecular covalent bondings between heterogeneous humic molecules. Spectroscopic analysis (fluorescence and infrared spectroscopy) proved that functional groups were transformed by the reaction. Additionally, HS and transformed products were undergone microfiltration (MF) to examine the treatment potential of them in a water treatment facility. Original HS could not be removed by MF but larger molecules of transformed products could be removed. Meanwhile, transformed products caused more fouling on the filtration than original HS. This results proved that natural organic matter (NOM) can be removed by MF after its increase in molecular size by oxidative coupling reaction.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.8
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• pp.1041-1049
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• 2013

The root of Polygala radix has been widely known as an oriental traditional medicinal stuff that improves memory. However, its mechanism of action remains unclear. In this study, the effect of Polygala radix hot water extracts (PRHWE) on cognitive function related to the activity of acetylcholinesterase (AchE) derived from neural cells (PC12) in addition to antioxidant activity was examined both in a cell-free system and live cells. First, in the study on cell viability using an MTT assay, PRHWE did not exhibit any cell toxicity at 0.1% (w/v) or below. It also was observed that PRHWE increased the scavenging activity of DPPH radical, hydrogen peroxide and superoxide, reducing power in a dose-dependent manner. In particular, PRHWE had a protective effect on DNA oxidation induced by hydroxyl radicals. Additionally, it inhibited the production of inducible nitric oxide in neuronal cells. Furthermore, the AchE activity decreased with increasing concentrations. In addition, PRHWE increased the expression level of SOD-1 and NOS-2 in PC12 cells. Moreover, the transcriptional activities of p53 and NF-${\kappa}B$ were reduced in the presence of PRHWE in an experiment using a reporter gene assay. Therefore, these results prove that PRHE has antioxidative and protective effects on neuronal cells, suggesting that it may have great potential as a therapeutic agent for human health.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.98-106
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• 2007

Genotoxic stress triggers a variety of biological responses including the transcriptional activation of genes regulating DNA repair, cell survival and cell death. In this study, we investigated to examine gene expression profiles and genotoxic response in TK6 cells treated with DNA damaging agents MNNG (N-methyl-N'-nitrosoguanidine) and hydrogen peroxide $(H_2O_2)$. We extracted total RNA in three independent experiments and hybridized cRNA probes with oligo DNA chip (Applied Biosystems Human Genome Survey Microarray). We analyzed raw signal data with R program and AVADIS software and identified a number of deregulated genes with more than 1.5 log-scale fold change and statistical significancy. We indentified 14 genes including G protein alpha 12 showing deregulation by MNNG. The deregulated genes by MNNG represent the biological pathway regarding MAP kinase signaling pathway. Hydrogen peroxide altered 188 genes including sulfiredoxins. These results show that MNNG and $H_2O_2$ have both uniquely regulated genes that provide the potential to serve as biomarkers of exposure to DNA damaging agents.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.9
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• pp.1074-1081
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• 2016

Mistletoes are hemi-parasitic plant growing on different host tree and shrubs. They are traditionally used in folkloric medicine for the treatment of diarrhea, cough, diabetes, hypertension, cancer and skin infection. The purpose of this study was to determine the contents of phenolics and antioxidant activity of 70% ethanol, 100% methanol and hot water extracts of Jeju camellia mistletoe (Korthalsella japonica Engl.). Ethanol was most effective in extracting total phenols (7,427 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/100 g) and flavonoid (1,777 mg rutin equivalent (RE)/100 g). The free radical scavenging activity, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) (EC₅₀ = 7.8 mg/ml) and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) (EC₅₀ = 1.4 mg/ml), and the capacity for chelating metal ions (EC₅₀ = 8.0 mg/ml) and reducing power (EC₅₀ = 14.9 mg/ml) of the samples also higher in ethanolic extracts. The strong correlation (r² = −0.996～−0.881) between antioxidant capacities and the phenolic contents implied that phenolic compounds are a major contributor to the antioxidant activity of the ethanolic extracts of Jeju camellia mistletoe. As conclusions, Jeju camellia mistletoe contains bioactive substances with a potential for reducing the physiological as well as oxidative stress and this could explain the suggested cancer preventive effect of these plants as well as their protective role on other major diseases.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.29-41
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• 2005

Objectives : The use of natural products with therapeutic properties is as ancient as human civilisation and, for a long time, mineral, plant and animal products were the main sources of drugs. Catalposide, the major iridoid glycoside isolated from the stem bark of Catalpa ovata G. Don (Bignoniceae) has been shown to possess anti-microbial and anti-tumoral properties. Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is a stress response protein and is known to play a protective role against the oxidative injury. In this study, we examined whether catalposide could protect Neuro 2A cells, a kind of neuronal cell lines, from oxidative damage through the induction of HO-1 protein expression and HO activity. We also examined the effects of catalposide on the productions of tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}\;(TNF-{\alpha})$ and nitric oxide (NO) on RAW 264.7 macrophages activated with the endotoxin lipopolysaccharide. Methods : HO-1 expression in Neuro 2A cells was measured by Western blotting analysis. NO and $TNF--{\alpha}$ produced by RAW 264.7 macrophage were measured by Griess reagent and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. Results : The treatment of the cells with catalposide resulted in dose- and time-dependent up-regulations of both HO-1 protein expression and HO activity. Catalposide protected the cells from hydrogen peroxide-induced cell death. The protective effect of catalposide on hydrogen peroxide-induced cell death was abrogated by zinc protoporphyrin IX, a HO inhibitor. Additional experiments revealed the involvement of CO in the cytoprotective effect of catalposide-induced HO-1. In addition, catalposide inhibited the productions of $TNF--{\alpha}$ and NO with significant decreases in mRNA levels of $TNF--{\alpha}$ and inducible NO synthase. Conclusions : Our results indicate that catalposide is a potent inducer of HO-1 and HO-1 induction is responsible for the catalposide-mediated cytoprotection against oxidative damage and that catalposide may have therapeutic potential in the control of inflammatory disorders.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.328-334
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• 2007

Chemical heat pump system of 2-propanol/acetone/hydrogen is most suitable to the recovery of waste heat of power plant. various types of 5 wt% Pt-alumina catalysts were prepared for 2-propanol dehydrogenation using sol-gel method. The characteristics and the dehydrogenation reaction rate of each catalyst were investigated. Pt-alumina xerogel catalyst has excellent reaction rate and good durability in comparison with the existing alumina supported Pt catalysts. Pt-alumina aerogel catalyst had the highest reaction rate in all prepared catalysts, but sufficient aging time was necessary to maintain its reaction rate. A potential advantage of the aerogel catalyst is the fact that the high temperature heat treatment is not required. Without heat treatment or with low temperature heat treatment, the Pt-alumina aerogel catalyst has excellent reaction rate as well as durability and this gives us the economic advantage. Alumina xerogel supported Pt catalyst prepared by incipient wetness method showed good reaction rate, and had good mechanical strength. Blank alumina xerogel prepared by sol-gel method can be used for the support of metal catalysts.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.24 no.9
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• pp.946-951
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• 2014

Melanin plays a key role in the protection of skin from ultraviolet light that generates reactive oxygen species (ROS), such as superoxide, hydroxyl radical, singlet oxygen and hydrogen peroxide. However, the ROS leading to the oxidation of lipids, proteins and DNA are involved in the overproduction of melanin that is known to cause melasma, age spots and freckles. Among the herb medicines, Ulmus macrocarpa used in this study was reported to contain flavonoids as a main component. The aim of this study is to investigate the whitening and anti-oxidant effects of Ulmus macrocarpa ethanolic extracts (UMEE) in B16F1 cells. UMEE below $3.12{\mu}g/ml$ did not show cytotoxicity. In an anti-oxidant experiment, UMEE showed not only high reducing power and scavenging activity on DPPH, but it was also observed that UMEE exhibit an inhibitory effect on lipid peroxidation. UMEE did not display an inhibitory effect on tyrosinase activity in vitro. However, UMEE inhibited melanin synthesis in B16F1 cells. In addition, UMEE reduced the expression levels of tyrosinase and tyrosinase-related protein-2 (TRP-2), which are key enzymes in melanogenesis. These results indicate that UMEE exert a whitening effect through the inhibition of both tyrosinase and TRP-2 expressions as well as anti-oxidant activity, suggesting that UMEE could have the functional potential for a whitening effect on the skin.

• Journal of the Korean Vacuum Society
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.403-409
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• 1998

In this study, the effects of multi-dipole type of magnets on the characteristics of the inductively coupled plasmas and $SiO_2$ etch properties were investigated. As the magnets, 4 pairs of permanent magnets were used and, to etch $SiO_2, C_2F_6, CHF_3, C_4F_8, H_2$, and their combinations were used. The characteristics of the magnetized inductively coupled plasmas were investigated using a Langmuir probe and an optical emission spectrometer, and $SiO_2$ etch rates and the etch selectivity over photoresist were measured using a stylus profilometer. The use of multi-dipole magnets increased the uniformity of the ion density over the substrate location even though no significant increase of ion density was observed with the magnets. The use of the magnets also increased the electron temperature and radical densities while reducing the plasma potential. When $SiO_2$ was etched using the fluorocarbon gases, the significant increase of $SiO_2$ etch rates and also the increase of etch uniformity over the substrate were obtained using the magnets. In case of gas combinations with hydrogen, $C_4F_8/H_2$ showed the highest etch rates and etch selectivities over photoresist among the gas combinations with hydrogen used in the experiment. By optimizing process parameters at 1000 Watts of inductive power with the magnets, the highest $SiO_2$ etch rate of 8000 $\AA$/min could be obtained for 50% $C_4F_8/50% H_2$.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.31-42
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• 2007

Energy supply is increasingly showing up as a major issue for electricity supply, transportation, settlement, and process heat industrial supply including hydrogen production. Nuclear power is part of the solution. For electricity supply, as exemplified in Finland and France, the EPR brings an immediate answer; HTR could bring another solution in some specific cases. For other supply, mostly heat, the HTR brings a solution inaccessible to conventional nuclear power plants for very high or even high temperature. As fossil fuels costs increase and efforts to avoid generation of Greenhouse gases are implemented, a market for nuclear generated process heat will be developed. Following active developments in the 80's, HTR have been put on the back burner up to 5 years ago. Light water reactors are widely dominating the nuclear production field today. However, interest in the HTR technology was renewed in the past few years. Several commercial projects are actively promoted, most of them aiming at electricity production. ANTARES is today AREVA's response to the cogeneration market. It distinguishes itself from other concepts with its indirect cycle design powering a combined cycle power plant. Several reasons support this design choice, one of the most important of which is the design flexibility to adapt readily to combined heat and power applications. From the start, AREVA made the choice of such flexibility with the belief that the HTR market is not so much in competition with LWR in the sole electricity market but in the specific added value market of cogeneration and process heat. In view of the volatility of the costs of fossil fuels, AREVA's choice brings to the large industrial heat applications the fuel cost predictability of nuclear fuel with the efficiency of a high temperature heat source tree of Greenhouse gases emissions. The ANTARES module produces 600 MWth which can be split into the required process heat, the remaining power drives an adapted prorated electric plant. Depending on the process heat temperature and power needs, up to 80% of the nuclear heat is converted into useful power. An important feature of the design is the standardization of the heat source, as independent as possible of the process heat application. This should expedite licensing. The essential conditions for success include: ${\bullet}$ Timely adapted licensing process and regulations, codes and standards for such application and design ${\bullet}$ An industry oriented R&D program to meet the technological challenges making the best use of the international collaboration. Gen IV could be the vector ${\bullet}$ Identification of an end user(or a consortium of) willing to fund a FOAK

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.10
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• pp.1111-1119
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• 2019

Prunus mume, known as maesil in Korea, has been widely cultivated in East Asia and used as medication and food. However, because most of the previous studies concerning P. mume had been investigated its under extract state, detailed studies are still required for its extensive utilization. In this study, we evaluated the antioxidant and ${\alpha}-glucosidase$ inhibitory activities of solvent fractions of P. mume ethanol extracts. The ethyl acetate fraction showed higher DPPH radical scavenging activity, ABTS radical scavenging activity, reducing power, and hydrogen peroxide scavenging activity than other fractions. The DPPH radical scavenging activities of ethyl acetate fraction was 67.79%; ABTS radical scavenging activity was 60.03%; reducing power ($OD_{670}$) was 1.26; and hydrogen peroxide scavenging activity was 93.18% at $500{\mu}g/ml$. Also, the ethyl acetate and methanol fraction showed effective levels of ${\alpha}-glucosidase$ inhibition activity (69.25% and 72.29% at $500{\mu}g/ml$). Total polyphenol contents and total flavonoid contents of the ethyl acetate fraction were 88.28 mg/g (gallic acid equivalent) and 70.38 mg/g (quercetin equivalent), respectively. These results suggest that the physiological activities of the ethyl acetate fraction are associated with its polyphenol and flavonoid contents. Therefore, this study can be used as basic data for developing natural antioxidants and potential functional material using P. mume.