• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.528-534
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• 2012

In this study, the densification behavior and microstructural evolution of CuO were examined when this material was sintered at different temperatures in $O_2$, air and Ar atmospheres. The CuO samples maintained their phases even after prolonged sintering at $900-1100^{\circ}C$ in an oxygen atmosphere. When sintering in air, the densification was faster than it was when sintering in oxygen. However, when the samples were sintered at $1100^{\circ}C$, large pores were observed in the sample due to the phase transformation from CuO to $Cu_2O$ which accompanies the generation of oxygen gas. The pore channels in the sample became narrower as the sintering time increased, eventually undergoing a Rayleigh breakup and forming discrete isolated pores. On the other hand, CuO sintering in Ar did not contribute to the densification, as all CuO samples underwent a phase transformation to $Cu_2O$ during the heating process.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.1316-1318
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• 1997

The isolated ${\kappa}-Casein$ on gel permeation chromatography was hydrolyzed by chymosin, trypsin, and pepsin. The 3% TCA soluble portion of the hydrolysates were dialyzed on the angiotensin-I converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition rate (%,) and inhibitory activity $(IC_{50})$ were determined. The trypsin hydrolysate exhibited the highest ACE inhibition rate while the chymosin hydrolysation showed the lowest activity. The hydrolysate was dialyzed using dialysis membrane with various molecular cut-offs, and $IC_{50}$ was determined. As the pore size of the dialysis tubing increased, the ACE inhibitory activity decreased.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.369-381
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• 2022

Objectives: Hyperlipidemia (HL) is a major cause of ischemic heart diseases. The size-limiting effect of ischemic preconditioning (IPC), a cardioprotective phenomenon, is reduced in HL, possibly because of the opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPTP). The objective of this study is to see what effect pretreatment with Inula racemose Hook root extract (IrA) had on IPC-mediated cardioprotection on HL Wistar rat hearts. An isolated rat heart was mounted on the Langendorff heart array, and then ischemia reperfusion (I/R) and IPC cycles were performed. Atractyloside (Atr) is an MPTP opener. Methods: The animals were divided into ten groups, each consisting of six rats (n = 6), to investigate the modulation of I. racemosa Hook extract on cardioprotection by IPC in HL hearts: Sham control, I/R Control, IPC control, I/R + HL, I/R + IrA + HL, IPC + HL, IPC + NS + HL, IPC + IrA+ HL, IPC + Atr + oxidative stress, mitochondrial function, integrity, and hemodynamic parameters are evaluated for each group. Results: The present experimental data show that pretreatment with IrA reduced the LDH, CK-MB, size of myocardial infarction, content of cardiac collagen, and ventricular fibrillation in all groups of HL rat hearts. This pretreatment also reduced the oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction. Inhibition of MPTP opening by Atr diminished the effect of IrA on IPC-mediated cardioprotection in HL rats. Conclusion: The study findings indicate that pretreatment with IrA e restores IPC-mediated cardioprotection in HL rats by inhibiting the MPTP opening.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.35-43
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• 2006

Ions play important roles in various cellular processes including fertilization and differentiation. However, it is little known whether how ions are regulated during early embryonic development in mammalian animals. In this study, we examined changes in $Ca^{2+}\;and\;K^+$ concentrations in embryos and oviduct during mouse early embryonic development using patch clamp technique and confocal laser scanning microscopy. The intracellular calcium concentration in each stage embryos did not markedly change. At 56h afier hCG injection when 8-cell embryos could be Isolated from oviduct, $K^+$ concentration in oviduct increased by 26% compared with that at 14h after injection of hCG During early embryonic development, membrane potential was depolarized (from -38 mV to -16 mV), and $Ca^{2+}$ currents decreased, indicating that some $K^+$ channel might control membrane potential in oocytes. To record the changes in membrane potential induced by influx of $Ca^{2+}$ in mouse oocytes, we applied 5 mM $Ca^{2+}$ to the bath solution. The membrane potential transiently hyperpolarized and then recovered. In order to classify $K^+$ channels that cause hyperpolarization, we first applied TEA and apamin, general $K^+$ channel blockers, to the bath solution. Interestingly, the hyperpolarization of membrane potential still appeared in oocytes pretreated with TEA and apamin. This result suggest that the $K^+$ channel that induces hyperpolarization could belong to another $K^+$ channel such as two-pore domain $K^+(K_{2P})$channel that a.e insensitive to TEA and apamin. From these results, we suggest that the changes in $Ca^{2+}\;and\;K^+$ concentrations play a critical role in cell proliferation, differentiation and reproduction as well as early embryonic development, and $K_{2P}$ channels could be involved in regulation of membrane potential in ovulated oocytes.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.35 no.9
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• pp.654-659
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• 2013

This study was conducted to identify an optimal ratio of carbon to nitrogen (C/N ratio) for denitrification of nitrate using molasses as an external carbon source. A series of batch and column tests was conducted using an indigenous bacterium Pseudomonas sp. KY1 isolated from a nitrate-contaminated soil. For the initial nitrate-nitrogen concentration of 100 mg-N/L, batch test results indicated that C/N ratio of 3/1 was the optimal ratio with a relatively high pseudo-first-order reaction constant of $0.0263hr^{-1}$. At C/N ratio of 3/1, more than 80% of nitrate-nitrogen concentration of 100 mg-N/L was removed in 100 hrs. Results of column tests with a flow velocity of 0.3 mL/min also indicated that the C/N ratio of 3/1 was optimal for denitrification with minimizing remaining molasses concentrations. After 172 hrs of column operation (35 pore volumes) with an influent nitrate-nitrogen concentration of 100 mg-N/L, the effluent met the drinking water standard (i.e., 10 mg $NO_3$-N/L).

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.331-338
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• 2000

The algicidal effects of marine bacteria were investigated and a strain, which had the strongest algicidal activity against the harmful dinoflagellate, Cochiodinim polykrikoides was selected. The bacterium was isolated in seawater during the period of blooming of C. polykrikoides in Masan Bay. This algicidal bacterium was identified as Micrococcus sp. LG-5 by means of morphological and biochemical tests. The optimal culture conditions of Micrococcus sp, LG-5 were $25^{\circ}C,\;pH 7.0\;and\;3.0{\%}$ NaCl concentration. The algicidal activity of Micrococcus sp. LG-5 was significantly increased to maximum value in the late of logarithmic phase of cell cuture. In addition, the culture filtrate ($pore size,\;0.1{\mu}m$) of Microcoocus sp. LG-5 showed strong algicidal effects. The cell numbers of C. polykikoides were decreased from $1.2{\times}10^4 cells/ml\;to\;less\;than\;2{\times}10^3\;cells/ml$ within 3, 6, 30 hours at the concentrations of culture filtrate $10{\%},\;5{\%}\;and\;1{\%}$, respectively. These results indicated that the algicidal effect was mediated by certain substances released from Microooccus sp. LG-5.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.184-191
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• 2008

Entomopathogenic bacteria (Xenorhabdus nematophila, X. sp. and Photorhabdus temperata subsp. temperata) isolated from entomopathogenic nematodes express potent insecticidal activity in insect hemocoel. They are also known to suppress insect immune mediation by inhibiting phospholipase $A_2$, leading to host immunosuppression. This study analyzed effects of their cultured broths on inhibiting insect immunosuppression. For this, we removed all bacterial cells using $0.2\;{\mu}m$ pore sized membrane from the bacteria-cultured broth. All three sterilized cultured media, in dose-dependent manners, significantly inhibited hemocyte-spreading behavior of 5th instar larvae of Spodoptera exigua. However, they showed differential inhibitory activities among different bacterial species, in which X. nematophila showed the most potent inhibitory activity. This immunosuppressive effect was applied to increase the pathogenicity of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). All three bacterial cultured broths including bacterial cells significantly potentiated Bt pathogenicity against young S. exigua larvae when each of them was orally administered in a mixture of low dose of Bt. Finally, we tested the effect of oral administration of the cultured media containing the immunosuppressive compound(s) secreted by the bacteria. The membrane-sterilized cultured broths were mixed with the low dose of Bt and then orally administered to the young S. exigua. Only the cultured medium of X. nematophila showed increase of Bt pathogenicity. These results indicated that the; cultured media of the three bacteria possessed immunosuppressive factor(s), which may act to potentiate Bt toxicity to young S. exigua larvae.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.903-910
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• 2007

In order to make acquire a potential use for Opuntia humifusa as a natural functional food material, this study was performed to determine the quality properties of Jeung-pyun made with added Opuntia humifusa, or prickly pear powder. According to an analysis of its major components, we found that the prickly pear powder consisteds of nitrogen-free extracts (71.85%) and crude fiber (11.20%). Greater additions of prickly pear powder had resulted in significantly lower pH in the of Jeung-pyun. According to measurements on the degree of Jeung-pyun gelatinization, by means of ${\beta}$-amylase, greater additions of prickly pear powder led to the higher levels of isolated maltose, indicating that the gelatinization degree of the Jeung-pyun became higher. Also, samples with higher concentrations of prickly pear powder had a tendency toward lower water content, which allowed us to expect a longer storage duration for the Jeung-pyun. In the textural property tests the Jeung-pyun that had less hardness and greater adhesiveness (p<0.05) than the control group as the content of prickly pear powder became higher. Also, the Jeung-pyunhad lower gumminess and chewiness than the control group as the content of prickly pear powder became higher. Therefore, it is possible to prepare relatively soft Jeung-pyun using prickly pear powder. For the color differences of the Jeung-pyun samples, lower L- values, and higher a- and b -values (p<0.05) presented as the addition level of prickly pear powder became higher. According to SEM observations of the Jeung-pyun, the added prickly pear powder addition groups generally showed a smaller and more inconsistent pore size, but higher porosity, than the control group. According to sensory analyses of the Jeung-pyun, the P2 group scored highest for color item, and the P4 group generated the fermented scent. Higher additions content of prickly pear powder led to the lower score, but higher scores for adhesiveness. Finally, the P2 group achieved the highest score for overall taste.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.642-653
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• 2021

Background: Effective strategies are dramatically needed to prevent and improve the recovery from myocardial ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) injury. Direct interactions between the mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) during heart diseases have been recently investigated. This study was designed to explore the cardioprotective effects of gypenoside XVII (GP-17) against I/R injury. The roles of ER stress, mitochondrial injury, and their crosstalk within I/R injury and in GP-17einduced cardioprotection are also explored. Methods: Cardiac contractility function was recorded in Langendorff-perfused rat hearts. The effects of GP-17 on mitochondrial function including mitochondrial permeability transition pore opening, reactive oxygen species production, and respiratory function were determined using fluorescence detection kits on mitochondria isolated from the rat hearts. H9c2 cardiomyocytes were used to explore the effects of GP-17 on hypoxia/reoxygenation. Results: We found that GP-17 inhibits myocardial apoptosis, reduces cardiac dysfunction, and improves contractile recovery in rat hearts. Our results also demonstrate that apoptosis induced by I/R is predominantly mediated by ER stress and associated with mitochondrial injury. Moreover, the cardioprotective effects of GP-17 are controlled by the PI3K/AKT and P38 signaling pathways. Conclusion: GP-17 inhibits I/R-induced mitochondrial injury by delaying the onset of ER stress through the PI3K/AKT and P38 signaling pathways.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.290-300
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• 2022

A strain of Alexandrium species was established by isolating cells from Jangmok Bay, Korea. Its morphology and molecular phylogeny based on LSU rRNA gene sequences were examined. In addition, growth responses of this Alexandrium species to changes in temperature, salinity, and nutrient concentrations were investigated. This Alexandrium species from Jangmok Bay had a ventral pore on the 1', which was morphologically consistent with previously described Alexandrium tamarense and A. catenella. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that this isolate was assigned to A. pacificum (Group IV) within A. tamarense species complex. In growth experiments, relatively high growth rates and cell densities of A. pacificum (Group IV) were observed at 15℃ and 20℃. This species also grew under a wide range of salinity. This indicates that this Korean isolate of A. pacificum (Group IV) is a stenothermic and euryhaline species. In growth responses to changes in nutrient levels, enhanced growth rates and cell densities of A. pacificum(Group IV) were observed with additions of nitrate and phosphate. In particular, rapid uptakes of phosphate by A. pacificum (Group IV) were observed in experimental treatments, indicating that the increase in phosphate concentration could stimulate the growth of A. pacificum(Group IV).