• Journal of the Korean Recycled Construction Resources Institute
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.343-350
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• 2022

In recent years, nanomaterials, such as nano-silica, carbon nanotubes, and graphene oxide (GO), have been suggested to improve the properties of the interfacial transition zone (ITZ) between aggregates and cement pastes, which has most adversely affected the strength of quasi-brittle concrete. Among the nanomaterials, GO with superior dispersibility has been reported to be effective in improving the properties of ITZ of normal-strength concrete by forming interfacial chemical bonds with Ca²⁺ ions abundant in ITZ. In this study, the effect of GO on the properties of ITZ in the high-strength mortar was elucidated by calculating the change in hydration heat release, ITZ thickness, and the porosity around ISO sand, which was obtained with isothermal calorimetry tests and scanning electron microscope image analysis, respectively.

• Composites Research
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.16-21
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• 2008

The cure behavior of epoxy resin with a conventional amide-type hardener(HD) was investigated in the presence of castor oil(CO), cashew nut shell liquid(CNSL) and CNSL-formaldehyde resin(CFR) by using a dynamic differential scanning calorimetry(DSC). The activation energy of curing reaction was also calculated based on the non-isothermal DSC thermograms at various heating rates. An one-stage curing was noted in the case of epoxy resin filled with CO, while the epoxy resin with CNSL and CFR showed a two-stage curing process. A competitive cure reaction was noted for the epoxy resin/CNSL(or CFR)/HD blends. In the absence of HD, the CFR showed lower values of curing enthalpy than that of CNSL. The activation energy of epoxy resin curing increased with increasing the CNSL and CFR loading.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.461-474
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• 2020

Background: Ginseng effectively reduces fatigue in both animal models and clinical trials. However, the mechanism of action is not completely understood, and its molecular targets remain largely unknown. Methods: By screening for proteins that interact with the primary components of ginseng (ginsenosides) in an affinity chromatography assay, we have identified muscle-type creatine kinase (CK-MM) as a potential target in skeletal muscle tissues. Results: Biolayer interferometry analysis showed that ginsenoside metabolites, instead of parent ginsenosides, had direct interaction with recombinant human CK-MM. Subsequently, 20(S)-protopanaxadiol (PPD), which is a ginsenoside metabolite and displayed the strongest interaction with CK-MM in the study, was selected as a representative to confirm direct binding and its biological importance. Biolayer interferometry kinetics analysis and isothermal titration calorimetry assay demonstrated that PPD specifically bound to human CK-MM. Moreover, the mutation of key amino acids predicted by molecular docking decreased the affinity between PPD and CK-MM. The direct binding activated CK-MM activity in vitro and in vivo, which increased the levels of tissue phosphocreatine and strengthened the function of the creatine kinase/phosphocreatine system in skeletal muscle, thus buffering cellular ATP, delaying exercise-induced lactate accumulation, and improving exercise performance in mice. Conclusion: Our results suggest a cellular target and an initiating molecular event by which ginseng reduces fatigue. All these findings indicate PPD as a small molecular activator of CK-MM, which can help in further developing better CK-MM activators based on the dammarane-type triterpenoid structure.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.31-37
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• 2010

This study was carried out to investigate the thermal decomposition and execute EIDS slow cook-off test for the propellant ingredients and 2 kinds of HTPE propellants. The thermal analysis of the propellant ingredients used in this study showed that the thermal stability of these materials decreases in the following order : AP > HTPE > AN > BuNENA. In addition, propellant HTPE 002 containing AN showed that an endothermic process at around $125^{\circ}C$ corresponding to the solid phase change(II$\rightarrow$I) of AN was followed by the exothermic process of BuNENA/AN mixture up to $200^{\circ}C$. In EIDS slow cook-off tests, HTPE 001 and HTPE 002 reacted at around $250^{\circ}C$ and $152^{\circ}C$ respectively, and both of them showed sudden temperature increase curves at $115^{\circ}C$. The critical temperatures, $T_c$, of thermal explosion for the propellants HTPE 001 and HTPE 002, were obtained from both the non-isothermal curves at various heating rates and Semenov's thermal explosion theory. Kissinger's method that was used to calculate $T_c$ was also employed to obtain the activation energies for thermal decompositions.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.317-328
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• 2016

This research intends to understand the impact of super-absorbent polymer (SAP) as an internal curing agent in Ultra-High Performance Concrete (UHPC). Two different types of SAPs of acrylic acid (SAP_AA) and acrylic acid-co-acrylamide (SAP_AM) were examined with UHPC formulation. Isothermal calorimetry and x-ray diffraction experiments revealed the impact of polymers with the different chemical bonds on cement hydration. To test its feasibility as a shrinkage reducing admixture for UHPC, a series of experiments including flowability, compressive strength, rapid chloride permeability and autogenous shrinkage profile was performed. While both SAPs showed a reduction in autogenous shrinkage, it has been concluded that the SAP size and chemical form significantly affect the performance as an internal curing agent in UHPC by controlling cement hydration and porosity modification. Between the tested SAPs, SAP_AM which absorbs more water in UHPC than SAP_AA, shows better mechanical and durability performance.

• Journal of the Korean Recycled Construction Resources Institute
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.294-301
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• 2020

This study evaluated the burnability and hydration reaction of clinker burned with high Al₂O₃ content OPC to apply large amounts of industrial by-products in the cement manufacturing process. Specifically, after preparing a clinker with a high C₃A content by burning the OPC raw material with a high content of Al₂O₃ in a laboratory electric furnace, the burnability of the clinker was evaluated through XRD Rietveld analysis and polarization microscopy, and clinker hydration reactivity was reviewed through the Isothermal conduction calorimetry analysis and the cement compressive strength. As a result, the kiln burning temperature for the production of high Al₂O₃ content clinker lower, and the compressive strength was equal to or higher than OPC. Therefore it was confirmed the possibility to manufacturing energy-saving high Al₂O₃ content clinker using a large amount of industrial by-products.

• Journal of the Korean Recycled Construction Resources Institute
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.219-226
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• 2020

Over the last decades, great efforts have been devoted to reuse industrial wastes and by-products from various industries as supplementary cementitious materials in order to reduce carbon dioxide(CO₂) emission by reducing the use of Portland cement in construction. Oyster shell waste, originating from the fishery industry, is available in huge quantities in certain areas, and is generally discarded or landfilled. In this study, we aimed to reuse oyster shell as an alternative to limestone in limestone calcined clay cement(LC³). The oyster shell calcined clay cement(OC³) paste were produced and were characterized via X-ray diffraction, isothermal calorimetry, compressive strength tests, and thermogravimetry. The results revealed that OC³ pastes exhibited similar strength development and reactivities by pozzolanic reaction with LC³, which implies that oyster shell could be used as a substitute for limestone in LC³.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.357-364
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• 2021

The present study investigated the hydration properties and NO_x-removal performances of the cement pastes containing three different types of TiO₂. Two commercially available TiO₂ (P-25 and NP-400) and refined TiO₂ (GST) obtained from waste sludge were incorporated to cement paste at levels of 0, 5, 10, and 20 wt%. Isothermal calorimetry test results indicated that the TiO₂ incorporation induced a notable influence on the reaction kinetics of cement paste, showing the highest cumulative heat release in the samples containing P-25, followed by NP-400 and GST. Quantitative X-ray diffractometry as calculated by the Rietveld method identified that the incorporated TiO₂ promoted the formation of C-S-H, ultimately leading to the enhancement in the 28 day-compressive strength of cement pastes. As revealed by SEM/EDS analysis, the content of distributed Ti elements on the surface of the samples was in the order of P-25, GST, and NP-400. Regardless, the NO_x-removal performance was the highest in the sample containing P-25, followed by NP-400 and GST.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.465-472
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• 2021

Background: Ginseng can help regulate brain excitability, promote learning and memory, and resist cerebral ischemia in the central nervous system. Ginsenosides are the major effective compounds of Ginseng, but their protein targets in the brain have not been determined. Methods: We screened proteins that interact with the main components of ginseng (ginsenosides) by affinity chromatography and identified the 14-3-3 ζ protein as a potential target of ginsenosides in brain tissues. Results: Biolayer interferometry (BLI) analysis showed that 20(S)-protopanaxadiol (PPD), a ginseng saponin metabolite, exhibited the highest direct interaction to the 14-3-3 ζ protein. Subsequently, BLI kinetics analysis and isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) assay showed that PPD specifically bound to the 14-3-3 ζ protein. The cocrystal structure of the 14-3-3 ζ protein-PPD complex showed that the main interactions occurred between the residues R56, R127, and Y128 of the 14-3-3 ζ protein and a portion of PPD. Moreover, mutating any of the above residues resulted in a significant decrease of affinity between PPD and the 14-3-3 ζ protein. Conclusion: Our results indicate the 14-3-3 ζ protein is the target of PPD, a ginsenoside metabolite. Crystallographic and mutagenesis studies suggest a direct interaction between PPD and the 14-3-3 ζ protein. This finding can help in the development of small-molecular compounds that bind to the 14-3-3 ζ protein on the basis of the structure of dammarane-type triterpenoid.

• Journal of the Korean Recycled Construction Resources Institute
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.252-260
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• 2022

In Korea, low-quality kaolin has significantly greater reserves and superior economic efficiency than high-purity kaolin. However, the utilization is low because it does not match the demand conditions of the market, and it is difficult to find a suitable source of demand. The purpose of this study is to derive the possibility and optimal calcination temperature of domestic low-quality kaolin that can be used as a raw material for limestone plastic clay cement (LC³). Isothermal calorimetry, X-ray diffraction analysis, Thermogravimetric Analysis, and compressive strength tests were conducted to evaluate hydrate generation and mechanical properties of LC³ paste according to calcination temperatures (600 ℃, 700 ℃, 800 ℃, 900 ℃). As a result, although 50 % of the clinker was replaced, the domestic low-quality kaolin clay produced calboaluminate hydrate and C(A)SH from the 3rd day of hydration, showing almost equal or higher strength to OPC, and there was a big difference in strength depending on the firing temperature.