• Molecules and Cells
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• v.41 no.12
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• pp.1016-1023
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• 2018

Regenerative orthopedics needs significant devices to transplant human stem cells into damaged tissue and encourage automatic growth into replacements suitable for the human skeleton. Soft biomaterials have similarities in mechanical, structural and architectural properties to natural extracellular matrix (ECM), but often lack essential ECM molecules and signals. Here we engineer mineralized polysaccharide beads to transform MSCs into osteogenic cells and osteoid tissue for transplantation. Bone morphogenic proteins (BMP-2) and indispensable ECM proteins both directed differentiation inside alginate beads. Laminin and collagen IV basement membrane matrix proteins fixed and organized MSCs onto the alginate matrix, and BMP-2 drove differentiation, osteoid tissue self-assembly, and small-scale mineralization. Augmentation of alginate is necessary, and we showed that a few rationally selected small proteins from the basement membrane (BM) compartment of the ECM were sufficient to up-regulate cell expression of Runx-2 and osteocalcin for osteoid formation, resulting in Alizarin red-positive mineral nodules. More significantly, nested BMP-2 and BM beads added to a non-union skull defect, self-generated osteoid expressing osteopontin (OPN) and osteocalcin (OCN) in a chain along the defect, at only four weeks, establishing a framework for complete regeneration expected in 6 and 12 weeks. Alginate beads are beneficial surgical devices for transplanting therapeutic cells in programmed (by the ECM components and alginate-chitosan properties) reaction environments ideal for promoting bone tissue.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.339-348
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• 2022

Background: To compare the anesthetic efficacy of supplemental buccal infiltration (BI) (1.7 ml) versus intraligamentary (IL) injection containing 0.4 ml of 4% articaine with 1:100.000 epinephrine after an inferior alveolar nerve block (IANB) with 1.7 ml 2% lidocaine in the first and second mandibular molars diagnosed with irreversible pulpitis (IP). Methods: One hundred subjects diagnosed with IP of either the mandibular first (n = 50) or second molars (n = 50) and failed profound anesthesia following an IANB were selected. They randomly received either the IL or BI techniques of anesthesia. Pain scores on a 170 mm Heft-Parker visual analog scale were recorded initially, before, and during supplemental injections. Furthermore, pulse rate was measured before and after each supplemental injection. During the access cavity preparation and initial filing, no or mild pain was assumed to indicate anesthetic success. The chi-square test, Mann-Whitney U test, and independent samples t-test were used for the analyses. Results: The overall success rates were 80% in the IL group and 74% in the BI group, with no significant difference (P = 0.63). In the first molars, there was no significant difference between the two techniques (P = 0.088). In the second molars, IL injection resulted in a significantly higher success rate (P = 0.017) than BI. IL injection was statistically more successful (P = 0.034) in the second molars (92%) than in the first molars (68%). However, BI was significantly more successful (P = 0.047) in the first molars (88%) than in the second molars (64%). The mean pulse rate increase was significantly higher in the IL group than in the BI group (P < 0.001). Conclusions: Both the IL and BI techniques were advantageous when used as supplemental injections. However, more favorable outcomes were observed when the second molars received IL injection and the first molars received BI.

• Journal of Mushroom
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.316-321
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• 2021

Ligninolytic enzymes were produced by Pleurotus ostreatus No.42, cultivated in a new kind of bioreactor that has a rotating draft tube with a helical ribbon. Maximum laccase (Lac) production (about 8,200 U/bioreactor) was reached after 3 days of incubation, then production decreased. Production of manganese peroxidase (MnP) in this fermenter reached a maximum level of about 8,400 U/bioreactor after 6 days of incubation. Lignin peroxidase (LiP) was not detected under these growth conditions. These results indicate that the rotary draft tube bioreactor (RTB) is compatible with large scale production of ligninolytic enzymes. MnP produced under these fermentation conditions was purified via a multistep process that included chromatography on Sepharose CL-6B, prep grade Superdex 75, and Mono-Q. This major isoenzyme was confirmed to have an apparent molecular weight of 36,400 by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), and its isoelectric point (IEF) was determined to be 3.95. N-terminal sequencing of the major isoenzyme from this fermentation was identical to that reported for an MnP3 isoenzyme isolated under different cultivation conditions, including stationary and shaking culture.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.239-248
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• 2022

The taxonomy of bacteria in the field of clinical microbiology is in a state of constant flux. A large-scale revamping of the classification and nomenclature of anaerobic bacteria has taken place over the past few decades, mainly due to advances in molecular techniques such as 16S rRNA and whole genome sequencing (WGS). New genera and species have been added, and existing genera and species have been reclassified or renamed. A major role of the clinical microbiological laboratories (CMLs) is the accurate identification (ID) and appropriate antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) for clinically important bacteria, and rapid reporting and communication of the same to the clinician. Taxonomic changes in anaerobic bacteria could potentially affect the choice of appropriate antimicrobial agents and the antimicrobial breakpoints to use. Furthermore, current taxonomy is important to prevent treatment failures of emerging pathogenic anaerobes with antimicrobial resistance. Therefore, CMLs should periodically update themselves on the changes in the taxonomy of anaerobic bacteria and suitably inform clinicians of these changes for optimum patient care. This article presents an update on the taxonomy of clinically important anaerobic bacteria, together with the previous names or synonyms. This taxonomy update can help guide antimicrobial therapy for anaerobic bacterial infections and prevent treatment failure and can be a useful tool for both CMLs and clinicians.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.62 no.1
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• pp.70-79
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• 2024

Raman analyzer is an analytical technique that utilizes the "Raman effect", which occurs when light is scattered by the inherent vibrations of molecules. It is used for molecular identification and composition analysis. In the natural gas industry, it is widely used in bunkering and tank lorry fields in addition to LNG export and import terminals. In this study, a LNG-specific Raman analyzer was installed and operated under actual field conditions to analyze the composition and principal properties (calorific value, reference density, etc.) of LNG. The measured LNG composition and calorific value were compared with those obtained by conventional gas chromatograph that are currently in operation and validated. The test results showed that the Raman analyzer provided rapid and stable measurements of LNG composition and calorific value. When comparing the calorific value, which serves as the basis for LNG transactions, with the results from conventional gas chromatograph, the Raman analyzer met the acceptable error criteria. Furthermore, the measurement results obtained in this study satisfied the accuracy criteria of relevant international standards (ASTM D7940-14) and demonstrated similar outcomes compared to large-scale international demonstration cases.

• Proceedings of the Korean Environmental Health Society Conference
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• 2003.06a
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• pp.24-25
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• 2003

Lead is ubiquitous in the human environment as a result of industrialization. China's rapid industrialization and traffic growth have increased the potential for lead emissions. Lead poisoning in children is one of the most common public health problems today, and it is entirely preventable. Children are more vulnerable to lead pollution and lead in their bodies can affect their nervous, circulatory, and digestive systems. Children are exposed to lead from different sources (such as paint, gasoline, and solder) and through different pathways (such as air, food, water, dust, and soil). Although all children are exposed to some lead from food, air, dust, and soil, some children are exposed to high dose sources of lead. Significant sources of lead for China's children include industrial emissions (often close to housing and schools), leaded gasoline, and occupational exposure that occurs when parents wear lead-contaminated clothing home from work, burning of coal for home heat and cooking, contaminated food, and some traditional medicines. To assess the blood lead level in children in China, a large-scale study was conducted in 19 cities among 9 provinces during 1997 to 2000. There were 6502 children, aged 3-5 years, were recruited in the study The result indicates that the mean blood lead level was 8.83ug/dl 3-5 year old living in city area. The mean blood lead level of boys was higher than that of girls (9.1l ug/dl vs 8.73ug/dl). Almost 30 percent childrens blood lead level exceeded 10ug/dl. The average blood lead level was higher than that of in 1985 (8.83ug/dl vs 8.lug/dl). An epidemiological study was carried on the children living around the cottage industries recycling the lead from battery. Nine hundreds fifty nine children, aged 5-12 years, living in lead polluted villages where the lead smelters located near the residential area and 207 control children live in unpolluted area were recruited in the study. The lead levels in air, soil, drinking water and crops were measured. The blood lead and ZnPP level were tested for all subjects. The results show that the local environment was polluted. The lead levels both in the air and crops were much higher than that of in control area. In the polluted area, the average blood level was 49.6ug/dl (rang 19.5-89.3ug/dl). Whereas, in the unpolluted area, the average blood level was 12.4ug/dl (rang 4.6-24.8ug/dl). This study indicates that in some countryside area, some cottage industries induce seriously lead pollution and cause children health problem. For the introducing of unleaded gasoline in some large cities, such as Beijing and Shanghai, the blood lead level showed a declined trend since 1997. By 2000, the use of leaded gasoline in motor vehicles has been prohibited in China. The most recent data available show that levels of lead in blood among children in Shanghai decreased from 8.3ug/dl in 1997 to 7.6ug/dl in 1999. The prevalence rate of children lead poisoning (blood lead >10ug/dl) was also decreased from 37.8% to 24.8%. In children living in downtown area, the blood lead level reduced dramatically. To explore the relationship between gene polymorphisms and individual susceptibility of lead poisoning, a molecular epidemiological study was conducted among children living in lead polluted environment. The result showed that the subjects with ALAD2 allele has higher ZPP level, and the subjects with VDR B allele has larger head circumference than only with b allele. In the present study, we demonstrated that ALAD genotypes modify lead effects on heme metabolism and VDR gene variants influence the skull development in highly exposed children. The polymorphism of ALAD and VDR genes might be the molecular inherited factor modifying the susceptibility of lead poisoning. Recently, Chinese government pays more attention to lead pollution and lead poisoning in children problem. The leaded gasoline was prohibited used in motor vehicles since 2000. The government has decided to have a clampdown on the high-polluted lead smelters for recycling the lead from battery in countryside. It is hopeful that the risk of lead poisoning in children will be decreased in the further

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.223-229
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• 2010

In this study diverse dehydrogenative polymers (DHPs) were synthesized with three precursors of native lignin [p-coumaryl alcohol (PCA), coniferyl alcohol (CA), sinapyl alcohol (SA)] in the presence of horseradish peroxidase (HRP, EC. 1.11.1.7)/$H_2O_2$. To compare the structural features between DHPs and native lignin, the DHPs as well as pine/poplar milled wood lignins were simultaneously subjected to gel permeation chromatography (GPC) to determine average molecular weights and derivatization followed by reductive cleavage (DFRC) to investigate the frequency of ${\beta}$-O-4 linkage. The highest yield of DHP was measured to 71% when CA was solely injected (G-DHP) and the yield of H-DHP was 42%. However, single injection of SA could not form any polymer in this system. The average molecular weights of DHPs were ranged between 3,000~4,700, which were only 1/2 fold compared with that of pine MWL (G-type lignin: Mw 7,340) and 1/3 scale compared with that of poplar MWL (GS-type lignin: Mw 13,250). DFRC analysis revealed that the formation of ${\beta}$-O-4 linkage during dehydrogenative polymerization was the highest in the GS-DHP with ca. 502 ${\mu}mol$/g, which was, however, remained to only 50% compared to that in poplar MWL (1107 ${\mu}mol$/g). The ${\beta}$-O-4 linkage was estimated to ca. 286 ${\mu}mol$/g In the G-DHP, which was twice as much as that of H-DHP(127 ${\mu}mol$/g). Similar to GS-DHP, only half amount of ${\beta}$-O-4 linkage, compared to pine MWL, was formed during in vitro polymerization of CA by horseradish peroxidase/$H_2O_2$.

• Proceedings of the Membrane Society of Korea Conference
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• 1999.07a
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• pp.39-42
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• 1999

Perfluoropolymers represent the ultimate resistance to hostile chemical environments and high service temperature, attributed to the presence of fluorine in the polymer backbone, i.e. to the high bond energy of C-F and C-C bonds of fluorocarbons. Copolymers of Tetrafluoroethylene (TEE) and 2, 2, 4Trifluoro-5Trifluorometoxy- 1, 3Dioxole (TTD), commercially known as HYFLON AD, are amorphous perfluoropolymers with glass transition temperature (Tg)higher than room temperature, showing a thermal decomposition temperature exceeding 40$0^{\circ}C$. These polymer systems are highly soluble in fluorinated solvents, with low solution viscosities. This property allows the preparation of self-supported and composite membranes with desired membrane thickness. Symmetric and asymmetric perfluoropolymer membranes, made with HYFLON AD, have been prepared and evaluated. Porous and not porous symmetric membranes have been obtained by solvent evaporation with various processing conditions. Asymmetric membranes have been prepared by th wet phase inversion method. Measure of contact angle to distilled water have been carried out. Figure 1 compares experimental results with those of other commercial membranes. Contact angles of about 120$^{\circ}$for our amorphous perfluoropolymer membranes demonstrate that they posses a high hydrophobic character. Measure of contact angles to hexandecane have been also carried out to evaluate the organophobic character. Rsults are reported in Figure 2. The observed strong organophobicity leads to excellent fouling resistance and inertness. Porous membranes with pore size between 30 and 80 nanometers have shown no permeation to water at pressures as high as 10 bars. However high permeation to gases, such as O2, N2 and CO2, and no selectivities were observed. Considering the porous structure of the membrane, this behavior was expected. In consideration of the above properties, possible useful uses in th field of gas- liquid separations are envisaged for these membranes. A particularly promising application is in the field of membrane contactors, equipments in which membranes are used to improve mass transfer coefficients in respect to traditional extraction and absorption processes. Gas permeation properties have been evaluated for asymmetric membranes and composite symmetric ones. Experimental permselectivity values, obtained at different pressure differences, to various single gases are reported in Tab. 1, 2 and 3. Experimental data have been compared with literature data obtained with membranes made with different amorphous perfluoropolymer systems, such as copolymers of Perfluoro2, 2dimethyl dioxole (PDD) and Tetrafluorethylene, commercialized by the Du Pont Company with the trade name of Teflon AF. An interesting linear relationship between permeability and the glass transition temperature of the polymer constituting the membrane has been observed. Results are descussed in terms of polymer chain structure, which affects the presence of voids at molecular scale and their size distribution. Molecular Dyanmics studies are in progress in order to support the understanding of these results. A modified Theodoru- Suter method provided by the Amorphous Cell module of InsightII/Discover was used to determine the chain packing. A completely amorphous polymer box of about 3.5 nm was considered. Last but not least the use of amorphous perfluoropolymer membranes appears to be ideal when separation processes have to be performed in hostile environments, i.e. high temperatures and aggressive non-aqueous media, such as chemicals and solvents. In these cases Hyflon AD membranes can exploit the outstanding resistance of perfluoropolymers.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.213-224
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• 1994

Several isotopomers of cyclooctanone were prepared by selective deuterium substitution. Intrinsic isotope effects on $^{13}C$ NMR chemical shifts of these isotopomers were investigated systematically at low temperature. These istope effects were discussed in relation to the preferred boat-chair conformation of cyclooctanone. Deuterium isotope effects on NMR chemical shifts have been known for a long time. Especially in a conformationally mobile molecule, isotope perturbation could affect NMR signals through a combination of isotope effects on equilibria and intrinsic effects. The distinction between intrinsic and nonintrinsic effects is quite difficult at ambient temperature due to involvement of both equilibrium and intrinsic isotope effects. However if equilibria between possible conformers of cyclooctanone are slowed down enough on the NMR time scale by lowering temperature, it should be possible to measure intrinsic isotope shifts from the separated signals at low temperature. $^{13}C$ NMR has been successfully utilized in the study on molecular conformation in solution when one deals with stable conformers or molecules were rapid interconversion occurs at ambient temperature. The study of dynamic processes in general requires analysis of spectra at several temperature. Anet et al. did $^1H$ NMR study of cyclooctanone at low temperature to freeze out a stable conformation, but were not able initially to deduce which conformation was stable because of the complexity of alkyl region in the $^1H$ NMR spectrum. They also reported the $^1H$ and $^{13}C$ NMR spectra of the $C_9-C_{16}$ cycloalkanones with changing temperature from $-80^{\circ}C$ to $-170^{\circ}C$, but they did not report a variable temperature $^{13}C$ NMR study of cyclooctanone. For the analysis of the intrinsic isotope effect with relation to cylooctanone conformation, $^{13}C$ NMR spectra are obtained in the present work at low temperatures (up to $-150^{\circ}C$) in order to find the chemical shifts at the temperature at which the dynamic process can be "frozen-out" on the NMR time scale and cyclooctanone can be observed as a stable conformation. Both the ring inversion and pseudorotational processes must be "frozen-out" in order to see separate resonances for all eight carbons in cyclooctanone. In contrast to $^1H$ spectra, slowing down just the ring inversion process has no apparent effects on the $^{13}C$ spectra because exchange of environments within the pairs of methylene carbons can still occur by the pseudorotational process. Several isotopomers of cyclooctanone were prepared by selective deuterium substitution (fig. 1) : complete deuterium labeling at C-2 and C-8 positions gave cyclooctanone-2, 2, 8, $8-D_4$ : complete labeling at C-2 and C-7 positions afforded the 2, 2, 7, $7-D_4$ isotopomer : di-deuteration at C-3 gave the 3, $3-D_2$ isotopomer : mono-deuteration provided cyclooctanone-2-D, 4-D and 5-D isotopomers : and partial deuteration on the C-2 and C-8 position, with a chiral and difunctional case catalyst, gave the trans-2, $8-D_2$ isotopomer. These isotopomer were investigated systematically in relation with cyclooctanone conformation and intrinsic isotope effects on $^{13}C$ NMR chemical shifts at low temperature. The determination of the intrinsic effects could help in the analysis of the more complex effects at higher temperature. For quantitative analysis of intrinsic isotope effects, the $^{13}C$ NMR spectrum has been obtained for a mixture of the labeled and unlabeled compounds because the signal separations are very small.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.29 no.10
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• pp.1607-1623
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• 2019

Sediment bioelectrochemical systems (SBESs) can be integrated into brackish aquaculture ponds for in-situ bioremediation of the pond water and sediment. Such an in-situ system offers advantages including reduced treatment cost, reusability and simple handling. In order to realize such an application potential of the SBES, in this laboratory-scale study we investigated the effect of several controllable and uncontrollable operational factors on the in-situ bioremediation performance of a tank model of a brackish aquaculture pond, into which a SBES was integrated, in comparison with a natural degradation control model. The performance was evaluated in terms of electricity generation by the SBES, Chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal and nitrogen removal of both the tank water and the tank sediment. Real-life conditions of the operational parameters were also experimented to understand the most close-to-practice responses of the system to their changes. Predictable effects of controllable parameters including external resistance and electrode spacing, similar to those reported previously for the BESs, were shown by the results but exceptions were observed. Accordingly, while increasing the electrode spacing reduced the current densities but generally improved COD and nitrogen removal, increasing the external resistance could result in decreased COD removal but also increased nitrogen removal and decreased current densities. However, maximum electricity generation and COD removal efficiency difference of the SBES (versus the control) could be reached with an external resistance of $100{\Omega}$, not with the lowest one of $10{\Omega}$. The effects of uncontrollable parameters such as ambient temperature, salinity and pH of the pond (tank) water were rather unpredictable. Temperatures higher than $35^{\circ}C$ seemed to have more accelaration effect on natural degradation than on bioelectrochemical processes. Changing salinity seriously changed the electricity generation but did not clearly affect the bioremediation performance of the SBES, although at 2.5% salinity the SBES displayed a significantly more efficient removal of nitrogen in the water, compared to the control. Variation of pH to practically extreme levels (5.5 and 8.8) led to increased electricity generations but poorer performances of the SBES (vs. the control) in removing COD and nitrogen. Altogether, the results suggest some distinct responses of the SBES under brackish conditions and imply that COD removal and nitrogen removal in the system are not completely linked to bioelectrochemical processes but electrochemically enriched bacteria can still perform non-bioelectrochemical COD and nitrogen removals more efficiently than natural ones. The results confirm the application potential of the SBES in brackish aquaculture bioremediation and help propose efficient practices to warrant the success of such application in real-life scenarios.