• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.272-277
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• 2011

The hypoglycemic effects of germinated rough rice extract in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats were investigated. Weight gain was significantly lower in the diabetic groups than in the normal control (NC); however, they were higher in the 1% and 3% diabetic groups given germinated Goami2 rough rice extract (DM-3%GGRRE) than in the diabetic control (DC). While food intake in all diabetic groups was significantly higher than that of the NC, there was no significant difference among all diabetic groups. The weight percentages of liver and kidney in all diabetic groups were significantly higher than that of the NC. In terms of blood glucose, the diabetic group showed about a three times larger value than the normal group. Moreover, in the 3% germinated rough rice extract group, the blood glucose level became lowered. The levels of alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine phosphokinsae, and creatinine increased in general with the induction of diabetes using STZ; however, the 3% GGRRE-treated group displayed a significant decrease in these levels compared to the diabetic group. The results show that the 3% GGRRE, rather than the 1% GGRRE, was considerably more effective at reducing blood glucose and improving impaired glucose tolerance, suggesting the germinated rice extracts may play a role in preventing liver and kidney damage.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.34 no.3_spc
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• pp.449-456
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• 2021

Objective: Seaweeds could be an alternative and functional feed resource. The purpose of this experiment is to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation of Sargassum meal on laying performance and egg quality of layers. Methods: Two hundred 36-wk-old layers were divided into five treatment groups. Each treatment had four replicates with 10 hens per experimental unit. The corn-soybean meal basal diet was formulated as control group. Sargassum meals were included 0%, 1%, 2%, 3%, or 5% to diets for five treatment groups, respectively. Treatment groups were isocaloric-isonitrogenous diets. Laying performance and egg quality were measured for eight weeks. Results: Sargassum meal supplementation did not affect daily feed intake. Supplementation 1% to 3% of Sargassum meal in diets increased daily laying rate and egg mass compared with those from control group (p<0.05). Egg qualities among five groups were all similar. Supplementation of 3% Sargassum meal increased the lightness of egg yolk (p<0.05). Eggs produced from layers fed 1% and 2% Sargassum meal had a higher consumer's acceptability than the control group (p<0.05). In blood characteristics, contents of glucose, nitrogen, triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) increased as the increase of supplementation ratio of Sargassum meal (p<0.05). In serum antibody titers, supplementation of 2% Sargassum meal stimulated a higher immunoglobulin M (IgM) level than that from control group (p<0.05). However, IgM content of layers fed diets with Sargassum meal ≥3% were decreased (p<0.05). There was no difference in IgA and IgG titers among groups. Conclusion: Supplementation of 1% to 3% Sargassum meal has shown to increase egg laying rate and egg mass of Leghorn layers. However, high supplementation (5%) would negatively affect laying performance. In consideration of laying performance, egg quality, consumer responses, and blood antibody, supplementation of Sargassum meal was suggested 2% in the diet for layers.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.257-266
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• 2024

Objective: To investigate molecular and functional consequences of additional exposures to iodine- or gadolinium-based contrast agents within 24 hours from the initial intravenous administration of iodine-based contrast agents through an animal study. Materials and Methods: Fifty-six Sprague-Dawley male rats were equally divided into eight groups: negative control, positive control (PC) with single-dose administration of CT contrast agent, and additional administration of either CT or MR contrast agents 2, 4, or 24 hours from initial CT contrast agent injection. A 12 µL/g of iodinated contrast agent or a 0.47 µL/g of gadolinium-based contrast agent were injected into the tail vein. Serum levels of blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, cystatin C (Cys C), and malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured. mRNA and protein levels of kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1) and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) were evaluated. Results: Levels of serum creatinine (SCr) were significantly higher in repeated CT contrast agent injection groups than in PC (0.21 ± 0.02 mg/dL for PC; 0.40 ± 0.02, 0.34 ± 0.03, and 0.41 ± 0.10 mg/dL for 2-, 4-, and 24-hour interval groups, respectively; P < 0.001). There was no significant difference in the average Cys C and MDA levels between PC and repeated CT contrast agent injection groups (Cys C, P = 0.256-0.362; MDA, P > 0.99). Additional doses of MR contrast agent did not make significant changes compared to PC in SCr (P > 0.99), Cys C (P = 0.262), and MDA (P = 0.139-0.771) levels. mRNA and protein levels of KIM-1 and NGAL were not significantly different among additional CT or MR contrast agent groups (P > 0.05). Conclusion: A sufficient time interval, probably more than 24 hours, between repeated contrast-enhanced CT examinations may be necessary to avoid deterioration in renal function. However, conducting contrast-enhanced MRI on the same day as contrast-enhanced CT may not induce clinically significant kidney injury.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.196-202
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• 2016

Background: Ginsenoside Rd (GSRd), a main component of the root of Panax ginseng, exhibits anti-inflammation functions and decreases infarct size in many injuries and ischemia diseases such as focal cerebral ischemia. M1 Macrophages are regarded as one of the key inflammatory cells having functions for disease progression. Methods: To investigate the effect of GSRd on renal ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI) and macrophage functional status, and their regulatory role on mouse polarized macrophages in vitro, GSRd (10-100 mg/kg) and vehicle were applied to mice 30 min before renal IRI modeling. Renal functions were reflected by blood serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen level and histopathological examination. M1 polarized macrophages infiltration was identified by flow cytometry analysis and immunofluorescence staining with $CD11b^+$, $iNOS^+$/interleukin-12/tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ labeling. For the in vitro study, GSRd ($10-100{\mu}g/mL$) and vehicle were added in the culture medium of M1 macrophages to assess their regulatory function on polarization phenotype. Results: In vivo data showed a protective role of GSRd at 50 mg/kg on Day 3. Serum level of serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen significantly dropped compared with other groups. Reduced renal tissue damage and M1 macrophage infiltration showed on hematoxylin-eosin staining and flow cytometry and immunofluorescence staining confirmed this improvement. With GSRd administration, in vitro cultured M1 macrophages secreted less inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-12 and tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$. Furthermore, macrophage polarization-related pancake-like morphology gradually changed along with increasing concentration of GSRd in the medium. Conclusion: These findings demonstrate that GSRd possess a protective function against renal ischemia/reperfusion injury via downregulating M1 macrophage polarization.

• Carbon letters
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• v.24
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• pp.1-9
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• 2017

We studied the basic properties and fabrication of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) prepared using eco-friendly reduction agents in the graphene solution process. Hydrazine is generally used to reduce graphene oxide (GO), which results in polluting emissions as well as fixed nitrogen functional groups on different defects in the graphene sheets. To replace hydrazine, we developed eco-friendly reduction agents with similar or better reducing properties, and selected of them for further analysis. In this study, GO layers were produced from graphite flakes using a modified Hummer's method, and rGO layers were reduced using hydrazine hydrate, L-ascorbic acid, and gluconic acid. We measured the particle sizes and the dispersion stabilities in the rGO dispersed solvents for the three agents and analyzed the structural, electrical, and optical properties of the rGO films. The results showed that the degree of reduction was in the order L-ascorbic acid ${\geq}$ hydrazine > glucose. GO reduced using L-ascorbic acid had a sheet resistance of $121k{\Omega}/sq$, while that reduced using gluconic acid showed worse electrical properties than the other two reduction agents. Therefore, L-ascorbic acid is the most suitable eco-friendly reduction agent that can be substituted for hydrazine.

• Carbon letters
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.14-21
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• 2013

Physically and chemically activated carbons (ACs) exhibited high adsorption capacities for organic and inorganic pollutants compared with other adsorbents due to their expanded surface areas and wide pore volume distribution. In this work, seven steam-ACs with different burn-off have been prepared from cotton stalks. The textural properties of these sorbents were determined using nitrogen adsorption at $-196^{\circ}C$. The chemistry of the surface of the present sorbents was characterized by determining the surface functional C-O groups using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, surface pH, $pH_{pzc}$, and Boehm's acid-base neutralization method. The textural properties and the morphology of the sorbent surface depend on the percentage of burn-off. The surface acidity and surface basicity are related to the burn-off percentage. A theoretical model was developed to find a mathematical expression that relates the % burn-off to ash content, surface area, and mean pore radius. Also, the chemistry of the carbon surface is related to the % burn-off. A mathematical expression was proposed where % burn-off was taken as an independent factor and the other variable as a dependent factor. This expression allows the choice of the value of % burn-off with required steam-AC properties.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2014.02a
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• pp.210.1-210.1
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• 2014

The hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) sheet, a 2D material like graphene sheet, is comprised of boron and nitrogen atoms. Similar to graphene, h-BN sheet has attractive mechanical properties while it has a wide band gap unlike graphene. Recently, many experimental groups studied the growth of single BN layer by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method on the copper substrate. To study the initial stage of h-BN growth on the copper surface, we have performed density functional theory calculations. We investigate several adsorption sites of a boron or nitride atom on the Cu surfaces. Then, by increasing the number of adsorbed B and N atoms, we study formation behaviors of the BN flakes on the surface. Several types of BN flakes atoms such as triangular, linear, and hexagonal shapes are considered on the copper surface. We find that the formation of the BN flake in triangular shape is most favorable on the surface. On the basis of the theoretical results, we discuss the growth mechanism of h-BN layer on the copper surfaces in terms of its shapes in the initial stage of growth.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.42-46
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• 2012

In this study, a mesoporous carbon (CMK-3) activated using KOH was applied to the adsorption of formaldehyde, a representative indoor air pollutant. Activation process was carried out by putting KOH-treated CMK-3 in a reactor maintained at $700^{\circ}C$ in $N_2$ atmosphere. The activated sample was characterized using BET, XRD, XPS and FT-IR analysis. The formaldehyde adsorption performance of the mesoporous carbon was improved, which is attributed to the formation of oxygen and nitrogen functional groups on the mesoporous carbon surface by the activation process.

• Carbon letters
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.8-16
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• 2008

Oxidized activated carbons were prepared by reacting steam-activated carbon developed from pecan shells with nitric acid of varying strength (15, 30, 45 and 60%). The textural properties and the chemistry of the surface of the non-oxidized and of the oxidized carbons were determined from nitrogen adsorption and base neutralization capacities. The uptake of Pb(II) and Cd(II) from aqueous solution by these carbons was determined by kinetic and equilibrium experiments as well as by the column method. Treatment with nitric acid brought about drastic decrease in surface area and remarkable increase in the pore size of the carbon with these changes depending on the strength of nitric acid. Nitric acid increased the surface acidity by developing new surface oxygen functional groups of acidic nature. $HNO_3$-oxidized carbons exhibited high adsorption capacities for Pb(II) and Cd(II). The adsorption of these ions increased with the decrease of the surface pH of the carbon and with the increase of the solution pH from 2.5 to 6 and 7. The amount adsorbed from lead and cadmium was also related to the amount of surface acidity, the pH of the point of zero charge and on some metal ion parameters. Cadmium and lead uptake by the investigated carbons followed pseudo-second order model and the equilibrium sorption data fitted Langmuir adsorption model.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.101-104
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• 2000

Li-graphite intercalation compounds (GICs), synthesized at elevated temperature and pressure, were allowed to decompose spontaneously in the atmosphere. The decomposition processes were analyzed by of X-ray diffraction, DSC analysis, FT-IR measurements, UV/VIS spectrophotometry. The deintercalation reaction of the Li-GICs ceased after 6 weeks and only the residual compounds could be observed. A strong exothermic reaction was observed at 300 $^{\circ}C$ in thermal decomposition, and relatively stable decomposition curves were formed. A few endothermic curves have been observed at 1000 $^{\circ}C.$ After 6 weeks deintercalation reaction time of GICs, many exothermic and endothermic reactions were accompanied at the same time. In addition the reactions of the functional groups such as aromatic rings, nitrogen, $-CH_3$, $-CH_2$ etc. of GDIC obtained by the above reaction were confirmed by FT-IR spectrum. UV/VIS spectrophotometric measurement clearly shows the formation of a minimum energy value ($R_{min}$) for the compounds between Li-GICs as a starting material and Li-GDICs obtained until after 3 weeks of the deintercalation reaction, while they were no clear energy curves from 4 weeks of reaction time, because of the formation of the graphite structure, of high stages and of the Li compounds surrounding the graphite in the deintercalation reaction.