• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.921-927
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• 2008

Discovery of $\alpha$-glucosidase inhibitors has been actively pursued with the aim to develop therapeutics for the treatment of diabetes and the other carbohydrate mediated diseases. As a method for the discovery of new novel inhibitors of $\alpha$-glucosidase, we have addressed the performance of the computer-aided drug design protocol involving the homology modeling of $\alpha$-glucosidase and the structure-based virtual screening with the two docking tools: FlexX and the automated and improved AutoDock implementing the effects of ligand solvation in the scoring function. The homology modeling of $\alpha$-glucosidase from baker’s yeast provides a high-quality 3-D structure enabling the structure-based inhibitor design. Of the two docking programs under consideration, AutoDock is found to be more accurate than FlexX in terms of scoring putative ligands to the extent of 5-fold enhancement of hit rate in database screening when 1% of database coverage is used as a cutoff. A detailed binding mode analysis of the known inhibitors shows that they can be stabilized in the active site of $\alpha$- glucosidase through the simultaneous establishment of the multiple hydrogen bond and hydrophobic interactions. The present study demonstrates the usefulness of the automated AutoDock program with the improved scoring function as a docking tool for virtual screening of new $\alpha$-glucosidase inhibitors as well as for binding mode analysis to elucidate the activities of known inhibitors.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.1451-1456
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• 2012

A novel tetrathiafulvalene (TTF)-based main-chain polymer (6TTF-polymer) was successfully synthesized via a condensation polymerization between a newly synthesized dihydroxy TTF derivative and a malonyl chloride, and its chemical structure was characterized by spectroscopic techniques. Molecular weight of the 6TTF-polymer (9,030 g/mol by gel permeation chromatography) was large enough to form the ductile film. The electrochemical and optical properties of the 6TTF-polymer were further estimated by cyclic voltammetry, ultraviolet and photoluminescence spectroscopes. The highest occupied molecular orbital level ($E_{HOMO}$=-4.79 eV) and band-gap energy ($E_g$=1.91 eV) of the 6TTF-polymer suggested that TTF-based polymer could act as a good electron donating material for the optoelectronic applications.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.33 no.8
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• pp.2546-2552
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• 2012

A novel biguanide-functionalized $Fe_3O_4/SiO_2$ magnetite nanoparticle with a core-shell structure was developed for utilization as a heterogeneous organosuperbase in chemical transformations. The structural, surface, and magnetic characteristics of the nanosized catalyst were investigated by various techniques such as transmission electron microscopy (TEM), powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM), elemental analyzer (EA), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), $N_2$ adsorption-desorption (BET and BJH) and FT-IR. The biguanide-functionalized $Fe_3O_4/SiO_2$ nanoparticles showed a superpara-magnetic property with a saturation magnetization value of 46.7 emu/g, indicating great potential for application in magnetically separation technologies. In application point of view, the prepared catalyst was found to act as an efficient recoverable nanocatalyst in nitroaldol and domino Knoevenagel condensation/Michael addition/cyclization reactions in aqueous media under mild condition. Additionally, the catalyst was reused six times without significant degradation in catalytic activity and performance.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.689-695
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• 2009

Chemically synthesized small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) can specifically knock-down expression of target genes via RNA interference (RNAi) pathway. To date, the length of synthetic siRNA duplex has been strictly maintained less than 30 bp, because an early study suggested that double-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs) longer than 30 bp could not trigger specific gene silencing due to the induction of non-specific antiviral interferon responses. Contrary to the current belief, here we show that synthetic dsRNA as long as 38 bp can result in specific target gene silencing without non-specific antiviral responses. Using this longer duplex structure, we have generated dsRNAs, which can simultaneously knock-down expression of two target genes (termed as dual-target siRNAs or dsiRNAs). Our results thus demonstrate the structural flexibility of gene silencing siRNAs, and provide a starting point to construct multifunctional RNA structures. The dsiRNAs could be utilized to develop a novel therapeutic gene silencing strategy against diseases with multiple gene alternations such as viral infection and cancer.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.477-482
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• 2009

Anthocyanin and origomeric proanthocyanidin (OPC) fractions showing antioxidizing activity are present in grape extracts. Grape extracts are widely used in cosmetic applications as functional ingredients. The aim of our study is to isolate the antioxidant fraction from waste of grape products. The extraction was done using soxhlet apparatus. Next, the extraction was subjected for identification of antioxidants by using HPLC. Antioxidant assay was performed by using 2,2-diphenyl-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) method. Antioxidizing activity was found to be higher in grape seed extract when compared to grape skin extract. Using the extract, a novel formula with multi lamella emulsion structure has been developed and its safety and stability were confirmed by standard protocols.

• Solar Energy
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.125-131
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• 1999

This paper deals with a novel structure of poly-Si solar cell. A grain boundary(GB) of poly-Si acts as potential barrier and recombination center for photo-generated carriers. To reduce unwanted side effects at the GB of poly-Si, we employed physical GB removal of poly-Si using chemical solutions. Various chemical etchants such as Sirtl, Yang, Secco, and Schimmel were investigated for the preferential GB etching. Etch depth about 10 ${\mu}m$ was achieved by a Schimmel etchant. After a chemical etching of poly-Si, we used $POCl_3$ for emitter junction formation. This paper used an easy method of top electrode formation using a RF sputter grown ITO film. ITO films with thickness of 300 nm showed resistivity of $1.26{\times}10^{-4}{\Omega}-cm$ and overall transmittance above 80%. Using a preferential GB etching and ITO top electrode, we developed a new fabrication procedure of poly-Si solar cells. Employing optimized process conditions, we were able to achieve conversion efficiency as high as 16.6% at an input power of 20 $mW/cm^2$. This paper investigates the effects of process parameters: etching conditions, ITO deposition factors, and emitter doping densities in a poly-Si cell fabrication procedure.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.53 no.6
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• pp.731-741
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• 2009

‘One-pot’ reaction procedure for the synthesis of novel morpholino pyrimidines (10-18) under microwave irradiation in ‘dry media’ in the presence of heterogeneous $NaHSO_4.SiO_2$ catalyst was developed. All the synthesized compounds were screened for their in vitro antibacterial activities against clinically isolated bacterial strains namely Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus cerues, Micrococcus luteus and Salmonella typhii and antifungal activities against fungal strains namely Aspergillus niger, Candida 6 and Candida 51. Structure activity relationship of the synthesized compounds against microbiological results was discussed.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.1949-1954
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• 2012

We have developed a novel and eco-friendly synthetic route for the preparation of a two-dimensional layered zinc hydroxide with intercalated nitrate anions. The layered zinc hydroxide nitrate, called 'zinc basic salt', was, in general, successfully synthesized, using an electron beam irradiation technique. The 2-propanol solutions containing hydrated zinc nitrate were directly irradiated with an electron-beam at room temperature, under atmospheric conditions, without stabilizers or base molecules. Under electron beam irradiation, the reactive OH radicals were generated by radiolysis of water molecules in precursor metal salts. After further radiolytic processes, the hydroxyl anions might be formed by the reaction of solvated electrons and the OH radical. Finally, the $Zn_5(OH)_8(NO_3)_2{\cdot}2H_2O$ was precipitated by the reaction of zinc cation and hydroxyl anions. Structure and morphology of obtained compounds were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM). The chemical components of the products were determined by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and elemental analysis (EA). The thermal behavior of products was studied by thermogravimetric (TG) and differential thermal analysis (DTA).

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.390-411
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• 2022

Any design engineer or coating formulator's primary objective is to protect metals. Large investments in terms of money, time, labour, and other resources are necessary for constructing large-scale machinery and structures. In terms of economy, the structure's lifespan should be as long as feasible to create revenue. It is becoming essential to protect metal substrates from corrosion to prolong the lifespan of such huge structures. One of the most exciting, durable, useful, and effective methods to protect metals from corrosion is the application of corrosion-resistant coating. Graphene is a novel material with a wide range of applications because of its extraordinary features. The use of graphene in coating creates an obstacle and complicates the path for corrosive medium to reach the metal. As the path to the metal elongates, the corrosion medium takes longer to reach the metal. Thus, metal corrosion can be avoided. In this paper, the importance of graphene in coating formulation is discussed, including chemical modifications of graphene, the effect of graphene concentration on corrosion inhibition, and the contact angle of coating. This review also highlights the significance of water-based corrosion-resistant coating for preventing environmental damage.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.60 no.3
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• pp.423-432
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• 2022

Magnetic biochar produced from pyrolysis of dairy cattle manure was used to develop an effective sorbent for arsenic purification from aqueous solution. Biomass and magnetized biomass were pyrolyzed in a tube furnace with 10 ℃/min heating rate at 450 ℃ under nitrogen flow of 100 cm³/min for 2 h. Biochars were characterized by SEM-EDX, BET, XDR, FTIR, TGA, zeta potential analysis. The resultant biochar and magnetic biochar were opposed to 50-100-500 ppm As(V) laden aqueous solution. Adsorption experiments were performed by using ASTM 4646-03 batch method. The effects of concentration, pH, temperature and stirring rate on adsorption were evaluated. As(V) was successfully removed from aqueous solution by magnetic biochar due to its highly porous structure, high aromaticity and polarity. The results suggest dairy cattle manure pyrolysis is a promising route for managing animal manure and producing a cost effective biosorbent for efficient immobilization of arsenic in aqueous solutions.