• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.115-132
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• 1992

This study was conducted to clarify the distribution pattern of macrobenthic soft-bottom dwelling animals near the shellfish farming ground in Chinhae Bay, Korea Sampling was seasonally performed with van Veen grab$(0.1m^2)$ from October 1990 to July 1991. Benthic animals collected during the study comprised 107 species which amounted to 6,978 individuals: 52 species from polychaetes$(48.6\%)$, 34 species from crustaceans$(31.8\%),$ 14 species from molluscs$(13.1\%)$ and 7 species from other faunal groups$(6.5\%)$. The dominant species were four polychaetes and one amphipod: Lumbrineis longifolia, Capitella capitate, Mediomastus sp., Sigambra tentaculata and Erictonius pugnax. The study area could be divided into 3 regions based on the faunal similarity which was closely related to the content of organic matter in the surface sediment. The benthic community located near the shellfish farming ground showed large spatial and seasonal variations in species diversity and evenness in contrast to the stable values off the farming area. The oxygen deficient water mass below 2 ml/l In thi bottom layer during the summer stressed and depauperated the benthic community in the autumn of 1990. However, the benthic community did recover during the winter. It is postulated that the cyclic phenomenon of summer mortality followed by winter recovery may be a common characteristic in benthic communities subjected to a high level of organic pollution.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.417-425
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• 2009

The potential utility of fish scales to the functional food industry has been investigated due to its antioxidant and antihypertensive characteristics. In this study, we report on the reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging and angiotensin I converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activities of gelatin hydrolysates processed from Branchiostegus japonicus scales, which are also high in protein content (about 46.1%). We prepared the enzymatic gelatin hydrolysates with four proteases (${\alpha}$-chymotrypsin, Alcalase, Neutrase and trypsin) from B. japonicus scale gelatin, which was prepared according to different reaction times, substrate/enzyme ratios and substrate concentrations. The enzymatic hydrolytic degrees of the gelatin increased time-dependently up to 6 hrs, while the Alcalase gelatin hydrolysates showed the highest hydrolysis degrees compared to the others. Furthermore, gelatin hydrolysates of Neutrase and ${\alpha}$-chymotrypsin showed the highest DPPH radical and $H_2O_2$ scavenging activities ($IC_{50}$ value; 9.18 mg/mL and 9.74 mg/mL), respectively. However, the activities were not significant (P<0.05). We also observed that the four gelatin hydrolysates significantly increased ACE inhibitory activities from approximately 20% to 60% (P<0.05), Among them, the Alcalase gelatin hydrolysates showed the higher ACE inhibitory activity ($IC_{50}$ value; 0.73 mg/mL) compared to the others. These results suggest that the enzymatic gelatin hydrolysates prepared from B. japonicus scales may possess a potentially useful function as an ACE inhibitory agent. As such, the utility of B. japonicus scales should be given due consideration for application in the functional food industry.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.291-297
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• 2011

In an attempt to improve the substrate condition for Manila clam (Ruditapes philippinarum) culture, crushed oyster (Crassostrea gigas) shells were spread on the muddy tidal flat of Namseong-ri, Podu-myeon, Goheung-gun, Jeollannam-do in April 2008. To test the suitability of the crushed oyster shell added substrate, seed clams were transplanted from Taehwa river estuary in Ulsan city in June 2008. Over 23 months of sampling, the mean grain size and the sorting in the experimental site containing the crushed oyster shell were significantly higher than the control site. The ignition loss, water content, chemical oxygen demand (COD) and acid-volatile sulfide (AVS) level were also significantly higher in the crushed oyste shell added substratum. Survival of the clams transplanted to the crushed oyster shell added substratum was significantly higher and all the clams transplanted to the normal muddy substratum died in August 2009, 13 months after the transplantation. At the end of the experiment in April 2010, the transplanted clams reached 36.10 mm in shell length and 8.92 g in total weight with survival of 43.5%. Our study suggested than crushed oyster shell added in the mud dominant substratum greatly improved living condition and survivability of clams.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.57-64
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• 2013

Cells can resist and even recover from stress induced by acute hypoxia, whereas chronic hypoxia often leads to irreversible damage and eventually death. Although little is known about the response(s) to acute hypoxia in neuronal cells, alterations in ion channel activity could be preferential. This study aimed to elucidate which channel type is involved in the response to acute hypoxia in rat pheochromocytomal (PC12) cells as a neuronal cell model. Using perfusing solution saturated with 95% $N_2$ and 5% $CO_2$, induction of cell hypoxia was confirmed based on increased intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ with diminished oxygen content in the perfusate. During acute hypoxia, one channel type with a conductance of about 30 pS (2.5 pA at -80 mV) was activated within the first 2~3 min following onset of hypoxia and was long-lived for more than 300 ms with high open probability ($P_o$, up to 0.8). This channel was permeable to $Na^+$ ions, but not to $K^+$, $Ca^+$, and $Cl^-$ ions, and was sensitively blocked by amiloride (200 nM). These characteristics and behaviors were quite similar to those of epithelial sodium channel (ENaC). RT-PCR and Western blot analyses confirmed that ENaC channel was endogenously expressed in PC12 cells. Taken together, a 30-pS ENaC-like channel was activated in response to acute hypoxia in PC12 cells. This is the first evidence of an acute hypoxia-activated $Na^+$ channel that can contribute to depolarization of the cell.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.109-118
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• 2008

Objective : The objective of this study was to compare the antioxidant effects of hot pepper extract and capsaicin. Methods : In vitro, antioxidant activities were examined by DPPH radical scavenging activity, total antioxidant capacity(TAC), oxygen radical scavenging capacity(ORAC), inhibition of induced lipid peroxidation using liver mitochonria and total phenolic contents. Results : 1. DPPH free radical scavenging activities at the concentrations of both 1 and $10mg/m{\ell}$ were 1.2 to 1.9 times higher in capsaicin than in hot pepper extract. The concentration of capsaicin required for 50% radical scavenging was lower than that of hot pepper extract(3.9 vs $5.9mg/m{\ell}$), indicating that capsaicin had higher DPPH radical scavenging activity than hot pepper extract. 2. Total antioxidant capacities of capsaicin at the concentrations of 0.1 and 1mg/ml(13.8 and 41.3 nmol Trolox equivalent) were not significantly different from those at the concentrations of 1 and $10mg/m{\ell}$(11.4 and 41.2nmol Trolox equivalent), indicating that capsaicin showed 10 times higher ABTS radical scavenging activity compared to hot pepper extract. 3. ORAC of capsaicin at the concentrations of 1, 5, 10 and 100 mg/ml were 0.04, 0.17, 0.29 and 1.74nmol gallic acid equivalent, respectively. On the other hand, ORAC of hot pepper extract at the concentrations of 1, 5, 10 and $100{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ were 0.15, 0.44, 0.75 and 2.49nmol gallic acid equivalent, respectively, indicating that capsaicin showed higher peroxyl radical scavenging activity than hot pepper extract. 4. Inhibition of lipid peroxidation caused by hot pepper extract at the concentrations of 1 and $10mg/m{\ell}$ were 12.2 and 61.4%, respectively. Inhibition of lipid peroxidation caused by capsaicin at the concentrations of 1 and $10mg/m{\ell}l$ were 64.0 and 96.8%, respectively. Thus capsaicin showed 10 times stronger effect in inhibiton of lipid peroxidation than hot pepper extract. 5. Total phenolic contents of hot pepper extract at the concentrations of 0.1 and $1mg/m{\ell}$ were 1.4 and 20.8nmol gallic acid equivalent, respectively. Total phenolic contents of capsaicin at the concentrations of 0.1 and $1mg/m{\ell}$ were 6.1 and 55.4 nmol gallic acid equivalent, respectively, indicating that capsaicin had 2.7 to 4.3 times higher total phenolic contents than hot pepper extract. Conclusions : In summary, the results of this study demonstrate significant antioxidant activity of hot pepper extract, although the activity was lowered compared to capsaicin, suggesting that hot pepper extract play a role in prevention of oxidative-related diseases.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.365-372
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• 2017

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Owing to health concerns related to the consumption of traditional snacks high in sugars and fats, much effort has been made to develop functional snacks with low calorie content. In this study, a new recipe for Korean rice cookie, dasik, was developed and its antioxidative, lipid-lowering, and anti-inflammatory effects and related mechanisms were elucidated. The effects were compared with those of traditional rice cake dasik (RCD), the lipid-lowering effect of which is greater than that of traditional western-style cookies. MATERIALS/METHODS: Ginseng-added brown rice dasik (GBRD) was prepared with brown rice flour, fructooligosaccharide, red ginseng extract, and propolis. Mice were grouped (n = 7 per group) into those fed a normal AIN-76 diet, a high-fat diet (HFD), and HFD supplemented with RCD or GBRD. Dasik in the HFD accounted for 7% of the total calories. The lipid, reactive oxygen species, and peroxynitrite levels, and degree of lipid peroxidation in the plasma or liver were determined. The expression levels of proteins involved in lipid metabolism and inflammation, and those of antioxidant enzymes were determined by western blot analysis. RESULTS: The plasma and hepatic total cholesterol concentrations in the GBRD group were significantly decreased via downregulation of sterol regulatory element-binding protein-2 and 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase (P < 0.05). The hepatic peroxynitrite level was significantly lower, whereas glutathione was higher, in the GBRD group than in the RCD group. Among the antioxidant enzymes, catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were significantly upregulated in the GBRD group (P < 0.05). In addition, nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-${\kappa}B$) expression in the GBRD group was significantly lower than that in the RCD group. CONCLUSIONS: GBRD decreases the plasma and hepatic cholesterol levels by downregulating cholesterol synthesis. This new dasik recipe also improves the antioxidative and anti-inflammatory status in HFD-fed mice via CAT and GPx upregulation and NF-${\kappa}B$ downregulation. These effects were significantly higher than those of RCD.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.53 no.6
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• pp.792-797
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• 2015

Graphene has a wide spectrum on its application field due to various and excellent physical properties. However, it is very difficult to apply that graphene exists as lump or fold condition in general organic solvents. Besides, graphene was difficult to maintain as uniform condition due to chemical inert and distributions with various size and shapes. Therefore, this study was focused to study dispersion and modifying methods of aggregated graphene. The dispersion methods contain as follow: i) physical milling using glass bead, ii) co-treatment of glass bead and ultrasonic waves, iii) dispersion in organic solvents, iv) modifying with dry-ice. Milling using glass bead with size 2.5 mm was effective to be size decrease of 36.4% in comparison with control group. Mixed treatment of glass bead (size 2.5 mm) and ultrasonic waves (225W, 10 min) showed relative size decrease of 76%, suggesting that the size decrease depends on the size of glass bead, intensity of ultrasonic waves and treatment time. Solvents of Ethyl acetate (EA) and Isoprophyl alcohol (IPA) were used in order to improve dispersion by modifying surface of graphene. IPA of them showed a favorable dispersion with more -CO functional groups in the FT-IR analysis. On the other hand, the oxygen content of graphene surface modified by dry-ice was highly increased from 0.8 to 4.9%. From the results, it was decided that the favorable dispersion state for a long time was obtained under the condition of -CO functional group increase in IPA solvent.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.530-537
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• 2014

Moisture is a major factor causing the deteriorative physical change, microbial growth, and chemical reaction of the products. In this study, the moisture absorbing composite films have been prepared with moisture absorbing material of polyacrylic acid partial sodium salt (PAPSS) impregnated on LLDPE polymer for the functional packaging applications. The results showed that PAPSS impregnated film illustrated uniformly dispersed PAPSS particles in the LLDPE polymer matrix. The transparency of the PAPSS impregnated film decreased slightly at higher PAPSS concentrations. An increase in the PAPSS content for moisture-absorbing films showed a similar decrease in tensile strength, percent elongation at break, and tear strength. Their values of films impregnated with PAPSS of 0.5, 1, and 2% showed no significant difference. Meanwhile, 4% PAPSS films significantly decreased the values of mechanical properties compared to the films impregnated with different PAPSS levels. Values of the oxygen permeability and water vapor permeability for PAPSS impregnated films decreased significantly with greater PAPSS. The results indicate that 4% PAPSS impregnated in LLDPE films had high affinity of moisture absorbencies compared to the other films. The mathematical equation that best described the moisture sorption isotherm of each film sample was the GAB equation at $25^{\circ}C$. The crystallization and melting temperatures of PAPSS films were influenced by the addition of PAPSS material, but showed good thermal stability.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.69-78
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• 2007

Constructed wetlands and other aquatic systems have been successfully used for waste and wastewater treatment in either temperate or tropical regions. To treat waste or wastewater in a sustainable manner, the integrated eco-engineering designs are explained in this paper with 2 case studies: (i) a combination of vertical-flow constructed wetland (CW) with plant irrigation systemfor fecal sludge management and (ii) integrated CW units with landscaping at full-scale application for domestic wastewater treatment. The pilot-scale study of fecal sludge management employed 3 vertical-flow CW units, each with a dimension of $5{\times}5{\times}0.65m$ (width ${\times}$ length ${\times}$ media depth) and planted with cattails (Typha augustifolia). At the solid loading rate of 250 kg total solids (TS)/$m^2.yr$ and a 6-day percolate impoundment, the CW system could achieve chemical oxygen demand (COD), TS and total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN) removal efficiencies in the range of 80 - 96%. The accumulated sludge layers of about 80 - 90 cm was found at the CW bed surface after operating the CW units for 7 years, but no clogging problem has been observed. The CW percolate was applied to 16 irrigation Sunflower plant (Helianthus annuus) plots, each with a dimension of $4.5{\times}4.5m$ ($width{\times}length$). In the study, the CW percolate were fed to the treatment plots at the application rate of 7.5 mm/day but the percolate was mixed with tap water at different ratio of 20%, 80% and 100%. Based on a 1-year data of 3-crop plantation were experimented, the contents of Zn, Mn and Cu in soil of the experimental plots were found to increase with increasing in CW percolate ratios. The highest plant biomass yield and oil content of 1,000 kg/ha and 35%, respectively, were obtained from the plots fed with 20% or 50% of the CW percolate, whereas no accumulation of heavy metals in the plant tissues (i.e. leaves, stems and flowers) of the sunflower is found. In addition to the pilot-scale and field experiments, a case study of the integrated CW systems for wastewater treatment at Phi Phi Island (a Tsunami-hit area), Krabi province, Thailand is illustrated. The $5,200-m^2$ CW systems on Phi Phi Island are not only for treatment of $400m^3/day$ wastewater from hotels, households or other domestic activities, but also incorporating public consultation in the design processes, resulting in introducing the aesthetic landscaping as well as reusing of the treated effluent for irrigating green areas on the Island.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.200-207
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• 2017

A new approach to the solubilization of waste activated sludge (WAS) using alginate-quaternary ammonium complex beads was investigated under controlled mild alkaline conditions. The complex beads were prepared by the reaction of sodium alginate (SA) with 3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl-octadecyldimethylammonium chloride (TSA) in acid solution, followed by crosslinking with $CaCl_2$. Treatment of WAS with SA-TSA complex beads was effective for enhancing the efficacy of WAS solubilization. The highest value of soluble chemical oxygen demand (SCOD) concentration (3,900 mg/L) was achieved after 10 days of treatment with 30% (v/v) SA-TSA complex beads. The WAS solubilization efficacy of the complex beads was also evaluated by estimating the concentrations of volatile fatty acids (VFAs). The maximum value of VFAs was 2,961 mg/L, and the overall proportions of VFAs were more than 75% of SCOD. The main components of VFAs were acetic, propionic, iso-butyric, and butyric acids. These results suggest that SA-TSA complex beads might be useful for enhancing the solubilization of WAS. The potential use of VFAs as the external carbon substrate for the production of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) by a mixed microbial culture (MMC) was also examined. The enrichment of PHA-accumulating MMC could be achieved by periodic feeding of VFAs generated from WAS in a sequencing batch reactor. The composition of PHA synthesized from VFAs mainly consisted of 3-hydroxybutyrate. The maximum PHA content accounted for 25.9% of dry cell weight. PHA production by this process is considered to be promising since it has a doubly beneficial effect on the environment by reducing the amount of WAS and concomitantly producing an eco-friendly biopolymer.