• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.21 no.10
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• pp.1181-1186
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• 2012

We studied the ozone concentrations generated by low-temperature dielectric barrier discharge plasma reactor after adding air and phytoplankton to control the ozone concentrations in seawater. We also examined the numbers of bacteria and Vibrio spp. after treatment using the plasma reactor. As the airflow rate was increased, more ozone was removed. Although marked variation in the ozone decrease was observed with and without airflow, the rate of ozone removal did not increase proportionately with the airflow rates. The ozone concentration decreased with increasing organic matter and time. The amount of organic matter seems to be an important factor decreasing the dissolved ozone concentration in liquid. The ozone concentration was 0.07, 0.32, 1.28, and 2.3 mg/L when operating the plasma reactor for 30, 60, 180, and 300 s, respectively; i.e., the ozone concentration increased with the reactor operating time. The initial numbers of bacteria and Vibrio spp. were 800 and 480 CFU/mL, respectively. After operating the plasma reactor at a flow rate of 6 L/min for 30 s, no bacteria or Vibrio spp. were detected. The disinfection effect of this plasma reactor seems to be superior to that of a conventional ozone generator.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.47-51
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• 2010

The objective of this study was to understand changes of plasma metabolites, hormones, and mRNA level of cytoplasmic phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK-C) in liver in spontaneous clinical ketosis; 10 clinically ketotic cows and 10 healthy cows were chosen from the same dairy farm. Eleven blood parameters and liver fat content were measured in all cows, and mRNA levels of PEPCK-C in liver were measured by semi-quantitative reverse transcription (RT) polymerase chain reaction (PCR). In ketotic cows, concentration of plasma glucose decreased (p<0.01), concentration of plasma nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA) and $\beta$-hydroxybutyric acid (BHBA) increased (p<0.01), liver fat content (18.8% wet weight) and activity of plasma aspartate aminotransferase (AST) increased (p<0.01), but concentration of plasma total bilirubin (TBIL), $\gamma$-glutamyl transpeptidase ($\gamma$-GT), and cholinesterase (CHE) increased (p>0.05). In addition, concentration of plasma insulin decreased (p<0.05), concentration of plasma glucagons decreased (p>0.05), and mRNA level of PEPCK-C in liver increased (p<0.05). It is concluded that the adaptative changes of metabolites, hormones, and mRNA level of PEPCK-C in ketotic cows were in favor of the enhancement of gluconeogenesis, the decrease of fat mobilization and the relief of ketosis, but these were still inadequate to relieve ketosis.

• Nutritional Sciences
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.35-41
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• 2006

It should be concerned to the women with mutated genotype of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR), C677T or A1298C, since they need more folate than those with wild genotypes. In this study, we evaluated the folate status of Korean women of childbearing age according to their MTHFR polymorpiysm. Dietary folate intakes, plasma and erythrocyte folate concentrations, plasma homocysteine concentrations, and urinary excretions of para-aminobenzoylglutamate (pABG) and para-acetoamidobenzoylglutamate (ApABG) of twenty-five subjects aged between 19 and 35 years old were determined Folate intakes seemed to be inadequate, being only three-quarters of the Korean RDA of folate. More than one-quarter of the subjects was exposed to folate deficiency risk as determined by erythrocyte folate concentration and almost one-quarter of the subjects showed hyperhomocysteinemia, although they had normal plasma folate concentrations. Urinary excretions of pABG and ApABG seemed to be low and ApABG constituted more than $85\%$ of total folate catabolites. There were no significant differences in dietary folate intakes, plasma concentrations of folate and homocysteine, and urinary excretions of pABG and ApABG among the geneotypes of both C677T and A1298C. However, the subjects with 1298AC genotype had significantly lower erythrocyte folate concentration than those with 1298AA. Erythrocyte folate concentration showed an inverse relationship with plasma homocysteine concentration and positive relationships with urinary excretions of pABG and ApABG. The results of this study imply that mutations of 677C$\rightarrow$T and 1298A$\rightarrow$C in the study were not associated with decreased plasma folate and raised plasma homocysteine concentrations. A1298C polymorphism night be, however, more influential on erythrocyte folate concentration than C677T polymorphism, and urinary excretions of folate catabolites, pABG and ApABG, might be reliable indexes of folate nutritional status like plasma homocysteine concentrations.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.368-378
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• 2001

This study was performed to investigate the effects of isolated soyprotein and salt (NaCl) restriction on the serum lipid and the kidney functions of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Sprague-Dawley males of normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats were raised for 6 weeds divided into 4 groups each according to protein sources and salt levels. The sources of protein were isolated soyprotein and casein. Salt levels tested were 0.1% (normal) and 0.01% (low). The results are summarized as fellows: kidney weight, blood glucose, hemoglobinAlc, GFR and urinary protein of diabetic groups were higher than those of normal groups. Isolated soyprotein lowered total lipids, triglycerides, and total cholesterol in serum and plasma angiotensin II concentration as well as alleviated kidney enlargement and GFR in diabetic rats. Salt restriction didn\\`t affect serum lipid level but decreased GFR and increased angiotensin If concentration. In conclusion, isolated soyprotein decreased serum lipids, plasma angiotensin II concentration, sidney enlargement and GFR, while salt restriction increased plasma angiotensin II concentration. The results suggest that isolated soyprotein and salt restriction seem to cause different effects on plasma angiotensin II concentration and that isolated soyprotein might be of value in the prevention of diabetic artherosclerosis and diabetic hypertension.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.24-30
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• 1988

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of unilateral ovariectomy on the embryo survival and changes of plasma progesterone and estradiol concentration. Mature Angora rabbits were divided into 2 groups (Superovulation and unilateral ovariectomy after superovulation). Unilateral ovariectomied rabilts were subdivided into two groups according to the time of ovariectomy (24 hours and 96 hours after mating). The results obtained were summarized as follows; 1. After unilateral ovariectomy, survival rate and collecting rate of embryos recovered from contralateral and ipsilateral oviduct and uterus were not different, and were lower than intact rabbits. 2. Plasma progesterone concentration at 93, 99, 102 and 114 hours after HCG injection in superovulated rabbits were 12.9 $\pm$ 0.5, 34.8 $\pm$ 5.1, 12.2 $\pm$ 2.7 and 43.4 $\pm$ 5.8ng/ml, respectively. Mean progesterone concentrations were significantly higher at 99 and 114 hours than at 93 and 102 hours (p <0.05). But plasma estradiol concentration was not different. 3. Plasma progesterone concentration in unilateral ovariectomized rabbits was somewhat decreased after unilateral ovariectomy. Plasma estradiol concentration was not different.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.115-120
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• 2000

This study was undertaken to test the hypothesis the hypothesis that treatment with hCG (5,000 IU) at the time of embryo transfer would enhance pregnancy rates in recipients, and the concentration of plasma urea nitrogen(PUN) in recipients was related to the effect of hCG on the reproductive performance. Blood samples were taken according to experimental condition for the assessment of the endogenous plasma progesterone concentration and plasma urea nitrogen. Concentrations of progesterone in plasma were higher in cows treated with hCG on day 7(estrus=day 0) than in those untreated during 7∼43 days after insemination. The pregnancy rates were 65.5 and 54.6% for the hCG treated and untreated groups, respectively. In recipient group categorized with PUN concentration of <12 mg/이, the pregnancy rates were 68.8 and 46.7% for the hCG treated and untreated groups, respectively. The results suggest that hCG treatment at 7 days after insemination could be used to increase the pregnancy rate of embryo transfer, and transfer, and only the recipients with PUN concentration of <12 mg/dl were influenced by treatment with hCG.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.31-38
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• 2003

Effects of Haenggan($LR_2$) and Chungwan ($CV_{12}$) acupuncture on plasma lipid composition were investigated in rat fed high fat diet. Body weight gain showed a tendency to decrease in acupuncture groups and in acupuncture groups, chungwan acupuncture groups showed a lower values than haenggan acupuncture group. Concentrations of plasma triglyceride, free fatty acids showed a decrease in the acupuncture groups. Concentration of plasma lipoprotein showed a tendency to decrease in acupuncture groups, however in the control group and haenggan group, the values showed no significantly different. Plasma glucose concentration showed a low values than control group, in acupuncture groups, the values showed no significantly different. In plasma cholesterol concentration, total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol showed a tendency to decrease in acupuncture groups, however the values of LDL-cholesterol showed no significantly different in the control group and haenggan group. HDL-cholesterol concentration showed no significantly different in all treatment groups.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.27 no.7
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• pp.806-810
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• 2004

Metformin is a biguanide antihyperglycemic agent often used for the treatment of non-insulin dependent diabetics (NIDDM). In this study, the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of metformin were investigated in Korean healthy volunteers during a fasting state for over 10 h. In order to evaluate the amount of glucose-lowering effect of metformin, the plasma concentrations of glucose were measured for a period of 10 h followed by the administration of metformin (oral 500 mg) or placebo. In addition, the concentration of metformin in blood samples was determined by HPLC assay for the drug. All volunteers were consumed with 12 g of white sugar 10 minutes after drug intake to maintain initial plasma glucose concentration. The time courses of the plasma concentration of metformin and the glucose-lowering effect were analyzed by nonlinear regression analysis. The estimated $C_{max}$, $T_{max}$, $CL_{t}$/F (apparent clearance), V/F(apparent volume of distribution), and half-life of metformin were 1.42$\{pm}$0.07 $\mu\textrm{g}$/mL, 2.59$\{pm}$0.18h, 66.12$\{pm}$4.6 L/h, 26.63 L, and 1.54 h respectively. Since a significant counterclock-wise hysteresis was found for the metformin concentration in the plasma-effect relationship, indirect response model was used to evaluate pharmacodynamic parameters for metformin. The mean concentration at half-maximum inhibition $IC_{50}$, $k_{in}$, $k_{out}$ were 2.26 $\mu\textrm{g}$/mL, 83.26 $H^{-1}$, and 0.68 $H^{-1}$, respectively. Therefore, the pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic model may be useful in the description for the relationship between plasma concentration of metformin and its glucose-lowering effect.

• Journal of the Korean institute of surface engineering
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.119-124
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• 2016

Plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) is a promising coating process to produce ceramic oxide on valve metals such as Al, Mg and Ti. The PEO coating is carried out with a dilute alkaline electrolyte solution using a similar technique to conventional anodizing. The coating process involves multiple process parameters which can influence the surface properties of the resultant coating, including power mode, electrolyte solution, substrate, and process time. In this study, ceramic oxide coatings were prepared on commercial Al alloy in electrolytes with different KOH concentrations (0.5 ~ 4 g/L) by plasma electrolytic oxidation. Microstructural and electrochemical characterization were conducted to investigate the effects of electrolyte concentration on the microstructure and electrochemical characteristics of PEO coating. It was revealed that KOH concentration exert a great influence not only on voltage-time responses during PEO process but also on surface morphology of the coating. In the voltage-time response, the dielectric breakdown voltage tended to decrease with increasing KOH concentration, possibly due to difference in solution conductivity. The surface morphology was pancake-like with lower KOH concentration, while a mixed form of reticulate and pancake structures was observed for higher KOH concentration. The KOH concentration was found to have little effect on the electrochemical characteristics of coating, although PEO treatment improved the corrosion resistance of the substrate material significantly.

• Proceedings of the Materials Research Society of Korea Conference
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• 2009.05a
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• pp.38.1-38.1
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• 2009

Plasma etching is an essential process for electronic device industries and the particulate contamination during plasma etching has been interested as a big issue for the yield of productivity. The oxynitride glasses have a merit to prevent particulate contamination due to their amorphous structure and plasma etching resistance. The YSiAlON oxynitride glasses with increasing nitrogen content were manufactured. Each oxynitride glasses were fluorine-plasma etched and their plasma etching rate and surface roughness were compared with reference materials such as sapphire, alumina and quartz. The reinforcement mechanism of plasma etching resistance of the YSiAlON glasses studied by depth profiling at plasma etched surface using electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis. The plasma etching rate decreased with nitrogen content and there was no selective etching at the plasma etched surface of the oxynitride glasses. The concentration of silicon was very low due to the generation of SiF4 very volatile byproduct and the concentration of aluminum and yttrium was relatively constant. The elimination of silicon atoms during plasma etching was reduced with increasing nitrogen content because the content of the nitrogen was constant. And besides, the concentration of oxygen was very low on the plasma etched surface. From the study, the plasma etching resistance of the glasses may be improved by the generation of nitrogen related structural groups and those are proved by chemical composition analysis at plasma etched surface of the YSiAlON oxynitride glasses.