• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.93-100
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• 2018

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a gaseous molecule produced from heme by heme oxygenase (HO). Endogenous CO production occurring at low concentrations is thought to have several useful biological roles. In mammals, especially humans, a proper neurovascular unit comprising endothelial cells, pericytes, astrocytes, microglia, and neurons is essential for the homeostasis and survival of the central nervous system (CNS). In addition, the regeneration of neurovascular systems from neural stem cells and endothelial precursor cells after CNS diseases is responsible for functional repair. This review focused on the possible role of CO/HO in the neurovascular unit in terms of neurogenesis, angiogenesis, and synaptic plasticity, ultimately leading to behavioral changes in CNS diseases. CO/HO may also enhance cellular networks among endothelial cells, pericytes, astrocytes, and neural stem cells. This review highlights the therapeutic effects of CO/HO on CNS diseases involved in neurogenesis, synaptic plasticity, and angiogenesis. Moreover, the cellular mechanisms and interactions by which CO/HO are exploited for disease prevention and their therapeutic applications in traumatic brain injury, Alzheimer's disease, and stroke are also discussed.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.21 no.7
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• pp.728-733
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• 2011

Endophytic fungi, isolated from a number of different species of tropical plants, were investigated for lipid biodiesel precursor production. The extracts produced from liquid cultures of these fungi were subjected to acidcatalyzed transesterification reactions with methanol producing methyl esters and then analyzed through chromatographic (GC-FID) and spectrometric techniques (MS, NMR $^1H$). The European Standard Method, EN 14103, was used for the quantification of methyl esters extracted from the fungi of the species and genera studied. Xylariaceous fungi exhibited the highest concentrations of methyl esters (91%), and hence may be a promising source for biofuel.

• Journal of the Korean Magnetic Resonance Society
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.40-50
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• 2008

Ghrelin is a unique peptide hormone that releases growth factor and it stimulates appetite. It comes from pre pro-ghrelin by the post translational modification process and its innate functions are known as food up-take and the growth hormone regulation. Therefore, the structural information of ghrelin precursor is of importance in understanding it function. From our results, we found that the solution structure of ghrelin is mostly random coil conformation at neutral pH value and the structural population changes with pH environments. Data from circular dichroism in different TFE concentrations revealed that the secondary structure changes from random coil to a-helix and the isodichroic point is observed at 202nm, implying that two equilibrium states exist between random coil and helical structure.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Fisheries Technology Conference
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• 2001.05a
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• pp.185-186
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• 2001

Recently, industrial activities have increased atmospheric concentration of sulfur and nitrogen oxides, resulting in acidification in the environments. In addition, acidification accelerates the mobilization of metals that are toxic to fish and increases their concentrations in the aquatic environment. Increased metals may interfere with reproductive physiology in fish. Al and Cd are such metals that impaired the preduction of Vitellogenin (VTG), a egg yolk precursor proteins. (omitted)

• Proceedings of the Materials Research Society of Korea Conference
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• 2003.03a
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• pp.109-109
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• 2003

III- V ferromagnetic semiconductor has attracted great attention as a potential application for spintronics due to a successful demonstration of spin injection from ferromagnetic GaNnAs into semiconductor. GaMnN may be one of the possible candidates for room temperature operation. Samples were grown on sapphire (0001) substrate at $650^{\circ}C$ via molecular beam epitaxy with a single Precursor of (Et$_2$Ga(N$_3$)NH$_2$$CH_3$) and solid source of Mn at different Mn source temperature. The background pressure is low 10$^{-10}$ Torr and the samples growth pressure was 1.4 $\times$ 10$^{-6}$ Torr.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.67 no.6
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• pp.415-419
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• 2023

In this study, we report the one-pot synthesis of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) containing platinum nanoparticles with catalytic activity to break down hydrogen peroxide as a peroxidase-mimicking catalyst. A single reducing agent was used to reduce graphene oxide and a platinum precursor at a moderately low temperature of 70℃. The rGO was homogeneously decorated with platinum nanoparticles. The catalytic activity of Pt-rGO was investigated for the oxidation of 3,3',5,5'- tetramethylbenzidine (TMB), a peroxidase substrate, in the presence of hydrogen peroxide. The Pt-rGO coupled with glucose oxidase was also able to detect glucose at millimolar concentrations (up to 1 mM). Our results show that the Pt-rGO composite is a promising catalyst for the detection of hydrogen peroxide. This method was also applied for the detection of glucose.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.85-90
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• 1995

Phenol, acetaminophen (AA) and salicylamide are all known to be sulfated in rats and mice. We have previously demonstrated that capacity-limited sulfation of xenobiotics in rats is due to the reduced availability of hepatic 3'-phosphoadenosine 5'-phosphosulfate (PAPS), the cosubstrate for sulfation, which in turn is limited by the availability of its precursor, inorganic sulfate. Because species differences have been reported in the extent of sulfation, this study was conducted to determine whether these xenobiotics lower hepatic PAPS and sulfate in ICR mice. All three substrates decreased serum sulfate concentrations in a dose- and time-dependent manner. However, contrary to the observations in rats, phenol markedly increased hepatic PAPS concentrations in a dose-dependent manner, 1 hr after ip injection of 0∼4 mmol/kg. Following ip injection of 4 mmol/kg phenol, hepatic PAPS concentraions were enhanced 2∼3 fold, 0.5-2 hr after dosing and returned to control values 3 hr after dosing, whereas AA and salicylamide had little effect on hepatic PAPS concentraions. In summary, these studies demonstrate that phenol markedly enhances hepatic PAPS concentrations in mice, whereas hepatic PAPS levels are not affected by AA and salicylamide. Our data suggest that 1) hepatic sulfation for high dosages of xenobiotics in ICR mice is not limited by the availability of cosubstrate and 2) there are significant species differences in the regulation of PAPS between rats and mice.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.663-677
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• 2003

The concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the ambient air were measured at three sites (Samil-dong, SRO and EFMC) in Yeosu industrial complex during September 2000 to August 2001. Air samples were collected for 24 hours in Silicocan canister (6l) with constant flow samplers every 6 days and analyzed using a cryogenic preconcentration system and a GC/MS. At each site, we identified 35 species known as on both the carcinogenic and mutagenicity by the EPA US (TO-14 manual). No relationship was found between YOCs concentration at three sampling points. Furthermore, the result shows that there appears to be a variety distribution of the concentration. BTX, vinyl chloride and high concentrations of 1,2-dichloroethane were observed at the sampling sites. Especially, high concentration of toxic VOCs, such as vinyl chloride, chloroform, 1,2-dichloroethane and benzene were shown at environmental facilities management cooperation (EMFC) site. They seem to be emitted from the facility of wastewater treatment in Yeosu industrial complex. It was difficult to tell the seasonal variation of total VOCs concentration. Nevertheless, the concentration in winter was typically higher than in summer The concentrations of toxic VOCs contents in Yeosu industrial complex were generally lower than those in Ulsan complex, although those were similar or less than in Seoul and Daegu. Whereas, toluene and styrene emitted from Yeosu industrial complex were higher than those of Edmonton industrial complex in Canada. Especially, toluene was third times higher than those observed from Texas, USA.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.357-365
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• 2005

The typical patterns of surface $O_3$ pollution and their dependence on meteorology were studied in the Greater Seoul Area (GSA) during warm season (April-September) from 1998 to 2002. In order to classify the $O_3$ pollution patterns, two-stage (average linkage then k-means) clustering technique was employed based on daily maximum $O_3$ concentrations obtained from 53 monitoring sites during high $O_3$ events (118 days). The clustering technique identified four statistically distinct $O_3$ pollution patterns representing the different horizontal distributions and levels of $O_3$ in GSA. The prevailed pattern (93 days, $49.5\%$) distinctly showed the gradient of $49.5\%$ concentrations going from west to east in GSA. Very high $49.5\%$ concentrations throughout GSA (24 days, $12.8\%$) were also found as a significant pattern of severe $O_3$ pollution. In order to understand the characteristics of $O_3$ pollution patterns, the relationship between $O_3$ pollution patterns and meteorological conditions were analyzed using both synoptic charts and surface/upper air data. Each pattern was closely associated with surface wind interacted with synoptic background flow allowing to transport and accumulate $O_3$ and its precursor. In particular, the timing and inland penetration of sea-breeze were apparently found to play very important role in determining $O_3$ distributions.

• Particle and aerosol research
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.89-102
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• 2013

24-hr $PM_{2.5}$ samples were collected from January 19 through February 27, 2009 at an urban site of Gwangju and analyzed to determine the concentrations of organic and elemental carbon(OC and EC), water-soluble OC(WSOC), eight ionic species($Na^+$, $NH^{4+}$, $K^+$, $Ca^{2+}$, $Mg^{2+}$, $Cl^-$, ${NO_3}^-$ and ${SO_4}^{2-}$), and 22 elemental species. Haze phenomena was observed during approximately 29%(10 times) of the whole sampling period(35 days), resulting in highly elevated concentrations of $PM_{2.5}$ and its chemical components. An Asian dust event was also observed, during which $PM_{2.5}$ concentration was 64.5 ${\mu}g/m^2$. Crustal materials during Asian dust event contributed 26.6% to the $PM_{2.5}$, while lowest contribution(5.1%) was from the haze events. OC/EC and WSOC/OC ratios were found to be higher during haze days than during other sampling days, reflecting an enhanced secondary organic aerosol production under the haze conditions. For an Asian dust event, enhanced concentrations of OC and secondary inorganic components were also found, suggesting the further atmospheric processing of precursor gases during transport of air mass to the sampling site. Correlations among WSOC, EC, ${NO_3}^-$, ${SO_4}^{2-}$, and primary and secondary OC fractions, which were predicted from EC tracer method, suggests that the observed WSOC could be formed from similar formation processes as those of secondary organic aerosol, ${NO_3}^-$ and ${SO_4}^{2-}$. Results from principal component analysis indicate also that the observed WSOC was strongly associated with formation routes of the secondary organic and inorganic aerosols.