• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.18 no.11
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• pp.1225-1234
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• 2009

The aim of this research was to apply experimental design methodology in the optimization condition of electrochemical oxidation of Rhodamine B(RhB). The reactions of electrochemical oxidation were mathematically described as a function of parameters amounts of current, NaCl dosage, pH and time being modeled by the use of the central composite design, which was used for fitting quadratic response surface model. The application of response surface methodology using central composite design(CCD) technique yielded the following regression equation, which is an empirical relationship between the removal efficiency of RhB and test variable in actual variables: RhB removal (%) = 3.977 + 23.279$\cdot$Current + 49.124$\cdot$NaCI - 5.539$\cdot$pH - 8.863$\cdot$time - 22.710$\cdot$Current$\cdot$NaCl + 5.409$\cdot$Current$\cdot$time + 2.390$\cdot$NaCl$\cdot$time + 1.061$\cdot$pH$\cdot$time - $0.570{\cdot}time^2$. The model predicted also agree with the experimentally observed result($R^2$ = 91.9%).

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.253-259
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• 2014

This study was conducted to investigate survival of Bacillus cereus (B. cereus) on stainless steel and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and its transfer from two material to lettuce. The stainless steel and PVC were innoculated with B. cereus and stored at 6 combination conditions (temperature : $20^{\circ}C$ and $30^{\circ}C$, relative humidity (RH) : 43%, 69%, and 100%). Although the total numbers of B. cereus at RH 43% and RH 69% were reduced by 3.53-4.00 log CFU/coupon within 24 h regardless of material type, the spore numbers of B. cereus was lasted at 3.0 log CFU/coupon. When two materials were stored at $30^{\circ}C$, RH 100%, the spore numbers of B. cereus was rapidly increased by 3.0 log CFU/coupon. In addition, the reduction rate of B. cereus was decreased in the presence of organic matter. Transfer rate of B. cereus from surface of stainless steel and PVC to lettuce was increased by 10 times in the presence of water on the lettuce surface. As a result of this study, the presence of B. cereus on produce contact surfaces can increase the risk of cross-contamination. Thus, it is important that the packing table and conveyer belt in post harvest facility should be properly washed and sanitized after working to prevent cross-contamination.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.33-39
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• 2012

Objective: We devised a novel strategy, a GnRH antagonist protocol with a GnRH agonist trigger followed by frozen-thawed blastocyst transfers with long zona dissection (LZD). The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical outcomes of this new strategy according to age. Methods: Ninety women aged less than 35 (group A) and 32 women aged 35 to 39 (group B) underwent the GnRH antagonist protocol with a GnRH agonist trigger in order to obtain many oocytes and prevent early-onset ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). All oocytes were cultured to the blastocyst stage and all blastocysts grade 3BB or better were cryopreserved. Embryo transfers were only performed in freeze-thaw cycles to prevent late-onset OHSS and to overcome embryo-endometrium dyssynchrony. LZD was performed just after thawing to improve hatching and implantation rates. Results: The average numbers of retrieved oocytes and blastocysts grade 3BB or better were $12.8{\pm}5.5$ and $4.4{\pm}2.6$ in group A and $10.9{\pm}7.4$ and $2.5{\pm}2.2$ in group B, respectively, and OHSS did not occur in any of the women. Implantation rates were 46.7% in group A and 39.3% in group B. Cumulative clinical pregnancy rates per retrieval were 77.8% in group A and 62.5% in group B. Cumulative ongoing pregnancy rates per retrieval were 71.1% in group A and 53.1% in group B. Conclusion: GnRH antagonist protocol with GnRH agonist trigger followed by frozen-thawed blastocyst transfers with LZD can generate many blastocysts without OHSS and maximize cumulative pregnancy rates per retrieval. This strategy is more effective in young women aged less than 35 than in women aged 35 to 39.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2011.06a
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• pp.25-26
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• 2011

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.218-225
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• 2011

Objectives: In this paper, a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma reactor was investigated for degrading the dye Rhodamine B (RhB) in aqueous solutions. Methods: The DBD plasma reactor system in this study consisted of a plasma component [titanium discharge (inner), ground (outer) electrode and quartz dielectric tube], power source, and gas supply. The effects of various parameters such as first voltage (input power), gas flow rate, second voltage (output power), conductivity and pH were investigated. Results: Experimental results showed that a 99% aqueous solution of 20 mg/l Rhodamine B is decolorized following an eleven minute plasma treatment. When comparing the performance of electrolysis and plasma treatment, the RhB degradation of the plasma process was higher that of the electrolysis. The optimum first voltage and air flow rate were 160 V (voltage of trans is 15 kV) and 3 l/min, respectively. With increased second voltage (4 kV to 15 kV), RhB degradation was increased. The higher the pH and the lower conductivity, the more Rhodamine B degradation was observed. Conclusions: OH radical generation of dielectric plasma process was identified by degradation of N, N-dimethyl-4-nitrosoaniline (RNO, indicator of OH radical generation). It was observed that the effect of UV light, which was generated as streamer discharge, on Rhodamine B degradation was not high. Rhodamine B removal was influenced by real second voltage regardless of initial first and second voltage. The effects of pH and conductivity were not high on the Rhodamine B degradation.

• BMB Reports
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.268-272
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• 2010

Aldo-keto reductase family 1 B10 (AKR1B10) is a member of the NADPH-dependent aldo-keto reductase (AKR) superfamily, and has been considered to be a potential cancer therapeutic target. Total extract from the bark of Rhus verniciflua (Toxicodendron vernicifluum (Stokes)) showed AKR1B10 inhibitory activity. To identify the active compounds from R. verniciflua responsible for AKR1B10 inhibition, nine compounds were isolated via bioactivity-guided isolation and tested for their effects against recombinant human AKR1B10 (rhAKR1B10). Results showed that butein, isolated from the ethyl acetate fraction, was most able to inhibit rhAKR1B10. The inhibitory rate of butein against rhAKR1B10 was 42.86% at $1\;{\mu}M$ with an IC50 value of $1.47\;{\mu}M$, and enzyme kinetic analysis revealed its inhibition mode to be uncompetitive.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.27.1-27.14
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• 2024

The tumor microenvironment (TME) is formed by several immune cells. Notably, tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are existed in the TME that induce angiogenesis, metastasis, and proliferation of cancer cells. Recently, a point-mutated variant of IL-32θ was discovered in breast cancer tissues, which suppressed migration and proliferation through intracellular pathways. Although the relationship between cancer and IL-32 has been previously studied, the effects of IL-32θ on TAMs remain elusive. Recombinant human IL-32θ (rhIL-32θ) was generated using an Escherichia coli expression system. To induce M0 macrophage polarization, THP-1 cells were stimulated with PMA. After PMA treatment, the cells were cultured with IL-4 and IL-13, or rhIL-32θ. The mRNA level of M1 macrophage markers (IL-1β, TNFα, inducible nitric oxide synthase) were increased by rhIL-32θ in M0 macrophages. On the other hand, the M2 macrophage markers (CCL17, CCL22, TGFβ, CD206) were decreased by rhIL-32θ in M2 macrophages. rhIL-32θ induced nuclear translocation of the NF-κB via regulation of the MAPK (p38) pathway. In conclusion, point-mutated rhIL-32θ induced the polarization to M1-like macrophages through the MAPK (p38) and NF-κB (p65/p50) pathways.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.22-29
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• 2006

On purpose to reduce accumulated moisture and to prevent moisture condensation in a light-frame wall, thermal characteristics and moisture behaviors were investigated for four different wall assemblies; a) typical wall, b) addition of vapor retarder between the insulation and the gypsum board, c) addition of air gap for natural ventilation behind the siding, d) composition with b) and c). Each wall was tested under two climate conditions; 1) $20^{\circ}C$, 50% RH (indoor) and $30^{\circ}C$, 85% RH (outdoor), 2) $30^{\circ}C$, 85% RH (indoor) and $20^{\circ}C$, 50% RH (outdoor).The results showed that the typical wall assembly had poor resistance against moisture intrusion from the inside of building. Outdoor and indoor humidity caused the moisture condensations on the inside of the siding and the back surface of the sheathing respectively. The addition of a vapor retarder did not give significant improvement in preventing the moisture intrusion.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.33 no.8
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• pp.604-612
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• 2009

Water management has been recognized as a crucial factor for achieving better performance and stability in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). Proper water management should provide favorable water conditions, including the local humidity, membrane water content, and liquid water saturation in PEMFCs, thereby leading to more uniform electrochemical reaction and current generation. In this study, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation was conducted to investigate the effects of the cathode relative humidity (RH) on the performance of a 3 by $3\;cm^2$ PEMFC with serpentine flow fields. The CFD results showed that the best performance of the PEMFC was obtained for the cathode RH of 80%, but the performance variation was small for the cathode RH range of $60{\sim}100%$. However, the loss of the PEMFC performance was significant when the cathode RH was reduced below 40%. The reason for such performance variation was investigated through the detailed inspection of ohmic loss, activation and concentration overpotential, and water and current distributions.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.166-171
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• 2012

Objective: We compared the assisted reproductive technology (ART) outcomes among infertile women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) treated with IVM, conventional IVF, GnRH agonist, and GnRH antagonist cycles. Methods: The prospective study included a total of 67 cycles in 61 infertile women with PCOS. The women with PCOS were randomized into three IVF protocols: IVM/IVF with FSH and hCG priming with immature oocyte retrieval 38 hours later (group A, 14 cycles), GnRH agonist long protocol (group B, 14 cycles), and GnRH antagonist multi-dose flexible protocol (group C, 39 cycles). IVF outcomes, such as clinical pregnancy rate (CPR), implantation rate (IR), miscarriage rate (MR), and live birth rate (LBR), were compared among the three groups. Results: Age, BMI, and basal FSH and LH levels did not differ among the three groups. The number of retrieved oocytes and 2 pronucleus embryos was significantly lower in group A compared with groups B and C. The CPR, IR, MR, and LBR per embryo transfer showed no differences among the three groups. There was no incidence of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome in group A. Conclusion: The IR, MR, and LBR in the IVM cycles were comparable to those of the GnRH agonist and GnRH antagonist cycles. The IVM protocol, FSH and hCG priming with oocyte retrieval 38 hours later, is an effective ART option that is comparable with conventional IVF for infertile women with PCOS.