• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.589-598
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• 2021

The purpose of this study was to analyze the efficiency with which phosphorylated spent coffee grounds (PSCG) remove cationic Cu(II) ions from an aqueous solution. The pHpzc of the SCG was 6.43, but it was lowered to 3.96 in the PSCG, confirming that an acidic functional group was attached to the surface of the PSCG. According to FT-IR analysis, phosphorylation of the SCG added P=O, P-O-C (aromatic), P=OOH, and P-O-P groups to the surface of the adsorbent, and the peaks of the carboxyl and OH groups were high and broad. Also, the specific surface area, mesopore range, and ion exchange capacity increased significantly by phosphorylation. The adsorption kinetics and isothermal experiments showed that Cu(II) adsorption using SCG and PSCG was explained by PSO and Langmuir models. The maximum Langmuir adsorption capacity of SCG and PSCG was 42.23 and 162.36 mg/g, respectively. The adsorption process of both SCG and PSCG was close to physical adsorption and endothermic reaction in which the adsorption efficiency increased with temperature. PSCG was very effective in adsorbing Cu(II) in aqueous solution, which has great advantages in terms of recycling resources and adsorbing heavy metals using waste materials.

• BMB Reports
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.287-293
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• 2008

In a yeast two-hybrid screen, we identified the microtubule-destabilizing protein SCG10 as a potential effector protein of $BRI_3$. The association was verified using GST pull-down, Co-IP, and their perinuclear co-localization. The analysis of in vitro microtubule polymerization/depolymerization showed that the binding of $BRI_3$ to SCG10 effectively blocked the ability of SCG10 to induce microtubule disassembly, as determined by turbidimetric assays. In intact PC12 cells, $BRI_3$ exhibited the ability to stabilize the microtubule network and attenuate the microtubule-destabilizing activity of SCG10. Furthermore, co-expression of $BRI_3$ with SCG10 attenuated SCG10-mediated PC12 cell neurite outgrowth induced by NGF. These results identify a novel connection between a neuron-specific BRI protein and the cytoskeletal network, suggesting possible roles of BRI3 in the process of neuronal differentiation.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.571-580
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• 2018

In this study, hybrid adsorbents (SS) were prepared by mixing spent coffee grounds (SCG) and sericite, a kind of clay minerals, to adsorb Pb(II) from an aqueous solution. In FT-IR analyses, the main functional groups of SS adsorbents were O-H, C=O and C-N groups. The specific surface area, cation exchange capacity and the pore diameter of SS were larger than those of using SCG and sericite. Formation conditions of the SS adsorbent were the optimum pyrolysis temperature of $300^{\circ}C$, SCG : sericite ratio of 8 : 2, and particle size of 0.3 mm. Langmuir adsorption isotherm was more suitable than Freundlich one, and the maximum adsorption capacity was reached 44.42 mg/g. As a result of the adsorption thermodynamic analysis, the adsorption of Pb(II) onto SS was the physical adsorption and exothermic process in nature. The regeneration of SS adsorbent using distilled water showed 88~92% recovery and the active site of SS adsorbent decreased with increasing the reuse cycle time. As a result, SS adsorbent showed that it can be used to remove Pb(II) easily, inexpensively and efficiently without any pre-treatment from aqueous solutions.

• Journal of the Korean Recycled Construction Resources Institute
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.15-22
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• 2022

In this study, the hydration reaction and strength characteristic of cement mortar with spent coffee ground(SCG) was investigated. As a result of the study, it was found that as the firing temperature of the SCG increased, the mass loss due to the combustion of organic matter increased, but the density increased. In addition, when the SCG were mixed, SCG interfered with the hydration reaction and the compressive strength was significantly lowered. On the other hand, the coffee grounds ash(SCG_Ash) calcined at 800 ℃ showed a hydration reaction and a compressive strength equivalent to or higher than that of OPC mortar.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.34 no.8
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• pp.1627-1635
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• 2024

The inhabitation and parasitism of root-knot nematodes (RKNs) can be difficult to control, as its symptoms can be easily confused with other plant diseases; hence, identifying and controlling the occurrence of RKNs in plants remains an ongoing challenge. Moreover, there are only a few biological agents for controlling these harmful nematodes. In this study, Xenorhabdus sp. SCG isolated from entomopathogenic nematodes of genus Steinernema was evaluated for nematicidal effects under in vitro and greenhouse conditions. The cell-free filtrates of strain SCG showed nematicidal activity against Meloidogyne species J2s, with mortalities of > 88% at a final concentration of 10%, as well as significant nematicidal activity against the three other genera of plant-parasitic nematodes in a dose-dependent manner. Thymine was isolated as active compounds by assay-guided fractionation and showed high nematicidal activity against M. incognita. Greenhouse experiments suggested that cell-free filtrates of strain SCG efficiently controlled the nematode population in M. incognita-infested tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum L., cv. Rutgers). In addition, a significant increase in host plant growth was observed after 45 days of treatment. To our knowledge, this is the first to demonstrate the nematicidal activity spectrum of isolated Xenorhabdus species and their application to S. lycopersicum L., cv. Rutgers under greenhouse conditions. Xenorhabdus sp. SCG could be a promising biological nematicidal agent with plant growth-enhancing properties.

• Korean Journal of Artificial Intelligence
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.17-23
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• 2024

Various methods have been developed to predict the flight path of an air-launched weapon to intercept a fast-moving target in the air. However, it is also getting more challenging to predict the optimal firing zone and provide it to a pilot in real-time during engagements for advanced weapons having new complicated guidance and thrust control. In this study, a method is proposed to develop an optimized weapon engagement zone by the SCG (Scaled Conjugate Gradient) algorithm to achieve both accurate and fast estimates and provide an optimized launch display to a pilot during combat engagement. SCG algorithm is fully automated, includes no critical user-dependent parameters, and avoids an exhaustive search used repeatedly to determine the appropriate stage and size of machine learning. Compared with real data, this study showed that the development of a machine learning-based weapon aiming algorithm can provide proper output for optimum weapon launch zones that can be used for operational fighters. This study also established a process to develop one of the critical aircraft-weapon integration software, which can be commonly used for aircraft integration of air-launched weapons.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.75-79
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• 2012

To increase antioxidative activity and minimize off-flavor of Chungkukjang, Seoliate as main ingredient and green tea as minor ingredient were selected. The protective efffect of green tea for Chungkukjang was evaluated under in vitro. Seolitae Chungkukjang added with green tea (SCG) was prepared on the basis of the protective effect of green tea from oxidative stress. Green tea showed the strong protective effect against nitric oxide (NO) and superoxide anion ($O_2{^-}$) radicals. The SCG perparation method was as follows. Seolitae was cleaned and washed, soaked in 1.5-fold water ($15^{\circ}C$) of Seolitae weight for 48 hr. Seolitae was steamed about 40 min by autoclave and then cooled about $40^{\circ}C$. Bacillus subtilis was inoculated and 5.0-fold green tea of weight was added, and then it was fermented for 60 hr at $40^{\circ}C$. According to the preparation method, Seolitae Chungkukjang (SC) and Seolitae Chungkukjang added with green tea 5.0% (SCG5.0) were prepared. Among the Chungkukjang groups SCG5.0 exerted more effective scavenging activity of NO than SC. In addition, SC added with green tea 5.0% showed high $O_2{^-}$ scavenging effect. These results suggest the antioxidative potential against free radical-induced oxidative damage of SCG.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.315-319
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• 2011

Galanin (Gal) is a 29-amino-acid neuropeptide which is expressed in superior cervical ganglion (SCG) neurons and plays a trophic role in the adult animal and acts as an inhibitory modulator of cholinergic and noradrenergic neurotransmission. Whether activation or inhibition of alpha-adrenoreceptors infl uences Gal mRNA expression in SCG neurons remains unknown. Here, we have evaluated the possible regulation of Gal mRNA expression with acute (4 h) and chronic (4 days) stimulation of alpha 1- and alpha 2-adrenoreceptor agonists or antagonists in primary cultured SCG neurons. The results showed that the amount of Gal mRNA expression in cultured SCG neurons increased signifi cantly after chronic stimulation with alpha 2-adrenoreceptor antagonist yohimbine compared with control SCG neurons at the same time point, whereas the amount of Gal mRNA expression decreased signifi cantly after chronic stimulation with alpha 2-adrenoreceptor agonist clonidine as compared with that in control group. All these effects were not dose-dependent on the administration of alpha 2-adrenoreceptor agonist clonidine or alpha 2-adrenoreceptor antagonist yohimbine. Alpha 1-adrenoreceptor agonist phenylephrine or antagonist prazosin chronic stimulation did not have effects on Gal mRNA expression. Acute exposure of these agents did not have effects on Gal mRNA expression. The present study showed that Gal may be regulated by activation or inhibition of alpha 2-adrenoreceptors, but not alpha 1-adrenoreceptors in sympathetic neurons.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.781-784
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• 2012

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the adenovirus-mediated double suicide gene (CD/TK) for selective killing of gastric cancer cells. Gastric cancer cells SCG7901 and normal gastric epithelial cell lines were infected by adenoviruses Ad-survivin/GFP and Ad-survivin/CD/TK. GFP expression and CD-TK were detected by fluorescence microscopy and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), respectively. After treatment of the infected cells with the pro-drugs ganciclovir (GCV) and/or 5-FC, the cell growth status was evaluated by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium assay. Cell cycle changes were detected using flow cytometry. In nude mice bearing human gastric cancer, the recombinant adenovirus vector was injected directly into the tumor followed by an intraperitoneal injection of GCV and/or 5-FC. The subsequent tumor growth was then observed. The GFP gene driven by survivin could be expressed within the gastric cancer line SCG7901, but not in normal gastric epithelial cells. RT-PCR demonstrated the presence of the CD/TK gene product in the infected SCG7901 cells, but not in the infected normal gastric epithelial cells. The infected gastric cancer SCG7901, but not the gastric cells, was highly sensitive to the pro-drugs. The CD/TK fusion gene system showed significantly greater efficiency than either of the single suicide genes in killing the target cells (P<0.01). Treatment of the infected cells with the pro-drugs resulted in increased cell percentage in G0-Gl phase and decreased percentage in S phase. In nude mice bearing SCG7901 cells, treatment with the double suicide gene system significantly inhibited tumor growth, showing much stronger effects than either of the single suicide genes (P<0.01). The adenovirus-mediated CD/TK double suicide gene driven by survivin promoter combined with GCV an 5-FC treatment could be an effective therapy against experimental gastric cancer with much greater efficacy than the single suicide gene CD/TK combined with GCV or 5-FC.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.292-295
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• 2012

Trametes versicolor, a common inhabitant of dead hardwoods in temperate climates, belongs to one of the important medicinal mushrooms. In this study, spent coffee ground(SCG), instant coffee powder(ICP) and instant decaffeinated coffee powder(IDCP) were examined for their effect on the mycelial growth of T. versicolor. Adding SCG was proven to be significantly beneficial at the concentration as high as 10%. ICP and IDCP, both containing concentrated polyphenols, were also beneficial at low concentration less than 1%. 1% SCG culture resulted in ten-fold increased yield of dry cell mass compared to the control culture. Adding coffee substances was recommended as a useful tool for accelerating the growth and strengthening the physiological activity of the mycelium.