• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.32 no.11
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• pp.3928-3932
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• 2011

We synthesized peptide-resin conjugates (1 and 2) by immobilizing ${\beta}$-sheet antibacterial peptide and ${\alpha}$ helical antibacterial peptide on PEG-PS resin, respectively. Conjugate 1 showed considerable antibacterial activity in various conditions, whereas conjugate 2 did not exhibit antibacterial activity. The growths of various bacteria were inhibited by conjugate 1 even at lower concentrations than MIC. Conjugate 1 killed bacteria at MIC and had a potent synergistic effect with current antibacterial agents such as vancomycin and tetracycline, respectively. Overall results indicate that polymer surface modification using antibacterial ${\beta}$ sheet peptide is a powerful way to prevent microbial contamination on polymer surfaces.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.241-245
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• 2017

Aged garlic has been reported to possess beneficial pharmacological activities, including anti-stress and anti-fatigue properties, and to exert protective effects on the cardiovascular system and liver. Pine needles are widely used in folk medicine and as food additives owing to their pharmacological properties such as anti-aging and anti-inflammatory effects. It has long been known that combining certain phytochemicals with other phenols or organic acids can produce synergistic effects. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to develop an optimal formula of aged garlic with added pine needle powder for improved antioxidant activity using the statistical technique of response surface methodology. The antioxidant activities of aged garlic mixed with pine needle powder were confirmed by measuring oxygen radical absorbance capacity and total polyphenol content. An optimized antioxidant formula was identified that contained 5.08 g aged garlic and 1.97 g pine needle powder. The antioxidant activities of the mixture prepared using this optimal formula were significantly higher than the predicted values according to an additive model. Hence, this study confirms that the addition of pine needle powder to aged garlic can improve its antioxidant activity. This study demonstrated an optimal mixing ratio to produce an aged garlic product with improved functionality through the addition of pine needle powder that could be successfully employed by the food industry to prepare functional foods.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.34 no.11
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• pp.3227-3232
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• 2013

A novel Cu-Co-O composite nanocatalyst was designed and prepared for the ozonation of phenol. A synergistic effect of copper and cobalt was observed over the Cu-Co-O composite nanocatalyst, which showed higher activity than either copper or cobalt oxide alone. In addition, the Cu-Co-O composite revealed good activity in a wide initial pH range (4.11-8.05) of water. The fine dispersion of cobalt on the surface of copper oxide boosted the interaction between catalyst and ozone, and the surface Lewis acid sites on the Cu-Co-O composite were determined as the active sites. The Raman spectroscopy also proved that the Cu-Co-O composite was quite sensitive to the ozone. The trivalent cobalt in the Cu-Co-O composite was proposed as the valid state.

• Journal of the Korean institute of surface engineering
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.150-155
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• 2019

The carbon electrode was modified through manganese-catalyzed hydrogenation method for high energy density vanadium redox flow battery (VRFB). During the catalytic hydrogenation, the manganese oxide deposited at the surface of the carbon electrode stimulated the conversion reaction from carbon to methane gas. This reaction causes the penetration of the manganese and excavates a number of cavities at electrode surface, which increases the electrochemical activity by inducing additional electrochemically active site. The formation of the porous surface was confirmed by the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images. Finally, the electrochemical performance test of the electrode with the porous surface showed lower polarization and high reversibility in the cathodic reaction compared to the conventional electrode.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.25 no.8
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• pp.1299-1306
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• 2015

This study aims to investigate the mechanism of action of the cinnamon bark essential oil (CB), when used singly and also in combination with piperacillin, for its antimicrobial and synergistic activity against beta-lactamase TEM-1 plasmid-conferred Escherichia coli J53 R1. Viable count of bacteria for this combination of essential oil and antibiotic showed a complete killing profile at 20 h and further confirmed its synergistic effect by reducing the bacteria cell numbers. Analysis on the stability of treated cultures for cell membrane permeability by CB when tested against sodium dodecyl sulfate revealed that the bacterial cell membrane was disrupted by the essential oil. Scanning electron microscopy observation and bacterial surface charge measurement also revealed that CB causes irreversible membrane damage and reduces the bacterial surface charge. In addition, bioluminescence expression of Escherichia coli [pSB1075] and E. coli [pSB401] by CB showed reduction, indicating the possibility of the presence of quorum sensing (QS) inhibitors. Gas-chromatography and mass spectrometry of the essential oil of Cinnamomum verum showed that trans-cinnamaldehyde (72.81%), benzyl alcohol (12.5%), and eugenol (6.57%) were the major components in the essential oil. From this study, CB has the potential to reverse E. coli J53 R1 resistance to piperacillin through two pathways; modification in the permeability of the outer membrane or bacterial QS inhibition.

• International Journal of Clinical Preventive Dentistry
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.216-221
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• 2018

Objective: In this study, we tried to investigate the antimicrobial activity of natural herbaceous plant-derived essential oils against oral disease-causing bacterial strains and establish the scientific evidences to apply them to the dentifrice, mouthwash, and other uses. Methods: We used the disk diffusion method with 23 types of 100% natural essential oils to verify the antimicrobial effect against Streptococcus mutans, Porphyromonas gingivalis, and Lactobacillus rhamnosus. After adhering to the surface of the plate culture medium, $20{\mu}l$ of the essential oil was prepared, and the diameter of the transparent ring was measured after incubation for 24 hours. All the experiments were repeated three times. Results: Among 23 types of oils, 13 were effective against all three strains: myrrh, ginger, basil, carrot seed, tea tree, patchouli, ylang ylang, cypress, lemongrass, cinnamon, peppermint, lavender, and eucalryptus. Seventeen oils were effective against S. mutans, and myrrh, basil, and carrot seed showed high antimicrobial activity. Eighteen oils were effective against P. gingivalis, and tea tree, carrot seed, and cinnamons showed high antimicrobial activity. Sixteen oils were effective against L. rhamnosus, and carrot seed and peppermint cinnamon showed high antimicrobial activity. Conclusion: Consequently, 13 essential oils showed the antimicrobial activity against three bacterial strains, which indicates these essential oils might be used as the effective materials to suppress the growth of oral-disease inducing microorganisms. Moreover, essential oils that have been analyzed activities in this study will be mixed up within the constant range and analyzed their antimicrobial effects to examine the synergistic activity among them.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.246-251
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• 2010

The composite photocatalysts of a Fe-modified carbon nanotube (CNT)-$TiO_2$ were synthesized by a two-step sol-gel method at high temperature. Its chemical composition and surface properties were investigated by BET surface area, scanning electron microscope (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy. The results showed that the BET surface area was improved by modification of Fe, which was related to the adsorption capacity for each composite. Interesting thin layer aggregates of nanosized $TiO_2$ were observed from TEM images, probably stabilized by the presence of CNT, and the surface and structural characterization of the samples was carried out. The XRD results showed that the Fe/CNT-$TiO_2$ composites contained a mix of anatase and rutile forms of $TiO_2$ particles when the precursor is $TiOSO_4{\cdot}xH_2O$ (TOS). An excellent photocatalytic activity of Fe/CNT-$TiO_2$ was obtained for the degradation of methylene blue (MB) under visible light irradiation. It was considered that Fe cation could be doped into the matrix of $TiO_2$, which could hinder the recombination rate of the excited electrons/holes. The photocatalytic activity of the composites was also found to depend on the presence of CNT. The synergistic effects among the Fe, CNT and $TiO_2$ components were responsible for improving the visible light photocatalytic activity.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.68-77
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• 2023

Background: The weakness of the gluteus medius (GM) is associated with various musculoskeletal disorders. The increasing GM activity without synergistic dominance should be considered when prescribing pelvic drop exercise (PD). Isometric hip extension or flexion of the non-weight bearing leg using thera-band at the ankle during PD may influence hip abductor activities. Objects: To determine how isometric hip extension or flexion of the non-weight bearing leg using thera-band at the ankle during PD influences the activities of three subdivisions of GM (anterior, GMa; middle, GMm; posterior, GMp), tensor fasciae latae (TFL), contralateral quadratus lumborum (QL), and GMp/TFL, GMm/QL activity ratios in patients with GM weakness. Methods: Twenty-three patients with GM weakness were recruited. Three types of PD were performed: PD, PD with an isometric hip extension of the non-weight bearing leg (PDE), and PD with an isometric hip flexion of the non-weight bearing leg (PDF). Surface electromyography (SEMG) was used to measure hip abductor activities. One-way repeated-measures analysis of variance was used to assess the statistical significance of muscle activities and muscle activity ratios. Results: GMa, GMm, and GMp activities were significantly greater during PDF than during PD and PDE (p < 0.001, p = 0.001; p = 0.001, p = 0.005; p = 0.004, p = 0.004; respectively). TFL activity was significantly greater during PDE than during PD and PDF (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, respectively). QL activity was significantly greater during PDF than during PD (p = 0.003). GMp/TFL activity ratio was significantly lower during PDE than during PD and PDF (p = 0.001, p = 0.001, respectively). There were no significant differences in the GMm/QL activity ratio. Conclusion: PDF may be an effective exercise to increase the activities of all three GM subdivisions while minimizing the TFL activity in patients with GM weakness.

• Journal of the Korean institute of surface engineering
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2021

Porous dendrite structure AuCu alloy was formed using a hydrogen bubble template (HBT) technique by electroplating to improve the catalytic performance of gold, known as an excellent oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) catalyst in alkaline medium. The rich Au surface was maximized by selectively electrochemical etching Cu on the AuCu dendrite surface well formed in a leaf shape. The catalytic activity is mainly due to the synergistic effect of Au and Cu existing on the surface and inside of the particle. Au helps desorption of OH- and Cu contributes to the activation of O2 molecule. Therefore, the porous AuCu dendrite alloy catalyst showed markedly improved catalytic activity compared to the monometallic system. The porous structure AuCu formed by the hydrogen bubble template was able to control the size of the pores according to the formation time and applied current. In addition, the Au-rich surface area increased by selectively removing Cu through electrochemical etching was measured using an electrochemical calculation method (ECSA). The results of this study suggest that the alloying of porous AuCu dendrites and selective Cu dissolution treatment induces an internal alloying effect and a large specific surface area to improve catalyst performance.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Surface Engineering Conference
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• 2016.11a
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• pp.59-75
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• 2016

Reduced or black $TiO_{2-x}$ materials with oxygen-deficiency have been achieved by creating oxygen vacancies and/or defects at the surface using different methods. Fascinatingly, they exhibited an extended absorption in VIS and IR instead of only UV light with bandgap decrease from 3.2 (anatase) to ~1 eV. However, despite the dramatic enhancement of optical absorption in black $TiO_{2-x}$ materials, they have failed to show expected visible light-assisted water splitting efficiency. This was ascribed to the high concentration of the surface defects and/or oxygen vacancies, considered as an electron donor to enhance donor density and improve the charge transportation in black $TiO_2$ can also act as charge recombination centers, which eventually decrease photocatalytic activity. Therefore, a black ot reducd $TiO_2$ material with optimized properties would be highly desired for visible light photocatalysis. In this report, a new controlled magnesiothermic reduction has been developed to synthesize reduced black $TiO_{2-x}$ in the presence $H_2/Ar$ for photocatalytic $H_2$ production from methanol-water system. The material possesses an optimum band gap and band position, oxygen vacancies, and surface defects and shows significantly improved optical absorption in the visible and infrared region. The synergistic effects enable the reduced $TiO_{2-x}$ material to show an excellent hydrogen production ability along with long-term stability under the full solar wavelength range of light and visible light, respectively, in the methanol-water system in the presence of Pt as a co-catalyst. These values are superior to those of previously reported black $TiO_2$ materials. On the basis of all the results, it can be realized that the outstanding activity and stability of the reduced of $TiO_{2-x}$ NPs suggest that a balanced combination of different factors like $Ti^{3+}$, surface defects, oxygen vacancy, and recombination center is achieved along with optimized bandgap and band position during the preparation employing magnesiothermic reduction in the presence of $H_2$. The controlled magnesiothermic reduction in the presence of $H_2$ is one of the best alternative ways to produce active and stable $TiO_2-based$ photocatalyst for $H_2$ production.