• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.119-126
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• 2014

The object of this study was to evaluate the combined toxic interactions of the perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) or perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) with six heavy metals (Cu, Zn, Cr, Cd, Hg, and Pb). The individual and combined toxic effects were assessed using the Vibrio fischeri assay. In case of the individual toxicity, PFOA was higher toxic than PFOS and toxicity of PFOA and PFOS were lower than heavy metal. In the toxicity of heavy metals, the $Hg^{2+}$ was found to be most toxic followed by $Pb^{2+}$, $Cr^{6+}$, $Cu^{2+}$, $Zn^{2+}$, and $Cd^{2+}$. The combined toxicity of PFOA or PFOS with $Cr^{6+}$ were synergistic effect because the $EC_{50}$ mix values were less than 1 TU. PFOA + $Zn^{2+}$, PFOS + $Zn^{2+}$, PFOA + $Cd^{2+}$ and PFOS + $Cd^{2+}$ produced addictive effect. Except in these case, all of binary mixtures show antagonistic effect. This study proved potential risk of coexistent with perfluorinated compounds and heavy metals in water environment.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.312-318
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• 2016

Objectives: Bacterial resistant infections have become a global health challenge and threaten the society's health. Thus, an urgent need exists to find ways to combat resistant pathogens. One promising approach to overcoming bacterial resistance is the use of herbal products. Green tea catechins, the major green tea polyphenols, show antimicrobial activity against resistant pathogens. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of catechins, green tea extract, and methylxanthines in combination with gentamicin against standard and clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and the standard strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa). Methods: The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) values of different agents against bacterial strains were determined. The interactions of green tea extract, epigallate catechin, epigallocatechin gallate, two types of methylxanthine, caffeine, and theophylline with gentamicin were studied in vitro by using a checkerboard method and calculating the fraction inhibitory concentration index (FICI). Results: The MICs of gentamicin against bacterial strains were in the range of $0.312-320{\mu}g/mL$. The MIC values of both types of catechins were $62.5-250{\mu}g/mL$. Green tea extract showed insufficient antibacterial activity when used alone. Methylxanthines had no intrinsic inhibitory activity against any of the bacterial strains tested. When green tea extract and catechins were combined with gentamicin, the MIC values of gentamicin against the standard strains and a clinical isolate were reduced, and synergistic activities were observed (FICI < 1). A combination of caffeine with gentamicin did not alter the MIC values of gentamicin. Conclusion: The results of the present study revealed that green tea extract and catechins potentiated the antimicrobial action of gentamicin against some clinical isolates of S. aureus and standard P. aeruginosa strains. Therefore, combinations of gentamicin with these natural compounds might be a promising approach to combat microbial resistance.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.35 no.7
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• pp.2086-2092
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• 2014

Two novel coordination compounds $[Cu_2(pypya)_3(H_2O)_2]{\cdot}Cl{\cdot}(H_2O)_5$ (1) and $\{[Cd(pypya)(ta)_{1/2}]{\cdot}H_2O\}_n$ (2) (Hpypya=2-(3-(pyridin-2-yl)-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)acetic acid, $H_2ta$=terephthalic acid) were synthesized and characterized by single X-ray diffraction. Structure determination reveals that complex 1 and complex 2 crystallize in the triclinic system, with the P-1 space group. The asymmetric unit of 1 contains two Cu(II) ions, and their coordination modes are different. These units of complex 1 are linked together via hydrogen bonds and ${\pi}-{\pi}$ interactions, and the 3D structure of complex 1 was formed. Complex 2, a mononuclear Cd(II) coordination compound, has a 2D structure which was constructed via coordination bonds. TGA and fluorescence spectra analysis of complex 1 and complex 2 have also been studied. In addition, the geometry parameters of complex 1 have been optimized with the B3LYP method of density functional theory (DFT) to explain its coordination behavior. The electronic properties of the complex 1 and ligand Hpypya have been investigated based on the nature bond orbital (NBO) analysis at the B3LYP level of theory. The result verifies that the synergistic effect have occurred in the compound.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2009.11a
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• pp.171-171
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• 2009

The electrodes are usually made of a porous mixture of carbon-supported platinum and ionomers. $SnO_2$ particles provide as supports that have been used for DMFCs, and it have high catalytic activities toward methanol oxidation. The main advantage of $SnO_2$ supported electrodes is that it has strong chemical interactions with metallic components. The high activity to a synergistic bifunctional mechanism in which Pt provides the adsorption sites for CO, while oxygen adsorbs dissociative on $SnO_2$. The reaction between the adsorbed species occurs at the Pt/$SnO_2$ boundary. The morphological observations were characterized by FESEM and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). $SnO_2$ particles crystallinity was analyzed by the X-ray diffraction (XRD). The surface bonded state of the $SnO_2$ particles and electrode materials were observed by the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The electric properties of the Pt/$SnO_2$ catalyst for methanol oxidation have been investigated by the cyclic voltametry (CV) in 0.1M $H_2SO_4$ and 0.1M MeOH aqueous solution. The peak current density of methanol oxidation was increased as the $SnO_2$ content in the anode catalysts increased. Pt/$SnO_2$ catalysts improve the removal of CO ads species formed on the platinum surface during methanol electro-oxidation.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.45-51
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• 2000

Bacterial diseases with mixed infection have recently occurred at land-based flounder farms in Korea. Thus, single antibacterial is not effective for therapy of mixed bacterial diseases of fish because of their different causative bacteria. The purpose of the present study was to obtain basic data for positive usefulness of a combination of antibacterials used for synergism to mixed bacterial diseases of fish. Snergistic interaction in combination of antibacterials was determined by in vitro antimicrobial activity against selected fish-pathogenic bacteria, Vibrio anguillarum, Edwardsiella tarda, Streptococcus sp., Staphylococcus epidermidis, on the basis of Checkerboard assay using fractional inhibitory concentration (FIC) indices. Synergistic interactions were observed in combinations of (oxytetracycline HCL+lincomycin), (tetracycline HCL+florfenicol), (oxytetracycline HCL+florfenicol) against V. anguillarum, (sodium nifurstyrenate+florfenicol), (tetracycline HCL+florfenicol), (sodium nifurstyrenate+oxolinic acid), (oxytetracycline HCL+florfenicol) against E. tarda, (ciprofloxacine+oleandomycin), (oxytetracycline HCL+oleandomycin), (tetracycline HCL+oleandomycin), (oxytetracycline HCL+lincomycin), (oxytetracycline HCL+spiramycin), (oxytetracycline HCL+erythromycin), (doxycycline HCL+oleandomycin), (tetracycline HCL+spiramycin) against Streptococcus sp., and (ciprofloxacine+erythromycin), (florfenicol+erythromycin), (doxycycline HCL+oleandomycin), (ciprofloxacine+oleandomycin) against S. epidermidis.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.119-127
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• 1985

A series of Escherichia coli mutants were exmined for ability to convert glucose and ammonium salts into phenylalanine. This enabled the biochemical changes having major. effects on phenylaianine yield, and interactions between mutations, to be identified. Changes to the common pathway of aromatic biosynthesis having a major effects include desensitization of the first enzyme (3-deoxy-D-arabinoheptulosonate synthase) to end-product inhibition, and removal of repression of enzyme synthesis. It is suggested that the 3-deoxy-D-arabino-heptulosonate synthase Phe isoenzyme has a more important effect on yield. Similarly, removal of repression and end-product inhibition on the phenylalanine terminal pathway increased yield, and changes to both common and branch pathways were synergistic. Blockage of the typrosine and tryptophan pathways had minor effects on phenylalanine yield, and a mutation affecting aramatic amino acid transport (aroP) decreased yield. With multiple-mutation strains hish specific rates of product formation (ie 0.1-0.17g phenylalanine/g cells/h) were obtained.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.265-272
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• 2006

Dental plaque, a biofilm consisting of more than 500 different bacterial species, is an etiological agent of human periodontal disease, It is therefore important to characterize interactions among periodontopathic microorganisms in order to understand the microbial pathogenesis of periodontal disease. Previous data have suggested a synergistic effect of tow major periodontal pathogens Porphyromonas gingivalis and Tannerella forsythia in the periodontal lesion. In the present study, to better understand interaction between P. gingivalis and T. forsythia, the coaggregation activity between these bacteria was characterized. The coaggregation activity was observed by a direct visual assay by mixing equal amount (1 ${\times}$ $10^9$)of T. forsythia and P. gingivaJis cells. It was found that the first aggregates began to appear after 5-10 min, and that the large aggregates completely settled within 1 h. Electron and epifluorescence microscopic studies confirmed cell-cell contact between two bacteria. The heat treatment of P. gingivalis completely blocked the activity, suggesting an involvement of a heat-labile component of P. gingivalis in the interaction. On the other hand, heat treatment of T. forsythia significantly increased the coaggregation activity; the aggregates began to appear immediately. The coaggregation activity was inhibited by addition of protease, however carbohydrates did not inhibit the activity, suggesting that coaggregation is a protein-protein interaction. The results of this study suggest that coaggregation between P. gingivalis and T. forsythia is a result of cell-cell physical contact, and that coaggregation is mediated by a heat-labile component of P. gingivalis and T. forsythia component that can be activated on heat treatment.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.6 no.5
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• pp.261-267
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• 2002

The aim of the present study was to investigate the interaction of $estradiol-17{\beta}-bovine$ serum albumin $(E_2-BSA)$ and calcitropic hormones, such as parathyroid hormone, calcitonin, and vitamin D, in regulation of $Ca^{2+}$ uptake in primary cultured renal proximal tubule cells. Statistically significant increase in $Ca^{2+}$ uptake was found from 2 hours after $(E_2-BSA)\;(10^{-9}\;M)$ treatment, while $estradiol-17{\beta}\;(10^{-9}\;M)$ did not affect. Treatment of the cells with $(E_2-BSA)\;(10^{-9}\;M)$ together with parathyroid hormone (PTH) $(10^{-8}\;M),$ vitamin D $(10^{-8}\;M),$ or calcitonin $(10^{-8}\;M)$ significantly stimulated $Ca^{2+}$ uptake by 32.50%, 29.30%, or 27.75%, respectively, compared with the control. However, calcitropic hormones did not exhibit any synergistic effect on the E2-BSA-induced stimulation. $E_2-BSA$ significantly increased cAMP generation and PKC activity. The stimulatory effect of cotreatment of $E_2-BSA$ and PTH or vitamin D was blocked by SQ22536 (an adenylate cyclase inhibitor) and staurosporine (a PKC inhibitor), but the effect of cotreatment of $E_2-BSA$ and calcitonin was not blocked. Furthermore, 8-Br-cAMP and TPA (an artificial PKC promoter) increased $Ca^{2+}$ uptake by 25.51% and 16.47%, respectively, compared with the control. In conclusion, $E_2-BSA$ combined with calcitropic hormones regulated $Ca^{2+}$ uptake partially via cAMP and PKC-dependent mechanisms in renal proximal tubule cells.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.62-75
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• 2022

Background: Pollinators help plants to reproduce and support economically valuable food for humans and entire ecosystems. However, declines of pollinators along with population growth and increasing agricultural activities hamper this mutual interaction. Nectar and pollen are the major reward for pollinators and flower morphology and volatiles mediate the specialized plant-pollinator interactions. Limited information is available on the volatile profiles attractive to honey bees and bumblebees. In this study we analyzed the volatile organic compounds of the flowers of 9 different plant species that are predominantly visited by honey bees and bumblebees. The chemical compositions of the volatiles were determined using a head space gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) method, designed to understand the plant-pollinator chemical interaction. Results: Results showed the monoterpene 1,3,6-octatriene, 3,7-dimethyl-, (E) (E-𝞫-ocimene) was the dominating compound in most flowers analyzed, e.g., in proportion of 60.3% in Lonicera japonica, 48.8% in Diospyros lotus, 38.4% Amorpha fruticosa and 23.7% in Robinia pseudoacacia. Ailanthus altissima exhibited other monoterpenes such as 3,7-dimethyl-1,6-octadien-3-ol (𝞫-linalool) (39.1%) and (5E)-3,5-dimethylocta-1,5,7-trien-3-ol (hotrienol) (32.1%) as predominant compounds. Nitrogen containing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were occurring principally in Corydalis speciosa; 1H-pyrrole, 2,3-dimethyl- (50.0%) and pyrimidine, 2-methyl- (40.2%), and in Diospyros kaki; 1-triazene, 3,3-dimethyl-1-phenyl (40.5%). Ligustrum obtusifolium flower scent contains isopropoxycarbamic acid, ethyl ester (21.1%) and n-octane (13.4%) as major compounds. In Castanea crenata the preeminent compound is 1-phenylethanone (acetophenone) (46.7%). Conclusions: Olfactory cues are important for pollinators to locate their floral resources. Based on our results we conclude monoterpenes might be used as major chemical mediators attractive to both honey bees and bumblebees to their host flowers. However, the mode of action of these chemicals and possible synergistic effects for olfaction need further investigation.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.8 no.5
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• pp.685-690
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• 2022

Recent research on soft adhesives has sought to understand in depth how their chemical or mechanical structures interact strongly with living tissues. The aim is to optimally address the unmet needs of patients with acute or chronic diseases. Synergy adhesion, which includes both electrostatic (hydrogen bonds) and mechanical interactions (capillary stress), appears to be effective in overcoming challenges related to long-term unstable bonds to wet surfaces. Here, we report electrostatic and mechanically synergistic mechanisms of adhesion without chemical residues. To infer the mechanism, a thermodynamic model based on custom combination adhesives has been proposed. The model supported experimental results that thermodynamically controlled swelling of hydrogels embedded in elastomeric structures improves biofluidic insensitive on-site adhesion to wet surfaces and improves detachment without chemical residues in the direction of peeling.