• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.15-22
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• 2021

Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) is a naturally occurring antioxidant and has been previously used to treat diabetes and cardiovascular disease. However, the autophagy effects of ALA against oxidative stress-induced dopaminergic neuronal cell injury remain unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of ALA in autophagy and apoptosis against oxidative stress in the SH-SY5Y human dopaminergic neuronal cell line. We examined SH-SY5Y phenotypes using the 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay (cell viability/proliferation), 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole dihydrochloride nuclear staining, Live/Dead cell assay, cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) assay, immunoblotting, and immunocytochemistry. Our data showed ALA attenuated hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced ROS generation and cell death. ALA effectively suppressed Bax up-regulation and Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL down-regulation. Furthermore, ALA increased the expression of the antioxidant enzyme, heme oxygenase-1. Moreover, the expression of Beclin-1 and LC-3 autophagy biomarkers was decreased by ALA in our cell model. Combined, these data suggest ALA protects human dopaminergic neuronal cells against H2O2-induced cell injury by inhibiting autophagy and apoptosis.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.7-13
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• 2021

Due to rapid industrial development, population growth, and improvement of living standards, the amount of sewage and wastewater, including nutrients, is increasing every year. In addition to the increasing amount of sewage and wastewater generation, untreated linked treated water (manure, livestock manure, industrial wastewater, leachate, food waste) is also increasing, and many of the linked treated water flows directly into nearby sewage treatment plants. The associated treated water causes many problems because of its own characteristics, low flow rate with high concentration compared to existing inflow sewage. In order to solve this problem, it is necessary to investigate the quantity and quality of the connected treated water whichh is flowed into the sewage treatment plant, and a study the effect on sewage treatment. Therefore, in this paper, we would like to examine the effect of the linked treated water. Seasonal effect associated with water pollution conditions was considered. In addition, a scenario was created through the distribution and inflow of connected treated water along with the water temperature conditions. Through scenario analysis, we intend to optimize the operating conditions of linked processing.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.54 no.2
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• pp.666-673
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• 2022

The optimization of a transmission type bremsstrahlung conversion target was carried out with Monte Carlo code FLUKA for intense pulsed electron beams with electron energy of several hundred keV for maximum photon fluence. The photon emission intensity from electrons with energy ranging from 300 keV to 1 MeV on tungsten, tantalum and molybdenum targets was calculated with varied target thicknesses. The research revealed that higher target material element number and electron energy leads to increased photon fluence. For a certain target material, the target thickness with maximum photon emission fluence exhibits a linear relationship with the electron energy. With certain electron energy and target material, the thickness of the target plays a dominant role in increasing the transmission photon intensity, with small target thickness the photon flux is largely restricted by low energy loss of electrons for photon generation while thick targets may impose extra absorption for the generated photons. The spatial distribution of bremsstrahlung photon density was analyzed and the optimal target thicknesses for maximum bremsstrahlung photon fluence were derived versus electron energy on three target materials for a quick determination of optimal target design.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.46-53
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• 2022

It is challenging to treat ventriculitis with parenteral treatment alone in some cases because of the difficulty involved in maintaining an appropriate level of antibiotics in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). We report two cases of ventriculitis who did not respond to intravenous (IV) antibiotics but were successfully treated with intraventricular antibiotics using IV agents. The first case was a four-month-old male patient with X-linked hydrocephalus. He showed ventriculitis due to Klebsiella pneumoniae not producing extended-spectrum β-lactamase and susceptible to third-generation cephalosporins and gentamicin, following ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt. His condition did not improve during the 47 days of treatment with IV cefotaxime and meropenem. We achieved improvement in clinical presentation and CSF profile after three times of intraventricular gentamicin injection. The patient was discharged from the hospital with antiepileptic drugs. The second case was a six-month-old female patient with a history of neonatal meningitis complicated with hydrocephalus at one month of age, VP shunt at two months of age, followed by a methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) shunt infection with ventriculitis after the shunt operation. CoNS ventriculitis recurred four weeks later. We failed to treat intractable methicillin-resistant CoNS ventriculitis with IV vancomycin for ten days, and thus intraventricular antimicrobial treatment was considered. Five times of intraventricular vancomycin administration led to improvement in clinical parameters. There were only neurological sequelae of delayed language development but no other major complications. Patients in these two cases responded well to intraventricular antibiotics, with negative CSF culture results, and were successfully treated for ventriculitis without serious complications.

• Journal of the Semiconductor & Display Technology
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.95-102
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• 2022

Since the organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) have been widely investigated as next-generation displays, it has been successfully commercialized as a flexible and rollable display. However, there is still wide room and demand to improve the device characteristics such as power efficiency and lifetime. To solve this issue, there has been a wide research effort, and among them, the internal and the external light extraction techniques have been attracted in this research field by its fascinating characteristic of material independence. In this study, a micro-nano composite structured external light extraction layer was demonstrated. A reactive ion etching (RIE) process was performed on the surfaces of hexagonally packed hemisphere micro-lens array (MLA) and randomly distributed sphere diffusing films to form micro-nano composite structures. Random nanostructures of different sizes were fabricated by controlling the processing time of the O₂ / CHF₃ plasma. The fabricated device using a micro-nano composite external light extraction layer showed 1.38X improved external quantum efficiency compared to the reference device. The results prove that the external light extraction efficiency is improved by applying the micro-nano composite structure on conventional MLA fabricated through a simple process.

• Clean Technology
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.147-154
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• 2022

Titanate nanotubes (TNTs) were synthesized via alkaline hydrothermal treatment using commercial TiO₂ nanoparticles (P25). The TNTs were prepared at various TiO₂/NaOH ratios, hydrothermal temperatures, and hydrothermal times. The synthesized catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, N₂ adsorption-desorption isotherms, field-emission transmission electron microscopy, and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy. TNTs were generated upon a decrease in the TiO₂/NaOH ratio due to the dissolution of TiO₂ in the alkaline solution and the generation of new Ti-O-Ti bonds to form titanate nanoplates and nanotubes. The hydrothermal treatment temperature and time were important factors for promoting the nucleation and growth of TNTs. The TNT catalyst with the largest surface area (389.32 m² g^-1) was obtained with a TiO₂/NaOH ratio of 0.25, a hydrothermal treatment temperature of 130 ℃, and a hydrothermal treatment time of 36 h. Additionally, we investigated the photocatalytic activity of methyl violet 2B (MV) over the TNT catalysts under UV irradiation and found that the degradation efficiencies of the TNTs were higher than that of P25. Among the TNT catalysts, the TNT catalyst that was hydrothermally synthesized for 36 h (TNT 36 h) exhibited a 96.9% degradation efficiency and a degradation rate constant that was 4.8 times higher than P25 due to its large surface area, which allowed for more contact between the MV molecules and TNT surfaces and facilitated rapid electron transfer. Finally, these results were correlated with the specific surface area.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.10.1-10.9
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• 2023

Objectives: This study compared the buckling resistance of 3 nickel-titanium (NiTi) retreatment file systems and the torque/force generated during retreatment. Materials and Methods: The buckling resistance was compared among the D-RaCe (DR2), HyFlex Remover, and Mtwo R25/05 retreatment systems. J-shaped canals within resin blocks were prepared with ProTaper NEXT X3 and obturated by the single-cone technique with AH Plus. After 4 weeks, 4 mm of gutta-percha in the coronal aspect was removed with Gates-Glidden drills. Retreatment was then performed using DR1 (size 30, 10% taper) followed by DR2 (size 25, 4% taper), HyFlex Remover (size 30, 7% taper), or Mtrwo R25/05 (size 25, 5% taper) (15 specimens in each group). Further apical preparation was performed with WaveOne Gold Primary. The clockwise torque and upward force generated during retreatment were recorded. After retreatment, resin blocks were examined using stereomicroscopy, and the percentage of residual filling material in the canal area was calculated. Data were analyzed using 1-way analysis of variance with the Tukey test. Results: The HyFlex Remover files exhibited the greatest buckling resistance (p < 0.05), followed by the Mtwo R25/05. The HyFlex Remover and Mtwo R25/05 files generated the highest maximum clockwise torque and upward force, respectively (p < 0.05). The DR1 and DR2 files generated the least upward force and torque (p < 0.05). The percentage of residual filling material after retreatment was not significantly different between file systems (p > 0.05). Conclusions: NiTi retreatment instruments with higher buckling resistance generated greater clockwise torque and upward force.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.158-168
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• 2023

The global output of Pyropia yezoensis (dried seaweed or laver, also called 'Gim' in Korea) has been reduced over the half-decade due to the wide spread of red rot disease, a serious algal disease affecting P. yezoensis. Recently, Gold 1 (G1), which is a resistant strain of P. yezoensis to red rot disease, was developed and commercialized in South Korea, yet its physiological activity has not been investigated. In this study, a comparative study was performed on G1 and commercially available strain of P. yezoensis (CP) for their antioxidative activities. Aqueous extract of G1 showed more marked 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radical scavenging activity compared to that of CP. In 293T cells, antioxidant activity against H₂O₂-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation was only observed in G1 extract. In addition, G1 extract showed more potent inhibitory effect on H₂O₂-induced apoptotic cell death than CP extract, as examined by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay and fluorescence microscopy. Expression levels of various apoptosis-related genes, including B-cell lymphoma 2-associated X protein, p53, capase-3, and inflammatory cytokines, in H₂O₂-treated cells were significantly decreased by the treatment of G1. Taken together, the present study suggests that a new strain of red seaweed G1 can recover oxidative stress effectively by improving the imbalance of ROS generation and has a potential to be used a functional ingredient as an antioxidant source.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.54 no.12
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• pp.4514-4521
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• 2022

In this study, the effects of heat and radiation on the degradation behaviour of fluoroelastomer under simulated normal operation and a severe accident environment were investigated using sequential testing of gamma irradiation and thermal degradation. Tensile properties and Shore A hardness were measured, and thermogravimetric analysis was used to evaluate the degradation behaviour of fluoroelastomer. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were used to characterize the structural changes of the fluoroelastomer. Heat and radiation generated in nuclear power plant break and deform the chemical bonds, and fluoroelastomer exposed to these environments have decreased C-H and functional groups that contain oxygen and double bonds such as C-O, C=O and C=C were generated. These functional groups were formed by auto oxidation by reacting free radicals generated from the cleaved bond with oxygen in the atmosphere. In this auto oxidation reaction, crosslinks were generated where bonded to each other, and the mobility of molecules was decreased, and as a result, the fluoroelastomer was hardened. This hardening behaviour occurred more significantly in the severe accident environment than in the normal operation condition, and it was found that thermal stability decreased with the generation of unstable structures by crosslinking.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.68-73
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• 2024

In this study, the praseodymium-doped yttrium phosphate (YPO₄:Pr³⁺) powder, which is well known for its high luminescent efficiency, and long life in the UV range, was synthesized with various content ratios of Pr₆O₁₁ and calcination temperature. Crystal structure and luminescent properties of various phosphor powders based on different concentrations and calcination conditions were characterized by XRD (X-Ray Diffraction) and PL (photoluminescence) spectrometers. From the XRD analysis, the structure of YPO₄:Pr³⁺ which is calcinated at 1,200℃ was stable tetragonal phase and crystal size was calculated about 25 nm by Scherrer equation. PL emission of YPO₄:Pr³⁺ with a different content ratio of Pr₆O₁₁ by excitation λ_exc=250 nm shows that 0.75 mol% phosphor powder has maximum PL intensity and PL decreases with the increase of the ratio of Pr₆O₁₁ up to 1.25 mol% which is caused by changes of crystallinity of phosphor powders. With increasing dopant ratio, photo-luminescence Emission decreases due to Concentration quenching, which is commonly observed in phosphors. Currently, 0.75 mol% is considered the optimal doping concentration. A hybrid ultraviolet-emitting device incorporating YPO₄:Pr³⁺ fluorescent material with plasma discharge was fabricated to enhance UV germicidal effects while minimizing ozone generation. UV emission from the plasma discharge device was shown at about 200 nm and 350 nm which caused additional emission of the regions of 250 nm, 315 nm, and 370 nm from the YPO₄:Pr³⁺ phosphor.