• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.783-794
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• 2024

The antifungal activity of fisetin against Candida albicans is explored, elucidating a mechanism centered on membrane permeabilization and ensuing disruption of pH homeostasis. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of fisetin, indicative of its interaction with the fungal membrane, increases in the presence of ergosterol. Hoechst 33342 and propidium-iodide staining reveal substantial propidium-iodide accumulation in fisetin-treated C. albicans cells at their MIC, with crystal violet uptake assays confirming fisetin-induced membrane permeabilization. Leakage analysis demonstrates a significant release of DNA and proteins in fisetin-treated cells compared to controls, underscoring the antifungal effect through membrane disruption. Green fluorescence, evident in both the cytoplasm and vacuoles of fisetin-treated cells under BCECF, AM staining, stands in contrast to controls where only acidic vacuoles exhibit staining. Ratiometric pH measurements using BCECF, AM reveal a noteworthy reduction in intracellular pH in fisetin-treated cells, emphasizing its impact on pH homeostasis. DiBAC4(3) uptake assays demonstrate membrane hyperpolarization in fisetintreated cells, suggesting potential disruptions in ion flux and cellular homeostasis. These results provide comprehensive insights into the antifungal mechanisms of fisetin, positioning it as a promising therapeutic agent against Candida infections.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.5-14
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• 2024

PHC piles demonstrate superior resistance to compression and bending moments, and their factory-based production enhances quality assurance and management processes. Despite these advantages that have resulted in widespread use in civil engineering and construction projects, the design process frequently relies on empirical formulas or N-values to estimate the soil-pile friction, which is crucial for bearing capacity, and this reliance underscores a significant lack of experimental validation. In addition, environmental factors, e.g., the pH levels in groundwater and the effects of seawater, are commonly not considered. Thus, this study investigates the influence of vibrating machine foundations on PHC pile models in consideration of the effects of varying pH conditions. Concrete model piles were subjected to a one-month conditioning period in different pH environments (acidic, neutral, and alkaline) and under the influence of seawater. Subsequent repeated direct shear tests were performed on the pile-soil interface, and the disturbed state concept was employed to derive parameters that effectively quantify the dynamic behavior of this interface. The results revealed a descending order of shear stress in neutral, acidic, and alkaline conditions, with the pH-influenced samples exhibiting a more pronounced reduction in shear stress than those affected by seawater.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.312-322
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• 1998

There are many concerns about the erosive effect of acidic beverage. In this study, the erosive effect of bovine enamel caused by $Pepsi-Cola^{(R)}$(pH 2.41) and rehardening effect by intraoral exposure were determined by microhardness test and SEM. The bovine enamel specimen was imbedded in 100ml $Pepsi-Cola^{(R)}$ during 5 minutes and exposed to the intraoral environment with removable resin plate. The microhardness test was performed after 1 hr, 24 hrs, and 48 hrs. The results obtained from this study can be summarized as follows ; 1. The microhardness value was significantly (p<0.05) reduced by cola beverage, and significantly (p<0.05) increased after 1 hr and 24 hrs respectively. 2. The difference in the microhardness between 24 hrs group and 48 hrs group was not significant (p>0.05) and microhardness value of 48 hrs group was significantly less than that of initial group (p<0.05). 3. The erosive effect of cola beverage and remineralization effect by intraoral exposure were visualized by the SEM photo. But, the enamel surfaces did not return to their original state.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.630-636
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• 2007

Acidic citrus juices obtained from C. natsudaidai and C. grandis were electrodialyzed with bipolar and organic acid selective membrane (ion exchange membrane) cartridges. The pH levels of the acidic citrus juices gradually increased to 14.5% (C. grandis) and 25.2% (C. natsudaidai) by electrodialysis with the bipolar membranes, while levels remained consistent when organic acid selective membranes were applied. The total acidity levels decreased more with the organic selective membrane than with the bipolar membrane. Conductivity rose with the bipolar membranes while the value continued to fall rapidly with the organic selective membranes. Sugar and flavonoid contents remained relatively unchanged, without any significant differences before and after electrodialysis with each membrane. Also, ion contents were almost unchanged with the bipolar membranes and the electrolyte, $K_2SO_4$, as compared to rapid changes in sodium and potassium levels with the organic selective membranes and the electrolyte, $K_2SO_4$. In summary, the use of bipolar membranes provided juice with better sensory quality than that of the organic acid selective membranes.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.167-176
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• 2007

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the dental caries activity of some commercial drinks. Methods : Acidity levels were recorded as pH values of original drinks and amount of 50%-sodium hydroxide(NaOH) required to neutralize by titration 50.00ml of the drink(It was called titratable acid). Acidity of the drinks with S. sobrinus was measured at an interval of one hour after incubating ($37^{\circ}C$) the test drinks and control solution which was composed 20.00ml of neutralized drinks as pH 7.0 with 0.2ml of a pooled suspension of S. sobrinus. Results : The drink with the highest pH value was the Cow's milk(pH $6.70{\pm}0.01$), and the most acidic was the Carbonated drink(pH $2.40{\pm}0.02$). The drink with the highest buffer effect was the Fruit juice($139.78{\pm}0.76$), and the lowest was the Glucose solution(control, $4.42{\pm}0.20$). The drinks with S. sobrinus during incubation at $37^{\circ}C$ for 24h were decreased to below critical pH 5.5. Spending times from pH 7.0 to pH 5.5~5.0 were Glucose solution(less than 1h). Carbonated drink(3h), Fruit juice(5h), Cow's milk(8h) and Mixed drink(21h). Conclusions: These results show that some commercial drinks with S. sorbrinus have the possibility of tooth decalcification. Thus, it is suggested that the people who have the low salivary secretion rate and the children who sleep without toothbrushing after drinking need the instruction for diet control and oral health education.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.459-467
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• 2006

This study was carried out to characteristics and distributions of acid deposition in Korea. Precipitation was collected by acid deposition monitoring networks and analyzed for pH, conductivity, and following major ionic components $SO_4^{2-}$, $CI^-$, $NO_3^-$, $NH_4^+$, $Na^+$, $K^+$, $Ca^{2+}$, $Mg{2+}$. During the investigation period, Volume weighted annual mean pH of precipitation in Korea is 4.8, showing slightly acidic level. The amount of rainfall in the range of pH 5.1$\sim$5.5 charged approximately 28% of annual precipitation,23.4% in pH 4.6$\sim$5.0, and contributed 16.2% under pH 4.5. Among seasons, alkaline precipitation has occurred more often in spring, meanwhile acidic precipitation in which pH is under 4.5 has frequently occurred in autumn. Volume weighted annual mean concentrations of $SO_4^{2-}$, $NO_3^-$, $CI^-$ are 2.558 mg/L, 1.590 mg/L, 1.286 mg/L respectively, and provided that $SO_4^{2-}$, is the major contributor, followed by $NO_3^-$, $CI^-$. In case of cation, annual mean concentration for $NH_4^+$, $Na^+$, $K^+$, $Ca^{2+}$, $Mg{2+}$, $H^+$ are 0.693 mg/L, 0.528 mg/L, 0.439 mg/L, 0.455 mg/L, 0.089 mg/L,0.015 mg/L, and $NH_4$ were decided as the main contributor, followed by $Na^+$, $K^+$, $Ca^{2+}$, $Mg{2+}$, $H^+$. Annual wet deposition rate for sulfate, nitrate and ammonia are $3.316gm^{-2}yr^{-1}$, $2.057gm^{-2}yr{-1}$, $0.894gm^{-2}yr{-1}$, respectively, and it was founded that the deposition flux in summer contributes about 38.42% to 67.62% to total deposition.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.54-59
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• 2008

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of pH on the formation of furfural compounds from glucose and fructose reacting with amino acid enantiomers in the Maillard reaction. Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) content was highest at pH 4.0, and decreased with increasing pH. HMF was significantly higher in glucose-based systems than fructose-based systems. Furfuryl alcohol (FFA) and 5-methyl-2-furaldehyde (MF) were not increased with increasing pH, and only small amounts were formed. In addition, 2-furaldehyde (F) was found to increase in the systems, as pH increased. However, the content was small and variable. 2,5-Dimethyl-4-hydroxy-3(2H)-furanone (DMHF) was only found in Glc/D-Asn, Glc/L-Lys and Fru/D-Lys system, but the content was not increased with increasing pH. 2-acetylfuran (AF) was higher in Glc (or Fru)/L-Lys and Glc (or Fru)/D-Lys systems at pH 7.0. However, at pH 4.0, the content of AF was higher in the Glc (or Fru)/Gly and Glc (or Fru)/L-Asn systems. Therefore, this study aimed to observe the effect of pH, sugars and amino acid enantiomers on the production of furfural and related compounds by the Maillard reaction. A clear tendency was observed for some classes of compounds to be more easily formed at higher or lower pH. HMF was more readily formed at lower pH, while FFA, F, DMHF and MF were inhibited by acidic conditions. Particularly, compounds like FFA, F and MF were not affected by pH changes. In addition, DMHF and MF were only formed in L-Lys and D-Lys system.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.10-14
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• 2021

mCherry is one of the well-understood red fluorescent proteins which has a similar tertiary structure as GFPs, but pH resistant due to the lack of hydrogen bond network. Whereas mCherry-I202T showed far-red fluorescence and also pH sensitive property because of the additional hydrogen bond formed by substituting Ile of 202 amino acid sequence on mCherry with Thr. In order to verify the pH sensitive characteristic of mCherry-I202T owing to the extension of hydrogen bond, UV-vis spectrum was measured over the range of acidic to basic pH. We also demonstrate further possibilities of applying mCherry-I202T as a pH sensor.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.18 no.4 s.46
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• pp.267-276
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• 2005

The study is to determine the feasibility of activated red mud as an anti-red tide material. The red mud, a byproduct of Bayer process for the production of alumina from bauxite, contained hematite, boehmite, calcite, sodalite, quartz, zircon, anatase and an unknown phase. In the adsorption study of the red mud, its adsorption efficiencies for heavy elements were close to $100\%$ except $92\%$ In As. These results seem to be attributed by the high adsorption ability of iron oxides for heavy elements. As a result of leaching tests with the red mud at various pHs (pH $1\∼13$), the high leaching efficiencies for As, Cu and Zn at low pHs (at acidic condition) were obtained. It indicated that removal efficiency of heavy elements could be excellent in acidic treatment of red mud. The activated red mud, red mud reacted with acid, contained hematite, boehmite and so on, and desorption of heavy metals from the activated red mud increased with increasing temperature. The grain of the activated red mud was tens nm in size. The removal efficiency for 5 types of plankton was generally in inverse proportion to pH, especially to final pH. Of five plankton types, Prorocentrum minimum and Alexandrium tamarense promptly were removed more than $90\%$ as soon as the activated red mud was sprayed and $100\%$ after 30 minutes. These results indicated that the activated red mud seems to be a promising anti-red tide material.

• Journal of Korea Soil Environment Society
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.15-21
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• 1996

Effects of acid deposition on the acidification of surface water over a short term period were studied during June~October, 1995. A reservoir located in Chunchon, Kangwondo was selected for this study because this reservoir had received little man-made pollutants. Geological survey within the study area was carried out and the pH of a small and shallow stream flowing from the mountain valley down to the reservoir was monitored. Rainfall was measured by using a rain gauge and the precipitation was collected by automatic precipitation sampler. During the study period, rain pH was in the range of 3.81~5.77 with an average of 4.8. The EC was in the range of 5~189$\mu$S/cm with an average of 10.6$\mu$S/cm. ionic composition of the rainfall showed that of the anions, deposition of ${SO_4}^{2-}$, was highest with 3,119.7 kg/$\textrm{km}^2$, and it was $NH^{4+}$ with 1,053.2kg/$\textrm{km}^2$ for cations. The surface water pHs were maintained neutral or weak basic representing little evidence of acidification regardless of the acidic rainfall pH. Every time of sampling, however, the pHs exhibited increasing tendency as elevation of measuring site of the stream became lowered, which indicated the impacts of acid-base reactions by acidic or basic substances during travel of water downstream. This result suggested the necessity of further research to determine the respective buffering capacity of soil and underlying rocks.