• The Journal of the Acoustical Society of Korea
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.507-517
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• 2022

The PhotoAcoustic Microscopy (PAM) has been proved to be a useful tool for biological and medical applications due to its high spatial and contrast resolution. PAM is based on transmission of laser pulses and reception of PA signals. Since the strength of PA signals is generally low, not only are high-performance optical and acoustic modules required, but high-performance electronics for imaging are also particularly needed for high-quality PAM imaging. Most PAM systems are implemented with a combination of several pieces of equipment commercially available to receive, amplify, enhance, and digitize PA signals. To this end, PAM systems are inevitably bulky and not optimal because general purpose equipment is used. This paper reports a PA signal receiving system recently developed to attain the capability of improved Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) and Contrast to Noise Ratio (CNR) of PAM images; the main module of this system is a low noise, wideband signal receiver that consists of two low-noise amplifiers, two variable gain amplifiers, analog filters, an Analog to Digital Converter (ADC), and control logic. From phantom imaging experiments, it was found that the developed system can improve SNR by 6.7 dB and CNR by 3 dB, compared to a combination of several pieces of commercially available equipment.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.453-463
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• 2022

This study aimed to investigate the biological activities, including polyphenolic content, flavonoid content, and antioxidant activities, of various cultivars of Korean perilla leaves. The results indicated that among nine cultivars (Namcheon dlggae, Saedora, Nulbora, Donggel 1, Donggell 2, Soim, Sangyeop, Somirang, and Saebom) of perilla leaves, the total polyphenolic content (gallic acid equivalent mg/g, GAE) was the highest in "Nulbora," while it was lowest in Namcheon dlggae. Moreover, flavonoid content in the extracts of nine cultivars leaves was in the range of 132.93~268.50 mg catechin equivalent/g sample. The antioxidant effects of the perilla leaves were determined using two different in vitro bioassays measuring DPPH and ABTS radical-scavenging activities. The results revealed that antioxidant activity was also higher in "Nulbora" compared with other cultivars. Xanthin-oxidase-inhibition activity ranged from 65.65% to 80.58%, with "Nulbora" exhibiting the highest activity, although the difference with other cultivars was not significant. "Nulbora" extracts reduced the expression of pro-inflammatory genes and several cytokines, including IL-6 activation induced by LPS in macrophages in the range of 100-50 ㎍/mL. These results suggest that extracts from perilla leaves can be used as bioactive and functional materials that could be important in industrial applications in the future.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.670-673
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• 2023

The biocompatibility of hydroxyapatite (HAP) has led to its application in various fields. To accomplish practical biological applications, such as drug/gene delivery, the colloidal stability of HAP in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) is particularly important. In this study, we prepared a glycerol incorporated-HAP (Gly-HAP) by heating HAP in a glycerol environment at 200 ℃. To compare morphology and colloidal stability, HAP prepared at room temperature (RT-HAP) was thermally treated in water at 200 ℃ (H₂O-HAP). The heat treatment of HAP in both water and glycerol solutions results in an increase in the crystallinity of HAPs. Due to the low solubility of HAP in glycerol and the adsorption of glycerol on the HAP surface, crystal growth is limited. However, the heat-treated HAP under water increased in size by approximately four times compared to the initial crystallites. Compared to RT-HAP and H₂O-HAP, Gly-HAP shows improved colloidal stability in PBS, which originates from the adsorption of glycerol on the HAP surface that inhibits the agglomeration of individual HAP precipitates.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.5-13
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• 2024

This paper investigates the stabilization feasibility of contaminated sediment contaminated with benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP) using acid/base-modified activated carbon. The efficiency of stabilizers was evaluated by analyzing the impact of the activated carbon on the decomposition and adsorption of the contaminant, along with the biological effects on earthworms. Additionally, the contaminant migration was monitored with the BBP concentration in pore water using low-density polyethylene. The research results indicated that the accumulated concentration of BBP was approximately 2% lower in the experimental group applying a 5% mixture ratio of modified activated carbon compared to the group applying a 10% mixture ratio. The leaching into water was reduced by over 18% in all experimental conditions after 7-day exposure period. Over 25% reduction was observed after 28-day exposure. The pore water concentrations were measured. After 7 days of exposure, the mechanically mixed experimental group exhibited a higher pore water stabilization rate compared to the biologically mixed group. Within the mechanically mixed group, the experimental group with 10% mixture of modified activated carbon showed a 1% higher stabilization rate than the group with 5% mixture. After 28 days of exposure, the biologically mixed experimental group demonstrated a higher pore water stabilization rate compared to the mechanically mixed group. Moreover, within the biologically mixed group, the experimental group with 10% mixture of modified activated carbon showed approximately 0.1% higher stabilization rate than the group with 5% mixture.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.296-303
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• 2024

Vinegar is a fermented food product created by fermenting various sugar- and starch-containing ingredients with microorganisms. It contains a variety of organic acids, sugars, amino acids, esters, and other compounds that contribute to its unique sensory properties. Vinegar is known for its potential benefits, including aiding digestion, lowering blood sugar levels, anti-obesity effects, and antioxidant properties. It is also believed to contribute to improving alkaline body conditions. This study was conducted to develop functional dried vinegar powder from naturally fermented vinegars. Unripe apple, brown rice, and black chokeberry (aronia) were fermented using Gluconacetobacter xylinus for 90-180 days. The filtrate vinegar was spray dried with 37.46% maltodextrin, 5% glucose, 1% citric acid, and 0.04% vitamin C. Analysis of the acidity, color difference, water and soluble solid content, and heat stability of dried vinegar (DV) confirmed that spray drying is a suitable method for powder production. Moreover, the DVs exhibited excellent sensory attributes and solubility. Among the DVs, aronia-DV showed the highest 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl and 2,2-azobis (3- ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate) radical scavenging activity (36.7% and 75.3%) and reducing power (0.334) at 0.5 mg/ml concentration, respectively. The nitrite scavenging activity was highest in brown unripe apple-DV, followed by aronia-DV and brown rice-DV. In the anti-thrombosis activity assay, aronia-DV showed the highest prothrombin inhibition. The brown rice-DV exhibited lipid accumulation inhibitory activity in 3T3-L1 adipocytes without cell cytotoxicity. Our results suggest the potential for commercialization of dried vinegar, highlighting its diverse benefits and applications.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.358-368
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• 2023

Euonymus alatus (Thunb.) Sieb., also known as the arrow tree in Korea, is a plant in East Asia used in traditional medicine and food. In particular, the wings of E. alatus are rich in phenolic compounds. This study evaluated the antioxidant, α-glucosidase inhibition, and anti-cancer activities of E. alatus wing extracts. The radical and hydrogen peroxide scavenging acitvities and reducing the power of 1,000 ㎍/mL E. alatus wing extracts, were similar to those of the positive control (0.1% BHT, 0.1% α-tocopherol). In addition, ethanol and methanol extract at 250 ㎍/mL showed 95.70 and 94.99% of α-glucosidase inhibition activity, respectively. The ethanol extract of E. alatus wings had the highest total polyphenol and flavonoid contents (867.8 mg% and 521.7 mg%, respectively). The E. alatus wing extracts significantly decreased the cell viability of LNCaP human prostate cancer cells (p<0.001), MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells (p<0.001), and HT-29 human colon cancer cells (p<0.001) in a dose-dependent manner. However, there was no significant effect on B16 mouse melanoma cells. Notably, the ethanol extracts showed higher cancer cell growth inhibitory activity in LNCaP and HT-29 cells than the other extracts. These results suggest that E. alatus wing extracts could have significant clinical applications, and our results can be used as basic data for future functional food material development.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.219-237
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• 1994

The ultimate goal of clinical periodontal therapy is to achieve regeneration of a healthy connective tissue reattachment. Conventional therapy including scaling, root planing, gingival curettage, gingivectomy and flap procedures of various types results primarily in repair rather than regeneration of the periodontium. In order for periodontal regeneration to occur, progenitor periodontal ligament cells must migrate to the denuded root surface, attach to it, proliferate and mature into an organized and functional fibrous attachment apparatus. Polypeptide growth factors belong to a class of potent biologic mediators which regulate cell differentiation, proliferation, migration and metabolism. Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF- I ) of these factors appear to have an important role in periodontal wound healing and bone formation. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of IGF- I on the periodontal ligament cells to use as a regeneration promoting agent of periodontal tissue. Human periodontal ligament cells were obtained from periodontal tissue explants culture of the first premolar tooth extracted for the orthodontic treatment. Cells were cultured in Dulbecco's modified Eagle medium(DMEM) with 10% fetal bovine serum. Fourth to seventh passage cells were plated in 24 well tissue culture plates and medium changed to serum-free medium prior to addition of growth factors. Cell proliferation was measured by the incorporation of $[^3H]-thymidine$ into DNA, Protein synthesis was determined by measurement of $[^3H]-proline$ incorporation into collagenase-digestible protein(CDP) and noncollagenous protein(NCP) according to the method of Peterkofsky and Diegelmann (1971), And alkaline phosphatase activity was measured as one parameter of osteoblastic differentiation. The results were as follows : The DNA synthetic activity was increased in a dose-dependent manner with IGF- I except for 0.1ng/ml concentration of IGF- I At the concentration of 10, 100ng/ml, IGF- I significantly increased the DNA synthetic activity(P<0.05) The total protein, collagen and noncollagen synthesis was increased in a dose-dependent manner with IGF- I except for 0.1ng/ml concentration of IGF- I. At the concentration of 1, 10, 100ng/ml, IGF- I significantly increased the total protein, collagen and noncollagen synthesis activity(P<0.95, P<0.001). The % of collagen was not effected according to the concentration of IGF- I. The alkaline phosphatase activity was increased in a dose-, time-dependent manner with IGF- I (10, 100ng/ml). In conclusions, the present study shows that IGF- I has a potentiality to enhance the DNA synthesis of periodontal ligament cells with including the increase of the total protein and collagen synthetic activity. The use of IGF- I to mediate biological stimulation of periodontal ligament cells shows promise for future therapeutic applications.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.130-142
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• 2007

This study was to examine impacts of turbid water on fish community in the downstream of Yongdam Dam during the period from June to October 2006. For the research, we selected six sampling sites in the field: two sites were controls with no influences of turbid water from the dam and other remaining four sites were the stations for an assessment of potential turbid effects. We evaluated integrative health conditions throughout applications of various models such as necropsy-based fish health assessment model (FHA), Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) using fish assemblages, and Qualitative Habitat Evaluation Index (QHEI). Laboratory tests on fish exposure under 400 NTU were performed to find out impact of turbid water using scanning electron microscope (SEM). Results showed that fine solid particles were clogging in the gill in the treatments, while particles were not found in the control. This results indicate that when inorganic turbidity increases abruptedly, fish may have a mechanical abrasion or respiratory blocking. The stream health condition, based on the IBI values, ranged between 38 and 48 (average: 42), indicating a "excellent" or "good" condition after the criteria of US EPA (1993). In the mean time, physical habitat condition, based on the QHEI, ranged 97 to 187 (average 154), indicating a "suboptimal condition". These biological outcomes were compared with chemical dataset: IBI values were more correlated (r=0.526, p<0.05, n=18) with QHEI rather than chemical water quality, based on turbidity (r=0.260, p>0.05, n=18). Analysis of the FHA showed that the individual health indicated "excellent condition", while QHEI showed no habitat disturbances (especially bottom substrate and embeddeness), food-web, and spawning place. Consequently, we concluded that the ecological health in downstream of Yongdam Dam was not impacted by the turbid water.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.146-165
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• 1973

Crop damages caused by sulfur dioxide poisoning were studied with respect to physiology of lesion, yield loss and prevention measures. The results are summarized as follows; 1. On the physiology of injury: The sulfur dioxide gas did no: affect the pH and $E_h$ values of the tested leaf juice of plants. Peroxidase activity was inhibited just after sulfur dioxide treatment but gradually recovered to normal after 10 hours. Methanolic chlorophyll solution was instantaneously and irreversibly bleached by the addition of sulfur dioxide gas with no evidence of pheophytin formation. It seems that chlorophyll forms colourless addition product or is reduced to colourless form with either sulfur dioxide gas or sulfurous acid. Chlorophyll in the chloroplast was also bleached by the sulfur dioxide treatment, as in the case of methanolic solution of chlorophyll, except that the rate of bleaching was rather slow, requiring 1-2 hours. It appears that the most inflicting cause of sulfur dioxide gas to plants may be the destruction of chlorophyll by the poisoning gas. 2. On the effects to crop yield: The crop yield losses were proportional to the concentration of inflicting sulfur dioxide gas. The order of tolerence of the crops to the sulfur dioxide gas was as follows - chinese cabbage being the most susceptible; wheat, paddy rice, barley, soybean, welsh onion, radish and chinese cabbage. The crucifer crops were generally found more susceptible than other crops studied. With respect to the growing stages of crops exposed to sulfur dioxide gas, it was found that the flowering stage was the most susceptible fellowed by panicle forming, milky and tillering in the decreasing order of susceptibility. 3. On the preventive measures of yield losses: Soil applications of potassium, wollastonite, lime or spray of lime water were effective to prevent yield losses from sulfur dioxide fumigation of paddy rice, barley, and soybeans. The most responsive treatment was lime water spray for all crops tested. In case of sulfur dioxide fumigated paddy rice, the lime water spray also increased carbon assimilation.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.123-134
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• 1979

For the purpose of developing a microbial insecticide utilizing Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner, research was done and the following results were obtained. 1) As the freeze-dried matter of the cocoon-cooked water discarded from the filature contains much crude protein(51.825%) and a lot of inorganic salts, it can make a good nutrition source for the culture cf B. thuringiensis Berliner. 2) Based on the suspensibility, formula F-5 turned out to be the most suitable for insecticidal use. Its composition includes 0.2 g of the cell-spore-crystal mixture, 25 g of 200-mesh kaolin, 2.5 g of New Kalgen-NX-150, and 2.5 g of glycerine admixed with 8 ml of distilled water and granulated in 80-mesh size. 3) All the components of F-5, F-6 and F-7 are identical except that the amounts of cell-spore-crystal mixture of F-5, F-6, and F-7 are 0.2 g, 0.4 g, and 0.6 g, respectively. Accordingly, their physical properties are almost all the same. 4) Formulas F-5, F-6, and F-7 exhibited an excellent toxicity to Anomis mesogona Walker, Dendrolimus spectabilis Butler, and Margaronia perspectalis Walker at the concentration of 5%. 5) Formulas F-8 and F-9 which contain $NaHCO_3$ as one of their components showed a remarkably reduced toxicity to Anomis mesogona Walker and Dendrolimus spectabilis Butler than F-6 which does not contain $NaHCO_3$. 6) A maximum of $2.97{\times}10^9$ spores per ml was obtained by incubating B. thuringiensis in M-3 which has a pH of 7.05 and comprises 0.2% of ammonium sulphate and 0.8% of glucose dissolved in the cocoon-cooked water, with aeration for 96 hours. 7) Formula F-6 exhibited a somewhat reduced toxicity to Anomis mesogona Walker and Dendrolimus spectabilis Butler, when stored at room temperature for 70 days after formulation and it is desirable to keep it in a dark and cold place. 8) In held applications, formula F-6 showed a good activity in controlling Monema flavescens Walker. Margaronia perspectalis Walker, and Macrosiphum ibarae Matsumura.