• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.572-580
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• 2018

Objectives: Human biomonitoring (HBM) is a measurement of the chemicals and their metabolites in human biological samples and has been successfully employed to determine the exposure levels of environmental chemicals. In this study, we analyzed seasonal variations of the blood or urinary levels of chemicals, and assessed that these differences could affect the results of association study. Methods: The Korea National Environmental Health Survey (KoNEHS) is a nationwide survey that analyzes exposure levels of environmental pollutants, 19 kinds of chemicals including heavy metals and organic chemicals, and the exposure factors in the general population. Based on KoNEHS data, we analyzed the levels of chemicals concentrations over the total survey period (2012-2014) and each season, and assessed the association of thyroid measures with phthalate metabolite and BPA. Results: Exposure levels of blood mercury and lead were lower in summer compare to winter. Bisphenol A and PAHs metabolites were higher in spring and summer, but lower in autumn. VOCs metabolites were generally lower in summer and autumn. Phthalate metabolites were higher in all other seasons than in winter. Pyrethroid metabolite, 3-PBA, was higher in summer and autumn. Regarding seasonal variation of chemical exposures, the statistical significance and size of effects between thyroid measures and phthalate and BPA were changed with season. Conclusion: Seasonal variations of chemical exposure and health outcome should be considered for interpreting biomonitoring results from a public health context.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.330-336
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• 2005

Objectives : The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of bisphenol A (BPA), an estrogen-like environmental endocrine disrupter, on the placental function and reproduction in rats. The mRNA levels of the placental prolactin-growth hormone(PRL-GH) gene family, placental trophoblast cell frequency and reproductive data were analyzed. Methods : The pregnancies of F344 Fisher rats ($160g{\pm}20g$) were detected by the presence of the copulatory plug or sperm in the vaginal smear, which marked Day 0 of pregnancy. Pregnant rats were divided into three groups. The control group was intraperitoneally injected with a sesame oil vehicle. The two remaining groups were injected with 50 or 500 mg/kg B.W/day of BPA, resuspended in sesame oil, on either days 7 to 11 or 16 to 20 of pregnancy, with the rats sacrificed on either day 11 or 20, respectively. The mRNA levels of PRL-GH and Pit-1a and b isotype genes were analyzed by Northern blot hybridization and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. The hormone concentrations were analyzed by radioimmunoassay, and the frequency of the placental trophoblast cells observed by a histochemical study. Reproductive data, such as the placental weight and litter size, were surveyed on day 20. The fetal weight was surveyed for 4 weeks after birth. A statistical analysis was carried out using the SAS program (version 8.1). Results : The mRNA levels of the PRL-GH gene family, such as placental lactogen I, Iv and II, prolactin like protein A, C and Cv, and decidual prolactin-related protein were significantly reduced due to BPA exposure. The mRNA levels of the Pit-1a and b isotype genes, which induce the expression of the PRL-GH gene family in the rat placenta, were also reduced due to BPA exposure. The PL-Iv and PL-II concentrations were reduced in the BPA exposed group. During the middle to last stage of pregnancy (Days 11-20), a high dose of BPA exposure reduced the frequency of spongiotrophoblast cells, which are responsible for the secretion of the PRL-GH hormones. Reproductive data, such as the placental and fetal weights and the litter size, were reduced, but that of the pregnancy period was extended in the BPA exposed compared to the control group. Conclusions : BPA disrupts the placental functions in rats, which leads to reproductive disorders.

• The Korean Journal of Rheology
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.50-56
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• 1999

Melt blends of polyamide 6 (PA 6) with polyester elastomer (PEL) were prepared in a corotating twin screw extruder using two types of coupling agent(CA), viz. diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) and 1,4-phenylene bis(2-oxazoline) (PBO). Notched impact strength of PA 6 as well as PA 6/PEL blends increased with the addition of coupling agent, especially with DGEBA and the maximum impact toughening of the blend was obtained with 0.6%(by mol) DGEBA, where a minimum domain size was observed from SEM. Melt viscosities of the untreated blends were higher than those of base resins at low frequencies. Viscosities of base resins as well as blends increased with the addition of CA, and the effect was much more pronounced with DGEBA, especially for PA 6 and PA 6-rich blends.

• Clean Technology
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.57-67
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• 2005

Epoxy resins are produced by the dehydro condensated reaction with ECH (Epichlorohydrin) and BPA(Bisphenol-A) as raw reactants under sodium hydroxide(NaOH) as a catalyst, and from this reaction, salted water named of brine, which contains ECH derivatives in condition of emulsion as likely as glycidol and polymer resins, is produced as an undesired side product. This brine water is alkaline wastewater and causes process fouling problems by plugging and chemically depositing polymer particles on the surface of inner wall of reactors and pipes, and decreases the biodegradable efficiency in the wastewater process. In this study, the optimization of coagulation and sediment reactions, using inorganic and organic polymer coagulants, were performed to remove the causes occurring the process fouling phenomena. And also, based on this study, the methodologies applicable to the commercial processes including economical analysis were presented.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.10 no.7
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• pp.1046-1051
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• 1999

Cure behavior and thermal stability of the different ratio of diglycidylether of bisphenol A(DGEBA)/trimethylolpropane triglycidylether(TMP) epoxy blends initiated by 1 wt % N-benzylpyrazinium hexafluoroantimonate (BPH) as a cationic latent catalyst were studied using DSC and TGA, respectively. Latent properties were performed by measurement of the conversion as a function of temperature using dynamic DSC. Dynamic DSC thermograms of DGEBA/TMP blends revealed that the weak peak was formed by complex formation between the hydroxyl groups in DGEBA and BPH, and between epoxides and BPH in low temperature ranges. The strong peak was considered as an exothermic reaction by the formation of three-dimensional network in high temperature ranges. Isothermal DSC revealed that the reaction rate of the blends was found to be higher than that of the neat TMP. The thermal stabilities in the cured resins were increased with increasing the DGEBA content. These results could be interpreted in terms of the stable aromatic structure, existence of hydroxyl group and high molecular weight of DGEBA.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.257-263
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• 2011

BPA, a diphenyl compound containing groups, that make it structurally similar to synthetic estrogen and is considered as one of the major endocrine disruptors. Silymarin has extensively been used to prevent and/or alleviate some human disease, especially for the treatment of adverse liver conditions. It has an antioxidative efficacy and cancer preventive efficacy. Therefore, we examined the hypothesis that silymarin can inhibit BPA-induced toxicity in boar sperm duing in vitro storage. Sperm characteristics (motility, viability, membrane integrity and mitochondrion activity) in semen exposed to BPA (10~200 uM) were sharply lowered, while it increase in a dose and time dependent manner due to silymarin addition (50~200 uM) into semen extender in the presence of BPA (100 uM). All of the evaluated characteristics were gradually improved in the groups that were treated with silymarin (50~200 uM) in the presence of BPA (100 uM) in comparison to BPA 100 uM alone group, irrespective of incubation periods (3 and 6 h). These results demonstrate that silymarin can ameliorate the toxicity of BPA on boar sperm characteristics during in vitro storage, suggesting that silymarin indirectly act as an antioxidant.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.131-140
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• 2001

Objective: To know the effects of xenoestrogen on spermatogenesis, we investigated the expression of cytochrome P450s enzymes (CYPscc, $CYP_{17{\alpha}}$, CYP19) and $3{\beta}$-HSD genes involved in steroidogenesis. Methods: Mouse testicular cells were prepared from 15-day-old ICR mice which had only pre-meiotic germ cells by enzyme digestion using collagenase and trypsin. Testicular cells were cultured in DMEM supplemented with FSH (0.1 IU/ml) and 10% FBS or medium with estrogen ($E_2$), bisphenol-A (BPA), octylphenol (OP; $10^{-9},\;10^{-7},\;10^{-6},\;10^{-5},\;10^{-4}M$, respectively) and aroclor 1254 (A1254) known as PCBs for 48 hours. The gene expression of cytochrome P450 enzymes were examined by semi-quantitive RT-PCR. The production of estrogen and testosterone was examined by RIA. Results: As results, expression of CYPscc mRNA was not significantly decreased, but $3{\beta}$-HSD and $CYP_{17{\alpha}}$. mRNA were significantly dose-dependent decreased. And production of testosterone and estrogen were not different except BPA and OP group ($10^{-5}M$). Conclusion: BPA, OP and A1254 might inhibit steroidogenesis by decreasing CYPscc, $3{\beta}$-HSD and $CYP_{17{\alpha}}$. mRNA expression in the mouse testis. These results suggest that BPA, OP and PCBs like as an endocrine disruptors inhibit the productions of steroidogenic enzymes and decrease the production of T and E by negative feedback mechanism. Therefore, these might disrupt steroidogenesis in Leydig cells of testis and would disturb testicular function and subsequently impair spermatogenesis.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.526-531
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• 2007

This paper reports the first results of a series of planarization film study for the stainless steel (SS) substrates for flexible displays. Diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) and octa(dimethylsiloxypropylglycidylether) silsesquioxane (OG) were chosen for the organic and the hybrid epoxies respectively and diaminodiphenylmethane (DDM) was used as a curing agent at 1:2 stoichiometric ratio. These materials were spin-coated on SS substrates and thermal-cured. TGA study indicated that both the pristine and the cured OG were more thermally stable than DGEBA. AFM study showed that the smooth surfaces of $1{\sim}2\;nm$ roughness can be prepared for both DGEBA and OG when the films were thick ($>\;1\;{\mu}$). The electrical properties such as dielectric constant, capacitance and the leakage current with respect to the applied voltage were all stable even after the stress of $100\;V/100^{\circ}C$ was applied for $0{\sim}10000$ seconds indicating that the insulating properties of DGEBA and OG films were very reliable.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.499-505
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• 2018

We applied column experiments to investigate the environmental fate and transport of silver nanoparticles(AgNPs) in fully saturated conditions of porous media. These column experiments were performed to emphasize oxidation method with $H_2O_2$ concentration and acidic conditions. The mobility of AgNPs was decreased with the increasing ionic strength that the surface charge of AgNPs(zeta potential) was neutralized with the presence of positive ions of $Na^+$. Additionally, it was also affected due to that not only more increased aggregated size of AgNPs and surface charge of quartz sand. The decreased breakthrough curves(BTCs) of bisphenol-A(BPA) and $17{\alpha}$-ethynylestradiol(EE2) were removed approximately 35.3 and 40%. This is due to that endocrine disrupting chemicals(EDCs) were removed with the release of $OH{\cdot}$ radicals by the fenton-like mechanisms from acidic and fenton-like reagent presenting. This results considered that higher input AgNPs with acidic conditions is proved to realistic in-situ oxidation method. Overall, it should be emphasized that a set of column experiments employed with adjusting pH and $H_2O_2$ concentration in proved to be effective method having potential ability of in-situ degradation for removing organic contaminants such as BPA and EE2.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.209-216
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• 2007

The present study investigated anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activity of glycoprotein isolated from Morus Indica Linne (MIL glycoprotein). We found that MIL glycoprotein has a molecular weight of 32 kD and consists of carbohydrate (40.03%) and protein (59.97%), and that it has a strong scavenging activity against 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), hydroxyl radical $({\cdot}OH)$, and superoxide anion $(O_2{\cdot}\;^-)$ radicals. In addition, MIL glycoprotein had a stable character and an optimal DPPH radical scavenging activity in the alkaline and neutral pH solution, and up to at 105. However, the results indicated that it has a minimal scavenging activity in the metal ionic solution ($Ca^{2+}$, $Mn^{2+}$, and $Mg^{2+}$) in the presence of EDTA. In addition, we further investigated whether MIL glycoprotein scavenges oxygen radicals and blocks inflammation-related signals in the bisphenol A (BPA)-stimulated Raw 264.7 cells. The results in this study showed that it has a character to scavenge the productions of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO) dose-dependently. Also it blocked the activities of inflammation-related signals such as nuclear factor-kappa B ($NF-{\kappa}B$) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). For example, it had an inhibitory effect on the activation of $NF-{\kappa}B$ (p50) and iNOS proteins at 200 ${\mu}g/mL$ MIL glycoprotein. Here, we speculate that MIL glycoprotein is one of natural antioxidants and of modulators of the BPA-induced inflammation.