• Proceedings of the Korea Committee for Ocean Resources and Engineering Conference
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• 2004.11a
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• pp.7-12
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• 2004

Desalination system of revers osmosis(RO) membrane has been proven to be the most economical not only for the desalination of water containing salts, but also for the concentration of solute. RO membranes were traditionally made of inorganic polymers such. as cellulose acetate(CA), Polyamide(PA). To retain more minerals in deep ocean water, a new hybrid membrane composed of tourmaline film as organic material onto inorganic layer of CA polymer in asymmetric structure was developed for RO membrane process. The performance tests were carried out in the permeability of pure water and the rejection of NaCl solution to evaluate the adaptability for DOW desalination. The results of these basic tests show possibility to apply the new hybrid RO membrane for the desalination with function control.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.613-619
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• 2011

Colloidal silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have been commercialized as the typically stabilized form via the addition of a variety of surfactants or polymers. Herein, to examine the effects of stabilizing AgNPs in suspension, we modified the surface of bare AgNPs with four type of surfactants (NaDDBS, SDS, TW80, CTAB) and polymers (PVP, PAA, PAH, CMC). The modified AgNPs was applied to compare suspension stability and nanotoxicity test using Escherichia coli (E. coli) as a model organism. Modification of AgNPs surface using chemical stabilizer may be not related with molecular weight, but chemical structure such as ionic state and functional group of stabilizer. In this study, it is noteworthy that AgNPs modified with a cationic stabilizer (CTAB, PAH) were importantly toxic to E. coli, rather than anionic stabilizers (NaDDBS, SDS). Comparing similar anionic stabilizer, i.e., NaDDBS and SDS, the result showed that lipophilicity of chemical structure can affect on E. coli, because NaDDBS, which contains a lipophilic benzene ring, accelerated the cytotoxicity of AgNPs. Interestingly, none of the stabilizers tested, including biocompatible nonionic stabilizers (i.e., TW80 and cellulose) caused a reduction in AgNP toxicity. This showed that toxicity of AgNPs cannot be reduced using stabilizers.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.33 no.10
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• pp.1384-1389
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• 2023

This work aimed to evaluate the feasibility of biohydrogen production from Barley Straw and Miscanthus. The primary obstacle in plant biomass decomposition is the recalcitrance of the biomass itself. Plant cell walls consist of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin, which make the plant robust to decomposition. However, the hyperthermophilic bacterium, Caldicellulosiruptor bescii, can efficiently utilize lignocellulosic feedstocks (Barley Straw and Miscanthus) for energy production, and C. bescii can now be metabolically engineered or isolated to produce more hydrogen and other biochemicals. In the present study, two strains, C. bescii JWCB001 (wild-type) and JWCB018 (ΔpyrFA Δldh ΔcbeI), were tested for their ability to increase hydrogen production from Barley Straw and Miscanthus. The JWCB018 resulted in a redirection of carbon and electron (carried by NADH) flow from lactate production to acetate and hydrogen production. JWCB018 produced ~54% and 63% more acetate and hydrogen from Barley Straw, respectively than its wild-type counterpart, JWCB001. Also, 25% more hydrogen from Miscanthus was obtained by the JWCB018 strain with 33% more acetate relative to JWCB001. It was supported that the engineered C. bescii, such as the JWCB018, can be a parental strain to get more hydrogen and other biochemicals from various biomass.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.116-125
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• 2010

The thermotropic liquid crystalline behavior of the homologous series of combined-type liquid crystalline polymers, tri-O-{4-(4'-cyanophenylazo)phenoxy}alkyl celluloses (CACETn, where n, the number of methylene units in the spacer, is 2~10) have been investigated. The CACETn with n of 5 and 7 exhibited enantiotropic nematic phases, while other polymers showed monotropic nematic phases. The isotropic-nematic transition temperature($T_{iN}$) increased when n is increased up to 4, but it decreased with increasing n more than 5. The entropy change at $T_{iN}$ also reaches a minimum at n=5, before it increases again for n=6. The sharp change at n=5 may be attributed to the difference in arrangement in the side groups. The nematic-crystalline transition temperatures, in contrast with $T_{iNS}$, exhibited a distinct odd-even effect, suggesting that the average shape of the side chains in the crystalline phase is different from that in the nematic phase. The mesophase properties of CACETn were significantly different from those reported for tri-O-alkyl celluloses and poly[1-{4-(4'-cyanophenylazo)phenoxyalkyloxy}ethylene]s. The results were discussed in terms of the difference in the chemical structures of the main and side chains and the number of the mesogenic units per repeating unit.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.321-337
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• 1994

The garbage from the dwelling houses was composted in two kinds of small composter in laboratory to investigate the possibility of garbage composting. They were general small composters. One (type 1) was insullated but the other (type 2) was not. Because it was found that type 2 was not available for composting under our meteorological conditions through winter experiment, only type 1 was tested in spring and summer. The experiment was performed for 8 weeks in each season. The seasonal variation of several compounds in compost was evaluated and discussed. The result summarized belows are those taken at the end of the experiment, if the time was not specified. 1) The maximum temperature was $58^{\circ}C$ in spring, $57^{\circ}C$ in summer and $41^{\circ}C$ in winter. This temperature was enough to destroy the pathogen except for winter. 2) The mass was reduced to average 62.5% and the volume reduction was avergae 74%. 3) The density was estimated as 0.7kg/l in spring, 0.8kg/l in summer and 1.1kg/l in winter. 4) The water content was not much changed for composting periods. It had 75.6% in spring and 76.6% in summer and winter. 5) There was a great seasonal difference in pH value. It was reached to pH 6.13 in spring, pH 8.62 in summer and pH 4.75 in winter. 6) The faster organic matter was decomposed, the greater ash content was increased. Cellulose and lignin content were increased, but hemicellulose content was reduced during composting period. 7) Nitrogen contents were in the range of 3.1-5.6% and especially high in summer. After ammonium nitrogen contents were increased at the early stage of composting period, they were decreased. The maximum ammonium nitrogen content was 3,243mg/kg after 2 weeks in winter, 6,053mg/kg after 3 weeks in spring and 30,828mg/kg after 6 weeks in summer. C/N-ratios were not much changed. Nitrification occurred actively in spring and summer. 8) The contents of volatile and higher fatty acids were increased in early stage of composting and reduced after that. The maximum content of total fatty acid was 10.1% after 2 weeks in winter, 5.8% after 2 weeks in spring and 15.7% after 4 weeks in summer. 9) The contents of inorganic compounds were not accumulated as composting was proceeded. They were in the range of 0.9-4.4% $P_2O_5$, 1.6-2.9% $K_2O$, 2.4-4.6% CaO and 0.30-0.80% MgO. 10) CN and heavy metal contents did not show any tendency. They were in the range of 0.11-28.99mg/kg CN, 24-166mg/kg Zn, 5-129mg/kg Cu, 0.8-14.3mg/kg Cd, 7-42mg/kg Pb, ND-30mg/kg Cr and $ND-132.16\;{\mu}g/kg$ Hg.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.36 no.11
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• pp.1391-1398
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• 2007

We performed a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial to determine whether Laminaria japonica extract (LJE) supplement modulates blood glucose, serum lipids and antioxidant systems in type II diabetic patients. We also measured critical parameters assessing safety in liver and kidney functions after LJE supplement. A total of 37 patients (18 males and 19 females) were randomized to either LJE group or placebo group. The treatment group received four 350 mg of LJE capsules (1.4 g, total) per day for 12 weeks. The placebo group received the same dose of cellulose capsules. Baseline characteristics regarding general life style and dietary intake pattern were similar between the two groups. There were no significant influences of LJE supplement except for waist circumference on anthropometric parameters. As the whole, 12 weeks of LJE supplement resulted in a little decrease in fasting blood glucose (FBG) and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), but a significant decrease was not observed. Total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations were significantly (p<0.05) lowered in LJE group. The antioxidant enzymes, glutathion peroxidase (GSH-px) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels were elevated in the LJE group (p<0.05) compared to the placebo. The increase of these enzymes was associated significantly with the decrease of MDA concentration (p<0.05). Furthermore, LJE supplement showed no adverse effects on the functions of liver and kidney. Findings from this study suggest that LJE supplement can help improve serum lipid status in type II diabetic subjects without adverse effects.

• Proceedings of the Membrane Society of Korea Conference
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• 2002.07a
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• pp.1-12
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• 2002

Desalination by reverse osmosis (RO), which first entered commercial use in the 1970s, was initially mainly used for treating brackish water. Technological progress led to the development of an RO membrane enabling single-pass seawater desalination. Toyobo succeeded in developing a single-pass seawater desalination RO module composed of hollow fiber type membranes made of cellulose triacetate in 1978, and then in 1979 began production of the first commercially available double-element module. This double-element module has many advantages suitable for seawater desalination. It has high chlorine tolerance and high salt rejection, derived from the properties of the membrane material, and it is highly resistant to fouling and scaling matters due to the unique flow pattern and fiber bundle configuration. These advantages help to explain why the Toyobo double-element module has been used so successfully at the many seawater desalination plants around the world. Since the 1980s, large plants capable of desalinating several tens of thousands of cubic meters a day have sprung up around the Mediterranean and In the Middle East. The Jeddah RO Phase I Plant, which has a capacity of 56, 800m$^3$/day, went into operation in 1989. In 1994, the same sized Phase II Plant came on stream, giving the plant a huge total capacity of 113, 600m$^3$/day. The plant constructor Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI), and the RO membrane manufacturer Toyobo Co., Ltd. In 1998, the world's largest RO seawater desalination plant in operation, which has a capacity of 128, 000m$^3$/day and is run by Saudi Arabia's Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC), went into operation at Yanbu. RO seawater desalination technology has thus already reached the stage of full-scale commercial use. In order to encourage its wider use, however, RO desalination needs to be made more economical by lowering construction and water treatment costs. Toyobo has therefore developed a new economical RO desalination system by a recovery ratio of 60% using a high-pressure module with a high product flow rate. In 2000, Toyobo high recovery membrane module was selected for the largest seawater desalination plant in Japan, which has a capacity of 50, 000m$^3$/day.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.28-37
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• 1993

An endo-type cellulase, carboxymethyl cellulase(CMCase) IV, was purified from culture filtrate of cellulolytic fungus Penicillium verruculosum. The CMCase IV was acidic glycoprotein having carbohydrate of 13% as glucose and pI value of 4.0. The CMCase IV was 52 KDa of molecular weight in SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and have optimum temperature and pH of $50^{\circ}C$ and 5.0 for enzyme activity. The CMCase IV liberated glucose and cellobiose as major products of the enzyme against carboxymethyl cellulose(CMC) and seemed to has transglycosylation activity simultaneously. Cellulase activity staining(zymogram) showed that the cellulase components of P. verruculosum were not aggregated in the medium. P. vrttuculosum mRNA was translated in vitro and translation product by the mRNA coding for CMCase IV was identified by immunoprecipitation.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.303-311
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• 1997

Proliposomal patch of clenbuterol, ${\beta}_2-agonist$ bronchodilator, was prepared and its feasibility as a novel transdermal drug delivery system was examined. Proliposomal granules containing clenbuterol was prepared by a standard method using sorbitol and lecithin with (Rx 2) or without cholesterol (Rx 1). The porous structure of sorbitol in the proliposomes was maintained allowing tree flowability of the granules. Following contact with water, the granules were converted probably to liposomes almost completely within several minutes. It indicates that proliposomes may be hydrated, when they are applied on the skin under occlusive condition in vivo, by the sweat to form liposomes. Clenbuterol release from Rx 1 and Rx 2 proliposomes to pH 7.4 isotonic phospate buffer (PBS) across cellulose membrane (mol. wt. cut-off of 12000-14000) was retarded significantly compared with that from the mixture of clenbuterol powder and blank proliposomes. Interestingly, proliposomes prepared with lecithin and cholesterol (i.e., Rx 2 proliposomes) showed much more retarded release of clenbuterol than proliposomes prepared only with lecithin (i.e.. Rx 1 proliposomes), indicating that clenbuterol release from proliposomes can be controlled by the addition of cholesterol to the proliposomes. Proliposomal patches were prepared using PVC film as an occlusive backing sheet, two sides adhesive tape (urethane, 1.45 mm thickness) as a reservoir for proliposome granules and Millipore MF-membrane (0.45 mm pore size) as a drug release-controlling membrane. Rx 1 or Rx 2 proliposomes containing 4.6 mg of clenbuterol were loaded into the reservoir of the patch. Clenbuterol release from the patches to pH 7.4 PBS was determined using USP paddle (50 rpm)-over-disc release method. Clenbuterol release from the proliposomal patches was much more retarded even than from a matrix type clenbuterol patch (Boehringer Ingelheim ltd). Being consistent with clenbuterol release from the proliposomal granules, the release from the patches was highly dependent on the presence of cholesterol in the proliposomes : Patches containing Rx 2 proliposomes showed several fold slower drug release than patches containing Rx 1 proliposomes. When the patch containing Rx 1 proliposomes was applied on to the back of a hair-removed rat, clenbuterol concentration in the rat blood was maintained during 6-72 hrs. Transdermal absorption of clenbuterol from the patch was accelerated when the patch was prehydrated with 50 ml of pH 7.4 PBS before topical application. Above results indicate that sustained transdermal delivery of clenbuterol is feasible using proliposomal patches if the cholesterol content and pore size of the release rate-controlling membrane of patches, for example, are appropriately controlled.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.23 no.4 s.75
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• pp.340-347
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• 1995

Polysaccharide FHW was extracted from the fruiting bodies of Fomitella fraxinea with hot-water treatment and then fractionated into FHW-I and FHW-II on DEAE-Cellulose chromatography. FHW-I and FCW-II were further purified into FHW-Ia and Ib, FHW-IIa and IIb on gel permeation chromatography, respectively. A small amount of uronic acid was detected and glucose, galactose, fucose, and mannose were found to be main sugars in the polysaccharides. Protein was detected in FHW-Ia, FHW-IIa, and FHW-IIb, but not in FHW-Ib. FHW-Ia was identified to be a fuco-gluco-mannogalactan with molecular weight of 19,000 and FHW-Ib was a gluco-fuco-mannogalactan of 15,000. FHW-IIa and FHW-IIb were galacto-mannoglucan and their molecular weights were estimated to be 31,000 and 9,000, respectively. Both FHW-Ib and FHW-IIb did not show an absorption band characteristic of the ${\beta}-glycosidic$ linkage in IR spectra. FHW-IIb showed a strong immuno-stimulating activity but the other three polysaccharides showed a weak activity.