• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.43-51
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• 2018

Hollow fiber (HF) membranes are gaining wide interest over flat membranes due to their compaction and high area to surface volume ratio. This work addresses the fabrication of HF from polysulfone (PS) and polyethersulfone (PES) using N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP) as solvent in addition to other additives to achieve desired characteristics. The semi-pilot spinning system includes jacketed vessel, four spinneret block, coagulation and washing baths in addition to dryer and winder. Different parameters affecting dry-wet spinning phase inversion process were investigated. Dope compositions of PES, NMP and polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) of varying molecular weights as additive were addressed. Some critical parameters of importance were also investigated. Those include dope flow rate, air gap, coagulation & washing baths and drying temperatures. The measured dope viscosity was in the range from 1.7 to 36.5 Pa.s. Air gap distance was adjusted from 20 to 45 cm and coagulation bath temperature from 20 to $46^{\circ}C$. The HF membranes were characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), atomic force microscope (AFM) and mechanical properties. Results indicated prevalence of finger like structure and average surface roughness from about 29 to 78.3 nm. Profile of stress strain characteristics revealed suitability of the fibers for downstream interventions for fabrication of thin film composite membrane. Different empirical correlations were formulated which enable deeper understanding of the interaction of the above mentioned variables. Data of pure water permeability (PWP) confirmed that the fabricated samples fall within the microfiltration (MF)-ultrafiltration (UF) range of membrane separation.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.273-281
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• 1987

In this work the antioxidant effects of browning reaction products prepared by xylose-tryrtophan reaction system were discussed. The antioxygenic brown pigments were separated by solvent extraction, and column chromatography and isolated by gel filteration. The functional groups of the brown pigments which had antioxidant activity were examined. The brown pigments extracted with methanol showed antioxidant effect and were fractionated in 5portions on DEAE-cellulose column. The elutes with methanol: acetic acid(10:30 v/v sol n(A), methanol: chloroform(95:5 v/v) sol n(C), and chloroform: acetic acid(10:30 v/v) sol n(E) only showed antioxidant activity and their compositions were 22.43, 21.51 and $34.43\%$ respectively. When each fraction on DEAE-cellulose column was reseparated on Sephadex LH-20 column, 2 fractions were obtained from portion A and C respectively. Molecular weights of A, C and E fraction of brown pigments were from 2,600 to 3,700. By elucidation of IR spectra, the pigment fractions which showed a strong antioxidant activity were tearing the indole group. It is suggested that the antioxidant function of the brown pigment is due to hydroxy and amino group. A higher activity of the brown pigment fraction E might be attributed to carboxylic acid or carboxylic ester compounds.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.159-165
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• 2010

Dipyridine-terminated polystyrenes and polybutadienes were synthesized by the chain endfunctionalization reaction of polystyryllithium (PSLi) and polybutadienyllithium (PBDLi) with di(2-pyridyl) ketone(DPK) using a living anionic polymerization method in the Ar-glove box. Living polymeric lithiums with low molecular weights (Mw=1000~2000 g/mol) were used to investigate the chain end-functionalization yield with DPK and the degree of coupling reaction by the attack of organolithium to the pyridine ring in the presence of TMEDA using GPC, $^1H$-NMR, $^{13}C$ analysis. DPK-terminated PBD exhibited much higher functionalization yield and less amount of coupling reaction compared with DPK-terminated PS. 86% functionalization yield with 9% degree of coupling was obtained when the PBDLi was added dropwise to DPK solution at room temperature. The functionalization yield was increased as the reaction temperature decreased, however, no LiCl effect was observed in this chain end-functionalization reaction with DPK.

• Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.109-115
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• 2001

Silk sericin protein was extracted by treatment with enzyme or NaOH solution from raw silk and culled-cocoon shell. The extracted sericin was characterized and examined the functional properties as well as subjective properties for its use as a soap and a body cleaner. The optimum extraction conditions on specimen are NaOH (0.02 wt.%) or enzyme, Flavourzyme 3% under N2 gas. Molecular weights of sericin was decreased by treatment with enzyme, Actinase, from 10,000-30,000 to 2,700-4,200. Sericin showed important bioactive properties, for instance, lowering effect on blood glucose and alcohol. Subjective test of sericin soap and body cleaner showed superior in washability, foamability, and skin hydration, etc., to commercial soap and body cleaner. Therefore, it is thought that silk sericin can be expected as the source of bioactive and skin-compatible materials.

• Current Research on Agriculture and Life Sciences
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• v.15
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• pp.83-91
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• 1997

Phenolic acids are regarded as harmful materials in food and environment science. But recently, regarded as useful materials by their characteristics which bind metal ions and have pharmaceutical effect. It was necessary to remove or recover phenolic acids from solutIon containing phenolic acids. Continuous fixed-bed adsorption was adapted in order to separate phenolic acids from diluted solution and the breakthrough curve was predicted by nonlinear curve fitting method. The larger bed length showed the longer breakpoint time and the slow mass transfer coefficient. Ferulic acid among the phenolic acids was passed through the breakpoint first and the second and. third were p-coumaric acid and gallic acid. These orders were caused by not only ionic strength between adsrobent and adsorbate but also molecular weights.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.522-527
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• 2008

Low molecular peptides were isolated from Asterias amurensis via SDS-PAGE. The peptides were separated via consecutive gel filtration as five fractions (F1-F5) according to molecular weights, based on the results of MALDI-TOF MS analysis. The molecular weight of the most active peptide was estimated as 15,000 daltons. The peptide showed cytotoxicity on normal human fibroblast cells at levels as low as 20% when 1.0 mg/mL of the samples was added. The peptide also exhibited higher levels of nitric oxide production from macrophages than the lipopolysaccaharides. It was determined that prostaglendin $E_2$ production was significantly inhibited, up to 127.8% as compared to the control. The low molecular peptide inhibited hyaluronidase activity as 535.7 ${\mu}g/mL$ of $IC_{50}$. It can be concluded that the relatively low molecular weight peptide, fucoidan, from A. amurensis has excellent cosmetic and immunomodulatory activities, which can be considered as a possible resource of new cosmetic agents for skin immunomodulation.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.483-490
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• 2002

The aim of this study was to determine if a low-molecular weight casein hydrolysate has an anti- hypertensive effect in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Prior to the in vivo experiment, the casein hydrolysate was confirmed to be resistant to gastrointestinal digestion by confirming the retention of its potency as an inhibitor of angiotensin I-concerting enzyme after incubation with pepsin, trypsin, or chymotrypsin. The in vivo anti-hypertensive effect of the hydrolysate was determined by the tail cuff method. Following an oral administration of the hydrolysate solution, the systolic blood pressure (SBP) decreased by 12.9% (－28.9mmHg; P<0.05) at 3 h after the administration at a dose of 500mg/kg body weight. When the hydrolysate was administered as an emulsion with 30% egg yolk, its anti-hypertensive effect was even more greater at the same dose(－30.8mmHg or －15.9%; P<0.01). In a 50-day long-term trial where the casein hydrolysate was administered once a day, the SBP-lowering effect of the hydrolysate was apparent (P<0.05) from day 35 through the end. Moreover, organ weights and plasma glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase and glutamate pyruvate transaminase activities of the administered SHR were not significantly different from those of controls at the end of the long-term trial.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.203-209
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• 2006

Ethane 1,2-Dimethane sulfonate(EDS), a toxin which specifically kills Leydig cells(LC), has been widely used to prepare the reversible testosterone(T) depletion rat model. Previous studies including our own clearly demonstrated that the dramatic weight loss of the T-dependent accessory sex organs such as epididymis and seminal vesicle in this 'LC knock-out' rats. These weight loss could be derived from massive and abrupt death of the cells via apoptotic process. The present study was performed to test the effect of EDS administration on the expression of some apoptotic genes in the rat epididymis. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats($300{\sim}350$ g B.W.) were injected with single dose of EDS(75 mg/kg, i.p.) and sacrificed on Weeks 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7. Tissue weights and the numbers of the epididymal sperm were measured. The transcriptional activities of the bcl-2, bax, Fas and Fas ligand(Fas-L) were evaluated by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. As expected, the weights and the sperm counts of epididymis declined progressively after the EDS treatment during Week 1 and 2. These decrements were discontinued with a gradual return towards normal during Weeks $5{\sim}7$, although the maximal recoveries of the epididymal weights(71%) and sperm count(38%) were subnormal on Week 7. The initial level of bcl-2 transcripts persisted to Week 6 then elevated significantly on Week 7. The level of bax transcripts significantly decreased on Week 6, and no remarkable change was found in the rest of the experimental period. The transcripts for the Fas in epididymis elevated during Weeks $1{\sim}2$, returned to normal on Week 3, and the level persisted to the Week 7. Similarly, the level of Fas-L transcripts elevated during Weeks $1{\sim}3$ and returned to normal after Week 4. Our results demonstrated the transient T depletion by EDS administration could induce the changes in expression of the apoptotic genes in rat epididymis. The activation of Fas and Fas-L in the epididymis of EDS-treated rats might be responsible for the initial apototic process and consequently the tissue damage and the sperm loss. Future studies will attempt to determine the precise molecular mechanism(s) of apoptosis in the rat epididymis.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.333-339
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• 2014

Exendin-4 (Ex-4), a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonist, has been known to reverse hepatic steatosis in ob/ob mice. Although many studies have evaluated molecular targets of Ex-4, its mechanism of action on hepatic steatosis and fibrosis has not fully been determined. In the liver, glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) is mainly expressed in hepatocytes, endothelial cells and hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). In the present study, the effects of Ex-4 on GLUT4 expression were determined in the liver of ob/ob mice. Ob/ob mice were treated with Ex-4 for 10 weeks. Serum metabolic parameters, hepatic triglyceride levels, and liver tissues were evaluated for hepatic steatosis. The weights of the whole body and liver in ob/ob mice were reduced by long-term Ex-4 treatment. Serum metabolic parameters, hepatic steatosis, and hepatic fibrosis in ob/ob mice were reduced by Ex-4. Particularly, Ex-4 improved hepatic steatosis by enhancing GLUT4 via GLP-1R activation in ob/ob mice. Ex-4 treatment also inhibited hepatic fibrosis by decreasing expression of connective tissue growth factor in HSCs of ob/ob mice. Our data suggest that GLP-1 agonists exert a protective effect on hepatic steatosis and fibrosis in obesity and type 2 diabetes.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Crop Science Conference
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• 2017.06a
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• pp.124-124
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• 2017

Cadmium (Cd) is of particular concern because of its widespread occurrence and high toxicity and may cause serious morpho-physiological and molecular abnormalities in in plants. The present study was performed to explore Cd-induced morpho-physiological alterations and their potentiality associated mechanisms in Sorghum bicolor leaves at the protein level. Ten-day-old sorghum seedlings were exposed to different concentrations (0, 100, and $150{\mu}M$) of $CdCl_2$, and different morpho-physiological responses were recorded. The effects of Cd exposure on protein expression patterns in S. bicolor were investigated using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) in samples derived from the leaves of both control and Cd-treated seedlings. The observed morphological changes revealed that the plants treated with Cd displayed dramatically altered shoot lengths, fresh weights, and relative water content. In addition, the concentration of Cd was markedly increased by treatment with Cd, and the amount of Cd taken up by the shoots was significantly and directly correlated with the applied level of Cd. Using the 2-DE method, a total of 33 differentially expressed protein spots were analyzed using MALDI-TOF/TOF MS. Of these, treatment with Cd resulted in significant increases in 15 proteins and decreases in 18 proteins. Significant changes were absorbed in the levels of proteins known to be involved in carbohydrate metabolism, transcriptional regulation, translation and stress responses. Proteomic results revealed that Cd stress had an inhibitory effect on carbon fixation, ATP production and the regulation of protein synthesis. In addition, the up-regulation of glutathione S-transferase and cytochrome P450 may play a significant role in Cd-related toxicity and stress responses. Our study provides insights into the integrated molecular mechanisms involved in response to Cd and the effects of Cd on the growth and physiological characteristics of sorghum seedlings. The upregulation of these stress-related genes may be candidates for further research and use in genetic manipulation of sorghum tolerance to Cd stress.