• Advances in environmental research
• /
• 제9권4호
• /
• pp.275-284
• /
• 2020

We provide the first study on the occurrence of microplastics in Dal lake, Kashmir, India. Microplastics act as catastrophe that trigger many environmental problems. The key origins of microplastics are larger plastics, which split into smaller plastics after UV light disintegration. There is relatively little work carried out on the existence of microplastics. The present work has been undertaken on the occurrence of microplastics at four pre-selected sites (surface water) in Dal lake, Kashmir. The samples were taken to the laboratory to dissolve organic matter by using H2O2 (6%). To speed up the organic digestion; the treated mixture was heated on a hot plate at 70℃. The mixture was then subjected to density separation. The supernatant obtained was observed under the microscope (10X) and measurements were taken. At site-I, the microplastics ranged from 2-3 mm, site-II 5-6 mm, site-III 3-4 mm, site-IV 4-5 mm in thickness, indicating the presence of microplastics in the lake. The presence of microplastics indicated that the lake has undergone an anthropogenic change over a period of time. Our research highlights the value of enhancing the quality of the drainage system and sewage disposal. This work can be helpful to recognize successful microplastic control management techniques and possible threats associated with the Dal lake. So far, no such data on the presence of microplastics in Kashmir lakes is available.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
• /
• 제35권2호
• /
• pp.140-151
• /
• 2022

Background: Essential oils are of great interest for their analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. We aimed to study the content of the essential oil of the Origanum vulgare of the Armenian highlands (OVA) in different periods of vegetation and to investigate its antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects in mice (in vivo) and cytotoxic action in cultured cells (in vitro). OVA essential oil was extracted from fresh plant material by hydro-distillation. Methods: For OVA essential oil contents determination the gas chromatography-mass spectrometry method was used. Formalin and hot plate tests and analysis of cell viability using the methyl-thiazolyl-tetrazolium (MTT) assay were used. Results: The maximal content of β-caryophyllene and β-caryophyllene oxide in OVA essential oil was revealed in the period of blossoming (8.18% and 13.36%, correspondently). In the formalin test, 4% OVA essential oil solution (3.5 mg/mouse) exerts significant antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects (P = 0.003). MTT assay shows approximately 60% cytotoxicity in HeLa and Vero cells for 2.0 µL/mL OVA essential oil in media. Conclusions: The wild oregano herb of Armenian highlands, harvested in the blossoming period, may be considered as a valuable source for developing pain-relieving preparations.

• 한국의류산업학회지
• /
• 제24권1호
• /
• pp.127-137
• /
• 2022

Recently, various clothing items are being developed using 3D printing technology, but comfort has become an issue while wearing them for a long time. Therefore, this study researched on how the temperature and humidity of the devices developed by 3D printing change depending on the material combination. Five types of material combinations (EVA foam, TPU density 10%, TPU density 30%, EVA foam+TPU density 10%, and EVA foam+TPU density 30%) were selected as variables, and the experiment was conducted for two different cases with and without a cover. All the ten types of samples were placed on the hot plate set at 36℃, and the surface temperature and humidity were measured at three different points for 10 minutes. As a result, the case with only TPU showed the greatest temperature change while the case with 100% EVA foam showed the least temperature change. The humidity of the surface layer gradually decreased with time for 100% EVA foam. For the case with TPU materials, the moisture was transferred to the surface layer at first, thereby increasing the humidity but then dropped significantly. Meanwhile, the cases with the cover on showed similar tendencies of change in both temperature and humidity where the overall temperature and humidity delivery were slow.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
• /
• 제35권1호
• /
• pp.22-32
• /
• 2022

Background: Migraine headaches have been associated with sensory hyperactivity and anomalies in social/emotional responses. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the potential involvement of orexin 1 receptors (Orx1R) within the basolateral amygdala (BLA) in the modulation of pain and psychosocial dysfunction in a nitroglycerin (NTG)-induced rat model of migraine. Methods: Adult male Wistar rats were injected with NTG (5 mg/kg, intraperitoneal) every second day over nine days to induce migraine. The experiments were done in the following six groups (6 rats per group): untreated control, NTG, NTG plus vehicle, and NTG groups that were post-treated with intra-BLA microinjection of Orx1R antagonist SB-334867 (10, 20, and 40 nM). Thermal hyperalgesia was assessed using the hot plate and tail-flick tests. Moreover, the elevated plus maze (EPM) and open field (OF) tests were used to assess anxiety-like behaviors. The animals' sociability was evaluated using the three-chamber social task. The NTG-induced photophobia was assessed using a light-dark box. Results: We observed no change in NTG-induced thermal hyperalgesia following administration of SB-334867 (10, 20, and 40 nM). However, SB-334867 (20 and 40 nM) aggravated the NTG-induced anxiogenic responses in both the EPM and OF tasks. The NTG-induced social impairment was overpowered by SB-334867 at all doses. Time spent in the dark chamber of light-dark box was significantly increased in rats treated with SB-334867 (20 and 40 nM/rat). Conclusions: The findings suggest a role for Orx1R within the BLA in control comorbid affective complaints with migraine in rats.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
• /
• 제35권2호
• /
• pp.173-182
• /
• 2022

Background: Neurokinin-1 (NK1) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) play a vital role in pain pathogenesis, and these proteins' antagonists have attracted attention as promising pharmaceutical candidates. The authors investigated the anti-nociceptive effect of co-administration of the CGRP antagonist and an NK1 antagonist on pain models compared to conventional single regimens. Methods: C57Bl/6J mice underwent sciatic nerve ligation for the neuropathic pain model and were injected with 4% formalin into the hind paw for the inflammatory pain model. Each model was divided into four groups: vehicle, NK1 antagonist, CGRP antagonist, and combination treatment groups. The NK1 antagonist aprepitant (BIBN4096, 1 mg/kg) or the CGRP antagonist olcegepant (MK-0869, 10 mg/kg) was injected intraperitoneally. Mechanical allodynia, thermal hypersensitivity, and anxiety-related behaviors were assessed using the von Frey, hot plate, and elevated plus-maze tests. The flinching and licking responses were also evaluated after formalin injection. Results: Co-administration of aprepitant and olcegepant more significantly alleviated pain behaviors than administration of single agents or vehicle, increasing the mechanical threshold and improving the response latency. Anxiety-related behaviors were also markedly improved after dual treatment compared with either naive mice or the neuropathic pain model in the dual treatment group. Flinching frequency and licking response after formalin injection decreased significantly in the dual treatment group. Isobolographic analysis showed a meaningful additive effect between the two compounds. Conclusions: A combination pharmacological therapy comprised of multiple neuropeptide antagonists could be a more effective therapeutic strategy for alleviating neuropathic or inflammatory pain.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
• /
• 제21권5호
• /
• pp.418-421
• /
• 2022

Stir-accelerated corrosion test of a high chromium cast iron was attempted in 0.1 mol dm^-3 H₂SO₄ + 0.05 mol dm^-3 HCl + 10 wt% SiC solution for 48 h at room temperature or at 45 ℃. The high chromium cast iron was composed of 2.8 wt% C and 27 wt% Cr and balanced with Fe. The high chromium cast iron was positioned into a 500 mL beaker with stirring of the solution at 1050 rpm using a magnetic hot plate. The corrosion rate was increased by agitating the solution. In addition, the corroded depth of the high chromium cast iron surface was increased by agitating the solution. The surface morphology of the high chromium cast iron after the stir-accelerated corrosion test revealed that a dendritic austenite phase partially remained in the corroded region after agitating the solution, indicating that solution movement during agitating could accelerate the corrosion rate of the high chromium cast iron.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
• /
• 제32권4호
• /
• pp.18-26
• /
• 2004

변장 14 cm 재장 2.4 m인 대단면재의 전도가열, 고주파가열 및 복합가열에 의한 진공건조특성을 조사하였다. 건조속도는 복합가열에서 가장 컸고, 고주파가열에서 가장 적었다. 비에너지는 고주파가열에서 가장 컸고, 전도가열에서 가장 적었다. 진공건조목재의 횡단방향 함수율분포는 전도가열과 복합가열의 경우 불록한 형태를 나타냈으나, 고주파가열의 경우는 한쪽 표층에서 반대쪽 표층으로 향해 증가하는 경향을 나타내었다. 건조목재의 재장방향 함수율은 전도가열과 복합가열의 경우 횡단면이 중심부위보다 낮았고 고주파가열의 경우 횡단면이 중심보다 높았다. 표면할렬과 횡단면할렬은 전도가열진공건조에서 가장 심하였다. 내부할렬은 어떠한 가열방법에 의한 건조에서도 발생하지 않았다. 복합가열 진공건조 특성은 전도가열과 고주파가열간의 절충된 중간적 경향을 나타냈다.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
• /
• 제35권3호
• /
• pp.291-302
• /
• 2022

Background: Spinal cord injury (SCI) is one of the most debilitating disorders throughout the world, causing persistent sensory-motor dysfunction, with no effective treatment. Oxidative stress and inflammatory responses play key roles in the secondary phase of SCI. Naringenin (NAR) is a natural flavonoid with known anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties. This study aims at evaluating the effects of intrathecal NAR administration on sensory-motor disability after SCI. Methods: Animals underwent a severe compression injury using an aneurysm clip. About 30 minutes after surgery, NAR was injected intrathecally at the doses of 5, 10, and 15 mM in 20 µL volumes. For the assessment of neuropathic pain and locomotor function, acetone drop, hot plate, inclined plane, and Basso, Beattie, Bresnahan tests were carried out weekly till day 28 post-SCI. Effects of NAR on matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9 activity was appraised by gelatin zymography. Also, histopathological analyses and serum levels of glutathione (GSH), catalase and nitrite were measured in different groups. Results: NAR reduced neuropathic pain, improved locomotor function, and also attenuated SCI-induced weight loss weekly till day 28 post-SCI. Zymography analysis showed that NAR suppressed MMP-9 activity, whereas it increased that of MMP-2, indicating its anti-neuroinflammatory effects. Also, intrathecal NAR modified oxidative stress related markers GSH, catalase, and nitrite levels. Besides, the neuroprotective effect of NAR was corroborated through increased survival of sensory and motor neurons after SCI. Conclusions: These results suggest intrathecal NAR as a promising candidate for medical therapeutics for SCI-induced sensory and motor dysfunction.

• 한국의류산업학회지
• /
• 제25권4호
• /
• pp.497-507
• /
• 2023

This study measured the effect 3D printing products comprised of different materials and shapes on heat transfer in clothing to derive fundamental data on thermal comfort among clothing comfort. The variables were three types of material (EVA foam, TPU-10%, TPU-10%+EVA), two types of shape (without holes, with holes), and two types of covers(without cover, with cover). All samples (12 types) prepared by combining these variables were placed on the hot plate set at 36℃, and the surface temperature was measured at three points for 10 minutes. The surface temperature change was dependent on the material, shape, and cover of the sample. The sample printed with TPU exhibited higher temperature transfer compared to the EVA foam sample after 10 mins. In addition, the temperature transfer was better when there were holes, and rate decreased when the sample was covered with fabric. We confirmed that material selection of the pad and thermal conductivity of the cover are extremely important in solving thermal stress to the human body caused by functional clothing with protectors. Additionally, as the protector, it is recommended to design the outer shell with a passage, such as a hole, to allow the rapid transfer of heat to the external environment.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
• /
• 제36권2호
• /
• pp.163-172
• /
• 2023

Background: Synaptic plasticity contributes to nociceptive signal transmission and modulation, with calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMK II) playing a fundamental role in neural plasticity. This research was conducted to investigate the role of CaMK II in the transmission and regulation of nociceptive information within the nucleus accumbens (NAc) of naïve and morphine-tolerant rats. Methods: Randall Selitto and hot-plate tests were utilized to measure the hindpaw withdrawal latencies (HWLs) in response to noxious mechanical and thermal stimuli. To induce chronic morphine tolerance, rats received intraperitoneal morphine injection twice per day for seven days. CaMK II expression and activity were assessed using western blotting. Results: Intra-NAc microinjection of autocamtide-2-related inhibitory peptide (AIP) induced an increase in HWLs in naïve rats in response to noxious thermal and mechanical stimuli. Moreover, the expression of the phosphorylated CaMK II (p-CaMK II) was significantly decreased as determined by western blotting. Chronic intraperitoneal injection of morphine resulted in significant morphine tolerance in rats on Day 7, and an increase of p-CaMK II expression in NAc in morphine-tolerant rats was observed. Furthermore, intra-NAc administration of AIP elicited significant antinociceptive responses in morphine-tolerant rats. In addition, compared with naïve rats, AIP induced stronger thermal antinociceptive effects of the same dose in rats exhibiting morphine tolerance. Conclusions: This study shows that CaMK II in the NAc is involved in the transmission and regulation of nociception in naïve and morphine-tolerant rats.