• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.11
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• pp.1819-1825
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• 2006

Four naphthalene-degrading bacteria (Pseudomonas sp. strains O1, W1, As1, and G1) were isolated feom pollutant-contaminated sites. Examination of their substrate utilization and analyses of key naphthalene-catabolic regulatory genes revealed that the pathway and regulation of naphthalene-degradation in all four strains resemble those of NAH7 from P. putida G7. Superoxide anion production, superoxide dismutase activity, and catalase activity during their growth on naphthalene-amended medium increased significantly, compared with those with glucose-amended medium. Addition of ascorbate, an antioxidant, or ferrous iron ($Fe^{2+}$) increased the growth rates of all tested microorganisms on naphthalene. Northern blot and HPLC analyses showed that both nahA gene expression and naphthalene degradation increased under those conditions. Our data suggest that naphthalene degradation can impose severe oxidative stress, and defenses against oxidative stress would play an important role in the metabolism of naphthalene.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.798-804
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• 2012

Although siderophores are induced primarily in response to iron deficiency, soil and other ecological factors can affect on this process. This study was to evaluate the production of siderophores by different fungal species isolated from heavy metal contaminated and uncontaminated soils. More than thirty fungal strains were isolated from heavy metal contaminated and rhizosphere uncontaminated soils. Chrome azurol sulfonate (CAS) was used for both quantitative and qualitative evaluation of siderophores production. No significant correlations were observed between the tested variables such as ultraviolet (UV) irradiation method and CAS-agar plate and heavy metal concentration in both soils. The production of siderophores in rhizosphere fungi was higher than those isolated from the contaminated soil; however, the difference was not significant. The siderophore production (%) by fungi isolated from heavy metal contaminated soil using UV irradiation method was positively correlated with the qualitative values using CAS-plate method (P<0.05). Pearson correlation test indicated a positive correlation between the quantitative and qualitative methods of detection for fungi isolated from rhizosphere and also those isolated from heavy metal contaminated soil.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.98-105
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• 1983

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of Zn and Pb concentration on seed germination and plant growth in water and soil culture, and the frequency of chlorosis invegetation and the relationship between plants and soil in the Sambo mine. The inhibition of germination were observed in 1000ppm of Zn, 10ppm of Pb and 5000ppm of Zn + Pb, but germination was more stimulated in 10ppm of Zn than control. The symptoms of chlorosis and abnormality were occurred in plant leaves grown to the soils treated with more than 1000ppm of Pb. Reasons of chlorosis were considered as an antagonistic effect of other metals towards uptake of iron by the plant in Zn treatment. The contents of Zn and Pb in fruits were lower than those of leaves, and that was remarked in case of Pb. With increasing rate of Zn and Pb treatment, chemical components of soils in pot culture were accompanied by slight decrease in pH, total nitorgen and exchangeable K. Chlorotic individuals of 10 species were shown in the areas of the Sambo mine. Chlorotic symptoms were especially extensive and severe in Sophora angustifolia, Populus alba, Spiraea prunifolia, Amorpha fruticota, Lespedeza bicolor and Salix dependens. Plants in the investigated areas grew in soils containing Zn of 311ppm and Pb of 151ppm on an average, and accumulated Zn of 2084ppm and Pb of 49ppm.

• Proceedings of the Korean Environmental Sciences Society Conference
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• 1998.10a
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• pp.1-1
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• 1998

Advanced (Chemical) oxidation processes (AOP) differ from most conventional ones in that hydroxyl radical(OH.) is considered to be the primary oxidant. Hydroxyl radicalcan react non-selectively with a great number of organic and inorganic chemicals. The typical rate constants of true hydroxyl radical reactions are in the range of between 109 to 1012 sec-1. Many processes are possible to generate hydroxyl radical. These include physical and chemical methods and their combinations. Physical means involves the use of high energy radiation such as gamma ray, electron beam, and acoustic wave. Under an applied high energy radiation, water molecules can be decomposed to yield hydroxyl radicals or aqueous electrons. Chemical means include the use of conventional oxidants such as hydrogen peroxide and ozone, two of the most efficient oxidants in the presence of promoter or catalyst. Hydrogen peroxide in the presence of a catalyst such as divalent iron ions can readily produce hydroxyl radicals. Ozone in the presence of specific chemical species such as OH- or hydrogen peroxide, can also generate hydroxyl radicals. Finally the combination of chemical and physical means can also yield hydroxyl radicals. Hydrogen peroxide in the presence of acoustic wave or ultra violet beam can generate hydroxyl radicals. The principles for hydroxyl radical generation will be discussed. Recent case studied of AOP for water treatment and other environmental of applications will be presented. These include the treatment of contaminated soils using electro-Fenton, lechate treatment with conventional Ponton, treatment of coal for sulfur removal using sonochemical and the treatment of groundwater with enhanced sonochemical processes.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.274-280
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• 2020

The marine sediment sustains from the anoxic condition due to increased nutrients of external sources. The nutrients are liberated from the sediment, which acts as an internal source. In hypoxic environments, anaerobic respiration results in the formation of several reduced matters, such as N₂ and NH₄⁺, N₂O, Fe²⁺, H₂S, etc. The experimental results have shown that nitrogen and sulfur played an influential, notable role in this biogeochemical cycle with expected chemical reductions and a 'diffusive' release of present nutrient components trapped in pore water inside sediment toward the bulk water. Nitate/ammonium, sulfate/sulfides, and ferrous/ferric irons are found to be the key players in these sediment-waters mutual interactions. Organonitrogen and nitrate in the sediment were likely to be converted to a form of ammonium. Reductive nitrogen is called dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium and denitrification. The steady accumulation in the sediment and surplus increases in the overlying waters of ammonium strongly support this hypothesis as well as a diffusive action of the involved chemical species. Sulfate would serve as an essential electron acceptor so as to form acid volatile sulfides in present of Fe³⁺, which ended up as the Fe²⁺ positively with an aid of the residential microbial community.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.2 no.6
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• pp.253-259
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• 2003

Zirconium based alloys have been extensively used as a cladding material for fuel rods in nuclear reactors, due to their low thermal neutron absorption cross-section, excellent corrosion resistance and good mechanical properties at high temperatures. However, a cladding material for fuel rods in nuclear reactors was contact water during long time at high-temperature, so it is necessary to improve the wear and corrosion resistance of the fuel cladding, At ambient environment, there are few data or paper on the characteristic of corrosion in chloride solution and acidic solution. The specimens used in this work are pure Zr and Zircaloy-4. Zircaloy-4 is a specific zirconium-based alloy containing, on a weight percent basis, 1.4% Sn, 0.2% Fe, 0.1% Cr. Pitting corrosion resistance of two alloys by ASTM G48 is higher than that of electrochemical method. Passive film formed on Zircaloy-4 is mainly composed of $ZrO_2$, metallic Sn, and iron species regardless of formation environments. Also, passive film formed on Zr alloys shows n-type semiconductic property on the base of Mott-Schottky plot.

• Journal of the Semiconductor & Display Technology
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.99-105
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• 2022

Public attention to the indoor environment of underground subway stations, which is a representative multi-use facility, has been increasing along with the increase in indoor activities. In underground stations, fine iron oxide, which affects the health of users, is generated because of the friction between wheels and rails. Among particulate pollutant reduction technologies, plants have been considered as a non-chemical air purification method, and their effects in reducing certain chemical species have been identified in previous studies. The present study aimed to derive the total quantitative and qualitative reduction effects of a bio-filter system comprising air purifying plants, installed in an underground subway station. The experiment proceeded in two ways. First, PM(particulate matter) reduction effect by vegetation biofilter was monitored with the IAQ(indoor air quality) station. In addition, chemical speciation analysis conducted on the samples collected from the experimental and control areas where plants and irrigation using SEM-EDS(scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy). This study confirmed the effect of the vegetation bio-filter system in reducing the accumulation of particulate pollutants and transition and other metals that are harmful to the human body.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.526-535
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• 2023

Breast cancer is the most common cancer and a frequent cause of cancer-related deaths among women wordlwide. As therapeutic strategies for breast cancer have limitations, novel chemotherapeutic reagents and treatment strategies are needed. In this study, we investigated the anti-cancer effect of synthetic homoisoflavane derivatives of cremastranone on breast cancer cells. Homoisoflavane derivatives, SH-17059 and SH-19021, reduced cell proliferation through G2/M cell cycle arrest and induced caspase-independent cell death. These compounds increased heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and 5-aminolevulinic acid synthase 1 (ALAS1), suggesting downregulation of heme. They also induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and lipid peroxidation. Furthermore, they reduced expression of glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4). Therefore, we suggest that the SH-17059 and SH-19021 induced the caspase-independent cell death through the accumulation of iron from heme degradation, and the ferroptosis might be one of the potential candidates for caspase-independent cell death.

• BMB Reports
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• v.56 no.11
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• pp.575-583
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• 2023

Mitochondria, fundamental cellular organelles that govern energy metabolism, hold a pivotal role in cellular vitality. While consuming dioxygen to produce adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the electron transfer process within mitochondria can engender the formation of reactive oxygen species that exert dual roles in endothelial homeostatic signaling and oxidative stress. In the context of the intricate electron transfer process, several metal ions that include copper, iron, zinc, and manganese serve as crucial cofactors in mitochondrial metalloenzymes to mediate the synthesis of ATP and antioxidant defense. In this mini review, we provide a comprehensive understanding of the coordination chemistry of mitochondrial cuproenzymes. In detail, cytochrome c oxidase (CcO) reduces dioxygen to water coupled with proton pumping to generate an electrochemical gradient, while superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) functions in detoxifying superoxide into hydrogen peroxide. With an emphasis on the catalytic reactions of the copper metalloenzymes and insights into their ligand environment, we also outline the metalation process of these enzymes throughout the copper trafficking system. The impairment of copper homeostasis can trigger mitochondrial dysfunction, and potentially lead to the development of copper-related disorders. We describe the current knowledge regarding copper-mediated toxicity mechanisms, thereby shedding light on prospective therapeutic strategies for pathologies intertwined with copper dyshomeostasis.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.177-189
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• 2009

Iron (oxyhydr)oxides commonly form as secondary minerals of high reactivity and large surface area resulting from alteration and weathering of primary minerals, and they are efficient sorbents for inorganic and organic contaminants. Accordingly, they have a great potential in industrial applications and are also of substantial interest in environmental sciences. Goethite (${\alpha}$-FeOOH) is one of the most ubiquitous and stable forms of iron (oxyhydr)oxides in terrestrial soils, sediments, and ore deposits, as well as a common weathering product in rocks of all types. This study focused on adsorption reaction as a main mechanism in scavenging arsenic using goethite. Goethite was synthesized in the laboratory to get high purity, and a variety of mineralogical and physicochemical features of goethite were measured and related to adsorption characteristics of arsenic. To compare differences in adsorption reactions between arsenic species, in addition, a variety of experiments to acquire adsorption isotherm, adsorption edges, and adsorption kinetics were accomplished. The point of zero charge (PZC) of the laboratory-synthesized goethite was measured to be 7.6, which value seems to be relatively higher, compared to those of other iron (oxyhydr)oxides. Its specific surface area appeared to be $29.2\;m^2/g$ and it is relatively smaller than those of other (oxyhydr)oxides. As a result, it was speculated that goethite shows a smaller adsorption capacity. It is likely that the affinity of goethite is much more larger for As(III) (arsenite) than for As(V) (arsenate), because As(III) was observed to be much more adsorbed on goethite than As(V) in equivalent pH conditions. When the adsorption of each arsenic species onto goethite was characterized in various of pH, the adsorption of As(III) was largest in neutral pH range (7.0~9.0) and decreased in both acidic and alkaline pH conditions. In the case of As(V), the adsorption appeared to be highest in the lowest pH condition, and then decreased with an increase of pH. This peculiarity of arsenic adsorption onto goethite might be caused by macroscopic electrostatic interactions due to variation in chemical speciation of arsenic and surface charge of goethite, and also it is significantly affected by change in pH. Parabolic diffusion model was adequate to effectively evaluate arsenic adsorption on goethite, and the regression results show that the kinetic constant of As(V) is larger than that of As(III).