• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.578-588
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• 2017

Background: Elevated testicular temperature disrupts spermatogenesis and causes infertility. In the present study, the protective effect of enzymatically biotransformed Panax ginseng Meyer by pectinase (GINST) against chronic intermittent heat stress-induced testicular damage in rats was investigated. Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats (4 wk old, 60-70 g) were divided into four groups: normal control (NC), heat-stress control (HC), heat-stress plus GINST-100 mg/kg (HG100), and heat-stress plus GINST-200 mg/kg (HG200) treatment groups. Each dose of GINST (100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg) was mixed separately with a regular pellet diet and was administered orally for 24 wk. For inducing heat stress, rats in the NC group were maintained at $25^{\circ}C$, whereas rats in the HC, HG100, and HG200 groups were exposed to $32{\pm}1^{\circ}C$ for 2 h daily for 6 mo. At week 25, the testes and serum from each animal were analyzed for various parameters. Results: Significant (p < 0.01) changes in the sperm kinematic values and blood chemistry panels were observed in the HC group. Furthermore, spermatogenesis-related molecules, sex hormone receptors, and selected antioxidant enzyme expression levels were also altered in the HC group compared to those in the NC group. GINST (HS100 and HS200) administration significantly (p < 0.05) restored these changes when compared with the HC group. For most of the parameters tested, the HG200 group exhibited potent effects compared with those exhibited by the HG100 group. Conclusion: GINST may be categorized as an important medicinal herb and a potential therapeutic for the treatment of male subfertility or infertility caused by hyperthermia.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.316-321
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• 2004

We have performed copolymerizations of ethylene with 1-hexene using various ansa-metallocene compounds in the presence of the non-coordinative [CPh$_3$][B(C$\_$6/F$\_$5/)$_4$ion pair as a cocatalyst. The metallocenes chosen for this study are isospecific metallocene diamide compounds, rac-(EBI)Zr(NMe$_2$)$_2$ [1, EBI = ethylene-l ,2-bis(1-indenyl)], rac-(EBI)Hf(NMe$_2$)$_2$ (2), rac-(EBI)Zr(NC$_4$H$\_$8/)$_2$ (3), and rac-(CH$_3$)$_3$Si(1-C$\_$5/H$_2$-2-CH$_3$-4-$\^$t/C$_4$H$\_$9/)2 Zr(NMe$_2$)$_2$ (4), and syndiospecific metallocene dimethyl compounds, ethylidene(cyclopentadienyl)(9-fluorenyl) ZrMe$_2$ [5, Et(Flu)(Cp )ZrMe$_2$] and isopropylidence (cyclopentadienyl)(9-fluorenyl)ZrMe$_2$ [6, iPr(Flu)(Cp)ZrMe$_2$]. The copolymerization rate decreased in the order 4 ＞1-3＞2 ＞5＞6. The reactivity of I -hexene decreased in the order 2 ＞6＞1- 3-5＞ 4. We characterized the microstructure of the resulting poly(ethylene-co-l-hexene) by $\^$l3/C NMR spectroscopy and investigated various other properties of the copolymers in detail.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.135-142
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• 2019

Background: Panax ginseng Meyer, known as Korean Red Ginseng (KRG), is one of the important age-old traditional herbs used in boosting libido and improving male fertility. In this study, the effects of Rg3-enriched KRG extract (KGC04P) on heat stress-induced testicular damage in experimental rats was evaluated. Methods: Male rats (Sprague-Dawley) were divided into four groups (n = 10): normal control (NC), heat-stressed control (HC), heat-stressed plus KGC04P-100 mg/kg (HK100), and heat-stressed plus KGC04P-200 mg/kg (HK200) groups. Starting 1 week prior to heat stress, animals were administered orally with KGC04P (100 and 200 mg/kg) mixed with a regular pellet diet and continued for 25 weeks. Heat stress was induced to HC, HK100, and HK200 groups by intermittently exposing the animals to high temperatures ($32{\pm}1^{\circ}C$, 2 h/day). After 6 months, animals were euthanized under general anesthesia with carbon dioxide and evaluated for various parameters in serum and testicular tissue by using Western blotting, biochemical kits, and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Results: Significant (p < 0.05) alterations in several parameters, such as body/organ weight, sperm kinematics, and lipid metabolism marker levels, in the serum and testis of rats were observed. Further, the expression of testicular antioxidant enzymes, inflammatory cytokines, sex hormonal receptors, and spermatogenesis-related genes were also affected significantly (p < 0.05) in the heat-stressed group. However, KGC04P prevented the heat stress-induced changes in rats significantly (p < 0.05) at both concentrations. Conclusion: KGC04P attenuated heat stress-induced testicular damage by a multifunctional approach and can be developed as an excellent therapeutic agent for hyperthermia-mediated male infertility.

• Clean Technology
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.190-195
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• 2016

The thermal decomposition of waste energetic materials such as TNT, RDX and composition B in a commercial rotary kiln has previously been carried out. As part of the demilitarization process, the thermal decomposition of homogeneous double base propellant (DB) used in M8 and consisting predominantly of nitrocellulose and nitroglycerine is examined with respect to a number of operating conditions. A single condensed phase reaction with 4 species and 365 gas phase reactions and 59 species are considered. Simulation results show the sensitivity of the thermal decomposition of DB with temperature and velocity. At relatively low velocity with constant inlet hot air temperature, temperature in the rotary kiln was found to be highest, 953 K and 1300 K for cases 3 and 6 respectively. Illustrating that optimum operating temperature can be achieved by controlling the inlet velocity without additional cooling systems.