• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.92-100
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• 2016

Low-temperature conversion of nitrogen oxides using plasma-assisted hydrocarbon selective catalytic reduction of (HC-SCR) was investigated. Plasma was created in the catalyst-packed bed so that it could directly interact with the catalyst. The effect of the reaction temperature, the shape of catalyst, the concentration of n-heptane as a reducing agent, the oxygen content, the water vapor content and the energy density on $NO_x$ removal was examined. $NO_x$ conversion efficiencies achieved with the plasma-catalytic hybrid process at a temperature of $250^{\circ}C$ and an specific energy input (SIE) of $42J\;L^{-1}$ were 83% and 69% for one-dimensional Ag catalyst ($Ag\;(nanowire)/{\gamma}-Al_2O_3$) and spherical Ag catalyst ($Ag\;(sphere)/{\gamma}-Al_2O_3$), respectively, whereas that obtained with the catalyst-alone was considerably lower (about 30%) even with $Ag\;(nanowire)/{\gamma}-Al_2O_3$ under the same condition. The enhanced catalytic activity towards $NO_x$ conversion in the presence of plasma can be explained by the formation of more reactive $NO_2$ species and partially oxidized hydrocarbon intermediates from the oxidation of NO and n-heptane under plasma discharge. Increasing the SIE tended to improve $NO_x$ conversion efficiency, and so did the increase in the n-heptane concentration; however, a further increase in the n-heptane concentration beyond $C_1/NO_x$ ratio of 5 did not improve the $NO_x$ conversion efficiency any more. The increase in the humidity affected negatively the $NO_x$ conversion efficiency, resulting in lowering the $NO_x$ conversion efficiency at the higher water vapor content, because water molecules competed with $NO_x$ species for the same active site. The $NO_x$ conversion efficiency increased with increasing the oxygen content from 3 to 15%, in particular at low SIE values, because the formation of $NO_2$ and partially oxidized hydrocarbon intermediates was facilitated.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.1-25
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• 1996

The pathogenesis of atherosclerosis can not be summarized as a single process. Lipid infiltration hypothesis and endothelial injury hypothesis have been proposed and investigated. Recent developments show that there are many points of potential interactions between them and that they can actually be regarded as two phases of a single, unifying hypothesis. Among the many risk factors of atherosclerosis, plasma homocysteine and lipoprotein(a) draw a considerable interest because they are independent indicators of atherogenicity. Triglyceride (TG)-rich lipoproteins (chylomicron and VLDL) are not considered to be atherogenic but they are related to the metabolism of HDL cholesterol and indirectly related to coronary heart disease (CHD). LDL can of itself be atherogenic but the oxidative products of this lipoprotein are more detrimental. HDL cholesterol has been considered to be a favorable cholesterol. The so-called 'causalist view' claims that HDL traps excess cholesterol from cellular membranes and transfers it to TG-rich lipoproteins that are subsequently removed by hepatic receptors. In the so-called 'noncausalist view', HDL does not interfere directly with cholesterol deposition in the arterial wall but instead reflects he metabolism of TG-rich lipoproteins and their conversion to atherogenic remnants. Approximately 70-80% of the human population shows an effective feedback control mechanism in cholesterol homeostasis. Type of dietary fat has a significant effect on the lipoprotein cholesterol metabolism and atherosclerosis. Generally, saturated fatty acids elevate and PUFA lower serum cholesterol, whereas MUFA have no specific effect. EPA and DHA inhibit the synthesis of TG, VLDL and LDL, and may have favourable effects on some of the risk factors. Phospholipids, particularly lecithin, have an antiatherosclerotic effect. Essential phospholipids (EPL) may enhance the formation of polyunsaturated cholesteryl ester (CE) which is less sclerotic and more easily dispersed via enhanced hydrolysis of CE in the arterial wall. Also, neutral fecal steroid elimination may be enhanced and cholesterol absorption reduced following EPL treatment. Antioxidants protect lipoproteins from oxidation, and cells from the injury of toxic, oxidized LDL. The rationale for lowering of serum cholesterol is the strong association between elevation of plasma or serum cholesterol and CHD. Cholesterol-lowing, especially LDL cholesterol, to the target level could be achieved using diet and combination of drug therapy. Information on the link between cholesterol and CHD has decreased egg consumption by 16-25%. Some clinical studies have indicated that dietary cholesterol and egg have a significant hypercholesterolemic effect, while others have indicated no effect. These studies differed in the use of purified cholesterol or cholesterol in eggs, in the range of baseline and challenge cholesterol levels, in the quality and quantity of concomitant dietary fat, in the study population demographics and initial serum cholesterol levels, and clinical settings. Cholesterol content of eggs varies to a certain extent depending on the age, breed and diet of hens. However, egg yolk cholesterol level is very resistant to change because of the particular mechanism involved in yolk formation. Egg yolk contains a factor of factors responsible for accelerated cholesterol metabolism and excretion compared with crystalline cholesterol. One of these factors could be egg lecithin. Egg lecithin may not be as effective as soybean lecithin in lowering serum cholesterol level due probably to the differences of fatty acid composition. However, egg lecithin may have positive effects in hypercholesterolemia by increasing serum HDL level and excretion of fecal cholesterol. The association of serum cholesterol with egg consumption has been widely studied. When the basal or control diet contained little or no cholesterol, consumption of 1 or 2 eggs daily increased the concentration of plasma cholesterol, whereas that of the normolipemic persons on a normal diet was not significantly influenced by consuming 2 to 3 eggs daily. At higher levels of egg consumption, the concentration of HDL tends to increase as well as LDL. There exist hyper-and hypo-responders to dietary (egg) cholesterol. Identifying individuals in both categories would be useful from the point of view of nutrition guidelines. Dietary modification of fatty acid composition has been pursued as a viable method of modifying fat composition of eggs and adding value to eggs. In many cases beneficial effects of PUFA enriched eggs have been demonstrated. Generally, consumption of n-3 fatty acids enriched eggs lowered the concentration of plasma TG and total cholesterol compared to the consumption of regular eggs. Due to the highly oxidative nature of PUFA, stability of this fat is essential. The implication of hepatic lipid accumulation which was observed in hens fed on fish oils should be explored. Nutritional manipulations, such as supplementation with iodine, inhibitors of cholesterol biosynthesis, garlic products, amino acids and high fibre ingredients, have met a limited success in lowering egg cholesterol.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.172-183
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• 1999

Background: Nitric oxide is a short-lived effector molecule derived from L-arginine by the nitric oxide synthase(NOS). Nitric oxide plays a role in a number of physiologic and pathophysiologic functions including host defense, edema formation, and regulation of smooth muscle tone. Some kinds of cells including macrophage are known to produce large quantities of nitric oxide in response to inflammatory stimuli such as interleukin-$1\beta$(IL-$1\beta$), tumor necrosis factor-$\alpha$(TNF-$\alpha$), interferon-$\gamma$(IFN-$\gamma$) and lipopolysaccharide(LPS). Reactive oxygen species are also known to be important in the pathogenesis of acute cell and tissue injury such as acute lung injury model Methods: Using the RA W264.7 cells, we have examined the ability of oxidant hydrogen peroxide($H_2O_2$) to stimulate nitric oxide production and inducible NOS mRNA expression. Also, we have examined the effects of NOS inhibitors and antioxidants on $H_2O_2$ induced nitric oxide production. Results: Stimulation of RAW264.7 cells with combinations of 100 ng/ml IL-$1\beta$, 100 ng/ml TNF-$\alpha$, and 100 U/ml IFN-$\gamma$ or 100 U/ml IFN-$\gamma$ and $1{\mu}g/ml$ LPS induced the synthesis of nitric oxide as measured by the oxidation products nitrite($NO_2^-$) and nitrate($NO_3^-$). Addition of $250 {\mu}M-2$ mM $H_2O_2$ to the cytokines significantly augmented the synthesis of $NO_2^-$ and $NO_3^-$(p<0.05). When cells were incubated with increasing concentrations of $H_2O_2$ in the presence of IL-$1\beta$, TNF-$\alpha$ and IFN-$\gamma$ at constant level, the synthesis of $NO_2^-$ and $NO_3^-$ was dose-dependently increased(p<0.05). $N^G$-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester(L-NAME), dose dependently, significantly inhibited the formation of $NO_2^-$ and $NO_3^-$ in cells stimulated with LPS, IFN-$\gamma$ and $H_2O_2$ at constant level(p<0.05). Catalase significantly inhibited the $H_2O_2$-induced augmentation of cytokine-induced $NO_2^-$ and $NO_3^-$ formation(p<0.05). But, boiled catalase did not produce a significant inhibition in comparison with the native enzyme. Another antioxidant 2-mercaptoethanol and orthophenanthroline dose-dependently suppressed $NO_2^-$ and $NO_3^-$ synthesis(p<0.05). Northern blotting demonstrated that H:02 synergistically stimulated the cytokine-induced iNOS mRNA expression in RA W264.7. Conclusion: These results suggest that $H_2O_2$ contributes to inflammatory process by augmenting the iNOS expression and nitric oxide synthesis induced by cytokines.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.685-693
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• 2008

The rates of oxidative degradation of perchloroethene (PCE) and trichloroethene (TCE) using $KMnO_4$ solution were evaluated under the flow condition using a bench-scale transport experimental setup. Parameters which are considered to affect the reaction rates tested in this study were the contact time (or retention time), and the concentration of oxidizing agent. A glass column packed with coarse sand was used for simulating the aquifer condition. Contact time between reactants was controlled by changing the flow rate of the solution through the column. The inflow concentrations of PCE and TCE were controlled constant within the range of $0.11{\sim}0.21\;mM$ and $1.3{\sim}1.5\;mM$, respectively. And the contact time was $14{\sim}125$ min for PCE and $15{\sim}36$ min for TCE. The $KMnO_4$ concentration was controlled constant during experiment in the range of $0.6{\sim}2.5\;mM$. It was found that the reduction of PCE and TCE concentrations were inversely proportional to the contact time. The exact reaction order for the PCE and TCE degradation reaction could not be determined under the experimental condition used in this study. However, the estimated reaction rate constants assuming pseudo-1st order reaction agree with those reported based on batch studies. TCE degradation rate was proportional to $KMnO_4$ concentration. This was considered to be the result of using high inflow concentrations of reactant, which might be the case at the vicinity of the source zones in aquifer. The results of this study, performed using a dynamic flow system, are expected to provide useful information for designing and implementing a field scale oxidative removal process for PCE/TCE-contaminated sites.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.434-442
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• 2017

The UV light in sunlight breaks down the chemical bonds in a polyolefin polymer through a process called photodegradation, ultimately causing cracking, chalking, colour changes, and loss of physical properties such as impact strength, tensile strength, elongation, and others. UV absorbers are used to prevent or terminate the oxidation of plastics by UV light. They are receptive to UV radiation and dissipate the energy harmlessly as heat. Benzotriazoles and benzophenones are used mainly in polyolefins such as polyethylene and polypropylene. In this study, we have developed a method for the analysis of 12 UV absorbers, which are Uvinul 3000, Cyasorb UV 24, Uvinul 3040, Tinuvin 312 and P, Seesorb 202, Chimassorb 81, Tinuvin 329, 234, 326, 328 and 327, migrated from the food packaging materials into four food simulants for aqueous, acidic, alcoholic and fatty foods. The UV absorbers in food simulants were determined by reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatograph-ultraviolet detector with 310 nm after solid-phase extraction with a hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) cartridge or dilution with isopropanol. The analytical method showed a good linearity of coefficient ($R^2{\geq}0.99$), limits of detection (0.049~0.370 mg/L), and limits of quantification (0.149~1.120 mg/L). The recoveries of UV absorbers spiked to four food simulants ranged from 70.05% to 110.13%. The developed method would be used as a reliable tool to determine concentrations of the migrated UV absorbers.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.329-336
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• 2006

Iron manufacturing process involves production of various by-product including slag, sludge, sintering and EAF(Electric Arc furnace dust). Some of the by-products such as EAF and sintering dust are disposed of as waste due to their high heavy metal contents. It has been notice for many years that the EAF dust also contain about 65% of Fe(0) and Fe(II) and then the possible utilization of the iron. One possibility is to apply the EAF as a lining material in conjunction with clay or HDPE liners, in waste landfill. The probable reaction between the leachate containing toxic elements such as TCE, PCE dioxine and $Cr^{6+}$ is reduction of the toxic materials in corresponding to the oxidation of the reduced iron and therefore diminishing the toxicity of the leachate. It is, however, prerequisite to evaluate the leaching characteristics of the EAF dust before application. Amelioration of the leachate would be archived only when the level of toxic elements in the treated leachate is less than that of in the untreated leachate. Several leaching techniques were selected to cover different conditions and variable environments including time, pH and contact method. The testing methods include availability test, pH-stat test and continuous column test. Cr and Zn are potentially leachable elements among the trace metals. The pH of the EAF dust is highly alkaline, recording around 12 and Zn is unlikely to be leached under the condition. On the contrary Cr is more leachable under alkaline environment. However, the released Cr should be reduced to $Cr^{3+}$ and then removed as $Cr(OH)_3$. Removal of the Cr is observed in the column test and further study on the specific reaction of Cr and EAF dust is underway.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.162-169
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• 2014

In the course of study for the development of functional food using red beans (azuki beans, Phaseolus radiatus L.), the ethanol extracts from raw-red bean (RRB) and boiled-red bean (BRB) were prepared, and the components and various biological activities of both were compared. It was observed that the extraction yield, and the total polyphenol content, of the BRB were 1.2 times higher than that of the RRB. However, the contents of total flavonoid, total sugar and reducing sugar in the BRB were 30, 27.9 and 30.8% respectively when compared with those of RRB. In relation to antioxidative activity, both RRB and BRB exhibited moderate DPPH anion, ABTS cation, and nitrite scavenging activities and reducing power, though in all cases RRB demonstrated stronger activities than BRB. The extracts of RRB and BRB did not reveal any antimicrobial activities. In a ${\alpha}$-amylase inhibitory activity assay, RRB was higher than BRB, while BRB showed higher ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibitory activity than RRB. A strong and particular activity was observed in an anti-thrombosis activity assay of RRB. The extract of RRB demonstrated strong inhibitions against prothrombin and blood coagulation factors, with moderate thrombin inhibition. However, the extract of BRB did not exhibit any significant anti-thrombosis activity. Our results indicate that RRB has different, but useful biological activities, and loss or elimination of the biologically active substances in RRB occurs during the production of BRB. Therefore, to develop more functional foods from red beans, a study of suitable boiling, heating and drying processes is essential, and the efficient re-use of boiled waste water from the boiling process is necessary. These results could be applied to the further development of functional red bean beverages and sweat red bean pastes.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.279-290
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• 2016

The performance of upflow anaerobic bioelectrochemical reactor (UABE), equipped with electrodes (anode and cathode) inside the upflow anaerobic reactor, was compared to that of upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor for the treatment of acidic distillery wastewater. The UASB was stable in pH, alkalinity and VFAs until the organic loading rate (OLR) of 4.0 g COD/L.d, but it became unstable over 4.0 g COD/L.d. As a response to the abrupt doubling in OLR, the perturbation in the state variables for the UABE was smaller, compared to the UASB, and quickly recovered. The UABE stability was better than the UASB at higher OLR of 4.0-8.0 g COD/L.d, and the UABE showed better performance in specific methane production rate (2,076mL $CH_4/L.d$), methane content in biogas (66.8%), and COD removal efficiency (82.3%) at 8.0 g COD/L.d than the UASB. The maximum methane yield in UABE was about 407mL/g $COD_r$ at 4.0 g COD/L.d, which was considerably higher than about $282mL/g\;COD_r$ in UASB. The rate limiting step for the bioelectrochemical reaction in UABE was the oxidation of organic matter on the anode surface, and the electrode reactions were considerably affected by the pH at 8.0 g COD/L.d of high OLR. The maximum energy efficiency of UABE was 99.5%, at 4.0 g COD/L.d of OLR. The UABE can be an advanced high rate anaerobic process for the treatment of acidic distillery wastewater.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.80-87
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• 2008

Cementation and solvent extraction processes were studied to separate nickel and iron ions from the $H_2SO_4$ leaching solution with 47 g/L $Fe(Fe^{2+}/Fe^{3+}=1.03),$, 23.5 g/L Ni and 0.90M $H_2SO_4$ which leached from Fe-Ni alloy. Iron powder was used as a reducing agent for the cementation of Ni ion from the leaching solution. The reduction percentage of Ni ion was $17{\sim}20%$ by adding 4 times stoichiometric amount of iron powder at $60{\sim}80$. This may result from the fact that the cementation of Ni ion occurred after the reduction of $Fe^{3+}$ to $Fe^{2+}$ and the neutralization of $H_2SO_4$ with iron powder. The cementation process was proved to be unfeasible for the separation/recovery of Ni ion from the leaching solution including $Fe^{3+}$ as a major component. $Fe^{2+}$ present in the leaching solution was converted to $Fe^{3+}$ for solvent extraction of Fe ion using D2EHPA in kerosene as a extractant. The oxidation of $Fe^{2+}$ to $Fe^{3+}$ was completed by the addition of 1.2 times stoichiometric amount of 35% $H_2SO_4$. 99.6% $Fe^{3+}$ was extracted from the leaching solution (23.5 g/L $Fe^{3+}$) by 4 stages cross-current extraction using 20 vol.% D2EHPA in kerosene. $NiSO_4$ solution with 98.5% purity was recovered from the $H_2SO_4$ leaching solution of scrapped Fe-Ni alloy.

• Clean Technology
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.81-90
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• 2019

A dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma reactor packed with $Ni-CeO_2/{\gamma}-Al_2O_3$ catalyst was used for the dry ($CO_2$) reforming of propane (DRP) to improve the production of syngas (a mixture of $H_2$ and CO) and the catalyst stability. The plasma-catalytic DRP was carried out with either thermally or plasma-reduced $Ni-CeO_2/{\gamma}-Al_2O_3$ catalyst at a $C_3H_8/CO_2$ ratio of 1/3 and a total feed gas flow rate of $300mL\;min^{-1}$. The catalytic activities associated with the DRP were evaluated in the range of $500{\sim}600^{\circ}C$. Following the calcination in ambient air, the ${\gamma}-Al_2O_3$ impregnated with the precursor solution ($Ni(NO_3)_2$ and $Ce(NO_3)_2$) was subjected to reduction in an $H_2/Ar$ atmosphere to prepare $Ni-CeO_2/{\gamma}-Al_2O_3$ catalyst. The characteristics of the catalysts were examined using X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS), temperature programmed reduction ($H_2-TPR$), temperature programmed desorption ($H_2-TPD$, $CO_2-TPD$), temperature programmed oxidation (TPO), and Raman spectroscopy. The investigation revealed that the plasma-reduced $Ni-CeO_2/{\gamma}-Al_2O_3$ catalyst exhibited superior catalytic activity for the production of syngas, compared to the thermally reduced catalyst. Besides, the plasma-reduced $Ni-CeO_2/{\gamma}-Al_2O_3$ catalyst was found to show long-term catalytic stability with respect to coke resistance that is main concern regarding the DRP process.