• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.10-21
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• 2021

Objectives: Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a progressive pathological condition characterized by excessive proliferation of the prostate. In this study, we evaluated the effect of Corni Fructus water extract (CF) on the promotion of prostate cell proliferation by dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Methods: The effect of CF on the proliferation of LNCaP prostate cells was evaluated, and DHT was treated to induce an in vitro BPH model. To study the mechanism of inhibition of cell proliferation and BPH by CF, changes in the expression of key factors related to cell cycle and BPH were investigated. We further investigated the effect on the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO) to evaluate the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory efficacy of CF. Results: Inhibition of LNCaP cell proliferation by CF was associated with decreased expression of cyclin D1 and cyclin A and increased expression of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21. CF also suppressed expression of BPH inducing factors such as 5α-reductase type 2 and androgen receptor (AR) as well as prostate specific antigen (PSA). Furthermore, CF significantly blocked DHT-induced LNCaP cell proliferation and effectively attenuated DHT-induced expression of BPH mediators and cyclins. In addition, CF inhibited DHT-induced oxidative and inflammatory reactions by inhibiting production of ROS and NO. Conclusion: Our results demonstrated that CF probably acted as 5α-reductase type 2 inhibitor, preventing the 5α-reductase type 2-AR signaling pathway, thereby reducing the conversion of testosterone to DHT and the expression of PSA, which is at least correlated with the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of CF.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.31 no.11
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• pp.1501-1507
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• 2021

Lagerstroemia ovalifolia Teijsm. & Binn. (LO) (crape myrtle) has reportedly been used as traditional herbal medicine (THM) in Java, Indonesia. Our previous study revealed that the LO leaf extract (LOLE) exerted anti-inflammatory effects on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages. Based on this finding, the current study aimed to evaluate the protective effects of LOLE in a mouse model of LPS-induced acute lung injury (ALI). The results showed that treatment with LPS enhanced the inflammatory cell influx into the lungs and increased the number of macrophages and the secretion of the inflammatory cytokines in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of mice. However, these effects were notably abrogated with LOLE pretreatment. Furthermore, the increase of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) expression in the lung tissues of mice with ALI was also reversed by LOLE. In addition, LOLE significantly suppressed the LPS-induced activation of the MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathway and led to heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) induction in the lungs. Additionally, in vitro experiments showed that LOLE enhanced the expression of HO-1 in RAW264.7 macrophages. The aforementioned findings collectively indicate that LOLE exerts an ameliorative effect on inflammatory response in the airway of ALI mice.

• Conservation Science in Museum
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• v.27
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• pp.67-90
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• 2022

A C-46 transport aircraft, which can be thought of as a large cultural heritage item from the modern period, was subjected to paint analysis and conservation treatment in preparation for its exhibition. The C-46 is the first aircraft ever dispatched to overseas combat zones by the Korean Air Force and carried out missions during the Vietnam War. The aircraft is mainly made of aluminum and shows signs of corrosion on its surface, including pitting and etching, as well as gray and white powdery attachments. In the analysis of the paint, diatomite(SiO₂·nH₂O) was confirmed in the red paint, titanium dioxide(TiO₂) was identified in the white paint, black iron oxide(Fe₃O₄) was detected in the black paint, and colcothar(Fe₃O₄) mixed with putty was confirmed in the blue paint. Infrared spectroscopy revealed the use of alkyd resin in the paint on the main body and nitrocellulose in the Taegeuk pattern. During the conservation treatment, mechanical cleaning, such as sanding, was conducted to remove paint and varnish from the surface. Corrosion was removed by sanding and cleaning with chemical solvents, and new paints and varnishes were applied. Through the paint analysis and conservation treatment, the aircraft was made available for exhibition in a stable condition.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.66 no.3
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• pp.209-217
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• 2022

We have developed photosensitive electrochromic smart windows that does not require any transparent conducting oxide (TCO) substrate. In our previous study, we demonstrated that a flexible film-type device made with a low temperature curing WO₃ sol and TiO₂ sol could show a reversible and rapid switching between colored and bleached state via incorporation of platinum catalysts on the surface of WO₃ layer. However, when these devices were exposed to sunlight over 4 hour, it was confirmed that they did not return to fully bleached state in the darkened state due to their overcoloring process. In this study, we added 4-hydroxy-(2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidin-1-yl)oxyl (TEMPOL) as an additive to the electrolyte of photosensitive electrochromic device to effectively prevent the undesired overcoloring process. The resulting device with TEMPOL indeed did not undergo excessive coloration and showed great reversibility even after being exposed to sunlight for over 4 hours. Various concentrations of TEMPOL were applied to compare changes in the visible transmittance and coloring/bleaching kinetics of devices. In terms of energetic point of view, we proposed a plausible mechanism of TEMPOL to prevent excessive coloration.

• Conservation Science in Museum
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• v.27
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• pp.125-146
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• 2022

The Wooden Gamsil with Inscription of "Botajeon" in the collection of the Dongguk University Museum was made in imitation of the wooden architecture style of the late Joseon period. The Gamsil had suffered exfoliation in the pigment and loss of components and thus underwent conservation treatment. Prior to the conservation treatment, the damage was classified by type and form, scientific analysis was carried out on the fiber and the species of wood, and portable X-ray fluorescence (P-XRF) analysis was conducted for the pigment component analysis. According to the analyses, Korea Pine(Soft pine) was used for most parts of the Gamsil, Manchurian walnut (Jugalns spp.) was used for the signboard, and the fiber used was identified as rice straw (Oryza sativa). The P-XRF identified white lead and zinc oxide in the white pigment, red lead in the red pigment, ultramarine blue in the blue pigment, and emerald green in the green pigment. For the conservation treatment, contaminants attached to the gamsil were removed by both dry and wet cleaning, detached parts were reattached in their original places, and lost parts were restored.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.108-114
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• 2022

In this study, the antioxidant effect of black sea ginseng containing a large amount of eicosapentaenoic acid, a natural physiologically active substance, was investigated, and its superiority as a functional cosmetic raw material was presented. The ability of the sea cucumber extract to remove active oxygen was evaluated for the inhibitory effect on intracellular nitric oxide (NO) production. The physiologically active substances of sea cucumber have an antioxidant effect that removes free radicals, and as a result of evaluation, it was confirmed that excellent NO production was suppressed. Studies have shown that bioactive substances are involved in antioxidant effects, immune and inflammatory response regulation by showing high antioxidant efficacy even at low concentrations. It is thought that the antioxidant removal ability of sea cucumber greatly contributes to the antioxidant efficacy of phenolic components containing EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) of the sea cucumber extract. It was found to be similar to the report that the antioxidant component of sea cucumber works. In addition, it is excellent for wound healing with the eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) component contained in a large amount of sea cucumber extract, which has been proven to be involved in the inhibitory effect of inflammatory activity. As a result of this study, it was confirmed that the effect of the phenol component contained in the sea cucumber extract had a close causal relationship with the antioxidant activity.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.289-296
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• 2021

In this study, 27 inorganic sunscreens and 23 sunscreens for children were collected to investigate the use and incorporation of 17 types of sunscreen agents, 13 types of preservatives, and 5 types of heavy metals. As a result, sunscreen agents were detected in the order of titanium dioxide (41 cases), zinc oxide (29 cases), bis-ethylhexyloxyphenyltriazine (10 cases), ethylhexyl salicylate (8 cases), and ethylhexylmethoxynamate (8 cases), and preservatives were detected in order of phenoxyethanol (6 cases), benzoic acid (1 case), and dihydroacetic acid(1 case). All of the identified sunscreen agents were suitable for labeling, but phenoxyethanol, a preservative component other than labeling, was detected at a concentration of 0.1%. Heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, arsenic, antimony, and nickel were not detected or were detected at various concentrations of less than 3.6 ㎍/g. All the detected UV filters, preservatives, and heavy metals were less than the allowed maximum amount stipulated by the Regulations on Cosmetic Safety Standards in Korea.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.65 no.2
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• pp.113-120
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• 2022

We examined the anti-inflammatory properties of Nostoc commune HCW0811 in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophage cells. The anti-inflammatory activity of HCW0811 on viability of treated cells was assessed by measuring the level of expression of NO, prostaglandin E₂ and pro-inflammatory cytokines, namely interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α in HCW0811 treated RAW 264.7 macrophages. HCW0811 was non-toxic to cells and inhibited the production of cytokines in a concentration-dependent manner. In addition its treatment suppressed the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines in a dose-dependent manner, and concomitantly decreased the protein expressions of inducible NO synthase and cyclooxygenase-2. Moreover, the levels of the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase family proteins such as extracellular signal-regulated kinase, c-Jun N-terminal kinase, p38, and nuclear factor kappa B were reduced by HCW0811. These findings suggest that the HCW0811 collected from Daejeon National Cemetery have anti-inflammatory effects, and demonstrated its efficacy in cell-based in vitro assays.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.59-77
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• 2022

Currently, the design reference temperature of the buffer material for disposing of high-level radioactive waste is less than 100℃, so if the heat dissipation capacity of the buffer material is improved, the spacings of the disposal tunnel and the deposition hole in the repository can be reduced. First of all, this study tries to analyze the criteria for thermal-hydraulic-mechanical performance of the buffer materials and to investigate the researches regarding the enhanced buffer materials with improved thermal conductivity. First, the thermal conductivity should be as high as possible and is affected by dry density, water content, temperature, mineral composition, and bentonite type. the organic content of the buffer material can have a significant effect on the corrosion performance of a canister, so the organic content should be low. In addition, hydraulic conductivity of the buffer material should be less than that of near-field rock and swelling pressure should be appropriate for buffer materials to function properly. For the development of enhanced buffer materials, additives such as sand, graphite, and graphite oxide are typically used, and a thermal conductivity can be greatly improved with a very small amount of graphite addition compared to sand.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.318-325
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• 2022

In this study, composites containing undoped and barium-doped Bi₂WO₆:Ba²⁺were investigated for their shielding against diagnostic X-ray. At first, Bi₂WO₆ and barium-doped Bi₂WO₆ were synthesized with different weight percentages of barium oxide through a hydrothermal process. The as-synthesized nanostructures were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and Raman spectroscopy (RS). After that, some shields were generated with undoped and barium-doped Bi₂WO₆:Ba²⁺ nanostructure particles incorporated into polyvinyl chloride (PVC) polymer with different thicknesses and 15% weight of the nanostructure. Finally, the prepared samples were exposed to an X-ray tube at 40, 80, and 120 kV voltages, 10 mAs and, 44.5 cm SID (i.e. the distance from the X-ray beam source to the specimen). Linear and mass attenuation coefficients were also calculated for different samples. The results indicated that, among the samples, the one with 7.5 mmol barium-doped Bi₂WO₆ had the most attenuation at the voltage of 40kV, and the attenuation coefficients would increase with an increase in the amount of barium. The samples with 15 and 17.5 mmol barium-doped Bi₂WO₆ had higher attenuation than the others at 80 and 120 kV. Moreover, the half-value layer (HVL), tenth-value layer (TVL) and 0.25 mm lead equivalent thickness were calculated for all the samples. The lowest HVL value was for the sample with 7.5 mmol barium-doped Bi₂WO₆. As the result clearly show, an increment in the barium-doping content leads to a decrease in both HVL and TVL. In every three voltages, 0.25 mm lead equivalent thickness of the barium-doped composites (7.5 mmol and 15 mmol) had less than the other composites. The lowest value of 0.25 mm lead equivalent thickness was 7.5 barium-doped in 40 kV voltage and 15 mmol barium-doped in 80 kV and 120 kV voltages. These results were obtained only for 15% weight of the nanostructure.