• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.170-177
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• 2022

In mountainous regions, wild herbs which can also be edible in nature for humans and animals possess a wide array of biologically diversified properties. It is because of the fact that due to the cold weather of mountains; they are enriched in certain kinds of phytochemicals such as anti-oxidants, anti-inflammatory and many more. One such kind of an herb is Aster scaber (AS) in Korean. It is a widely cultivated culinary herb in Korean peninsula and used as a side dish in Korean culinary cuisine. In view of its extensive use in cuisine, we geared to unravel the anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of AS in murine alveolar macrophage cell line (MH-S). 2,2'-Azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate (DPPH) assays revealed a dose dependent (7.8~1,000 ㎍/mL) inhibition of oxidation by AS 70% ethanol (ASE) extract as compared to Trolox and Ascorbic acid respectively. Nitric oxide assay (NO) showed a dose dependent decrease (5~40 ㎍/mL) in MH-S cells with ASE when stimulated with Coal Fly Ash (CFA). Moreover, this dose for NO reduction was also found to be least cytotoxic for cells as determined by cellular viability (MTT) assay. The gene expression of pro-inflammatory mediators (iNOS and COX-2) and cytokines (IL-6 and IL-1β) and were also dose dependently inhibited by ASE in MH-S cells through RT-PCR. Therefore, in light of these findings, AS exhibited a strong anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory agent. These results also justify the extensive use of this mountainous herb in culinary practices for beneficial effects on human health.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.207-215
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• 2022

The intensity of fishy odor in eggs, which differs depending on the poultry type and individual perception, can be due to many factors including trimethylamine (TMA) which has been identified as the main. Notably, riboflavin can increase the activity of flavin-containing monooxygenase 3, the enzyme responsible for converting TMA into odorless trimethylamine-N-oxide. This study aimed to analyze the TMA content in egg yolk, evaluate its contribution to fishy odor, and develop a method to prevent this undesired odor. Solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry was used to detect and quantify volatile compounds in egg yolk from hens fed a standard TMA-rich diet and hens fed a riboflavin-supplemented diet. To compare the relative content of volatile substances between eggs, a correlation study was performed using an electronic nose. Higher concentration of TMA (1.06 ± 0.12 mg/kg) was detected in egg yolks obtained from hens fed a normal diet than those fed a riboflavin-supplemented diet. Overall, this study suggests that riboflavin affects the quantity and quality of volatile substances, including TMA, present in eggs and we expect these findings to improve the quality and reduce the fishy odor of eggs.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.57-67
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• 2024

Objectives : The aim of this study is to evaluate the potential biological activity of Veronica incana extracts (VIE) through in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo experiments. Methods : In vitro, we conducted analyses on the total polyphenol (TP) and total flavonoid (TF) levels, alongside DPPHand ABTS radical scavenging activities. Ex vivo evaluations on adipose tissue measured glycerol release as a marker of lipolysis. In LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells, we quantified nitric oxide (NO) production. Following H₂O₂ induction in U2OS cells, we performed mitochondrial assays such as MitoSox and MitoTracker. Moreover, Bodipy assays were conducted in 3T3-L1 cells. In vivo, we performed anti-osteoarthritis effect of VIE against monosodium iodoacetate (MIA)-induced osteoarthritis in rats. Results : The results presented encompass a myriad of models, from cell culture to animal experiments as well as ex vivo studies. VIE demonstrated high TP and TF contents, potent DPPH and ABTS scavenging activities, and regulated glycerol release. Moreover, the inhibition of NO production in LPS-induced inflammation was notably confirmed and the reduction of lipid droplets was distinctly shown. Furthermore, in H₂O₂-induced U2OS cells, MitoSox was effectively reduced while MitoTracker noticeably increased. In vivo assays confirmed a significant increase in hindpaw weight distribution (HWD) decreased by MIA after VIE treatment. Additionally, VIE inhibited serum inflammatory cytokines (TNF-𝛼, IL-6, and IL-1𝛽) and MDA levels in joint tissue. Conclusion : In conclusion, Veronica incana exhibited various pharmacological effects including antioxidant, anti-obesity, and anti-inflammatory properties.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.39-46
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• 2011

NO oxidation is an important prerequisite step to assist the selective catalytic reduction (SCR) at low temperatures ($<200^{\circ}C$). Therefore, we conducted the lab- and bench-scales experiments appling the sodium chlorite powder ($NaClO_2(s)$) for the oxidation of NO to $NO_2$ and the carbon-based catalyst for the reduction of $NO_x$ and $SO_2$; the lab- and bench-scales experiments were conducted in laboratory and iron-ore sintering plant, respectively. In the lab-scale experiment, known concentrations of $NO_x$ (200 ppm), $SO_2$ (75 ppm), $H_2O$ (10%) and $NH_3$ (400 ppm) in 2.6 L/min were introduced into a packed-bed reactor containing $NaClO_2(s)$, then gases produced by the reaction with $NaClO_2(s)$ were fed into the carbon-based catalyst (space velocity = $2,000hr^{-1}$) at $130^{\circ}C$. In the bench-scale experiment, flue gases of $50Nm^3/hr$ containing 120 ppm NO and 150 ppm $SO_2$ were taken out from the duct of iron-ore sintering plant, then introduced into the flow reactor; $NaClO_2(s)$ were injected into the flow reactor using a screw feeder. Gases produced by the reaction with $NaClO_2(s)$ were introduced into the carbon-based catalyst (space velocity = $1,000hr^{-1}$). Results have shown that, in both lab- and bench-scales experiments, NO was oxidized to $NO_2$ by $NaClO_2(s)$. In addition, above 90% of $NO_x$ and $SO_2$ removal were obtained at the carbon-based catalyst. These results lead us to suggest that the combination of $NaClO_2(s)$ with the carbon-based catalyst has the potential to achieve the simultaneous removal of $NO_x$ and $SO_2$ at low temperature ($<200^{\circ}C$).

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.59 no.1
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• pp.127-137
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• 2021

Air emission charge for nitrogen oxide as a precursor of fine dust has been introduced and implemented within the country from 2020. Therefore, the development of economical combustion technology for NOx reduction has got more needed urgently. This study investigated the air-staging effect as a way to reduce the NOx during combustion of domestic unused forest biomass, recently possible to secure REC (Renewable Energy Certification) as a substitute for overseas wood pellets in a 0.1 MWth circulating fluidized bed combustion test-rig. Operating conditions were comparison with and without air-staging, the supply position of tertiary air (6.4 m, 8.1 m, 9.4 m in the combustor) and variation of air-staging ratio (Primary air:Secondary air:Tertiary air=91%:9%:0%, 82%:9%:9%, 73%:9%:18%). NO and CO concentrations in flue gas, profiles of temperature and pressure at the height of the combustion, unburned carbon in sampled fly ash and combustion efficiency on operating conditions were evaluated. As notable results, NO concentration with air-staging application under tertiary air supply at 9.4 m in the combustor reduced 100.7 ppm compared to 148.8 ppm without air-staging while, CO concentration increased from 52.2 ppm without air-staging to 99.8 ppm with air-staging. However, among air-staging runs, when tertiary air supply amount at 6.4 m in the combustor increased by air-staging ratio (Primary air:Secondary air:Tertiary air=73%:9%:18%), NO and CO concentrations decreased the lowest 90.8 ppm and 66.1 ppm, respectively. Furthermore, combustion efficiency at this condition was improved to 99.3%, higher than that (98.3%) of run without air-staging.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.320-324
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• 2013

The effects of $CeO_2$ on catalytic activity of $CeO_2-TiO_2$ for the selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of $NO_x$ were investigated in terms of structural, morphological, and physico-chemical analyseis. $CeO_2-TiO_2$ catalysts were synthesized with three different additions, 10, 20, and 30 wt% of $CeO_2$, by the sol-gel method. The XRD peaks of all specimens were assigned to a $TiO_2$ phase (anatase) and the peaks became broader with the addition of $CeO_2$ because it was dispersed as an amorphous phase on the surface of $TiO_2$ particles. The specific surface area of $TiO_2$ increased with the addition of $CeO_2$ from $60.6306m^2/g$ to $116.2791m^2/g$ due to suppression of $TiO_2$ grain growth by $CeO_2$. The 30 wt% $CeO_2-TiO_2$ catalyst, having the strongest catalytic acid sites ($Br{\Phi}nsted$ and Lewis), showed the highest $NO_x$ conversion efficiency of 98 % at $300^{\circ}C$ among the specimens. It was considered that $CeO_2$ contributes to the improvement of the $NO_x$ conversion of $CeO_2-TiO_2$ catalyst by increasing specific surface area and catalytic acid sites.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.54 no.5
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• pp.671-677
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• 2016

The impregnated alkali metal (Na, K), and the alkali earth metal (Ca, Mg) activated carbons were produced from the bamboo activated carbon by soaking method of alkali metals and alkali earth metals solution. The carbonization and activation of raw material was conducted at $900^{\circ}C$. The specific surface area and the pore size distribution of the prepared activated carbons were measured. Also, NO and activated carbon reaction were conducted in a thermogravimetric analyzer in order to use for de-NOx agents of the used activated carbon. Carbon-NO reactions were carried out in the nonisothermal condition (the reaction temperature $20{\sim}850^{\circ}C$, NO 1 kPa) and the isothermal condition (the reaction temperature 600, 650, 700, 750, 800, $850^{\circ}C$, NO 0.1~1.8 kPa). As results, the specific volume and the surface area of the impregnated alkali bamboo activated carbons were decreased with increasing amounts of the alkali. In the NO reaction, the reaction rate of the impregnated alkali bamboo activated carbons was promoted to compare with that of the bamboo activated carbon [BA] in the order of BA(Ca)> BA(Na)> BA(K)> BA(Mg) > BA. Measured the reaction orders of NO concentration and the activation energy were 0.76[BA], 0.63[BA(Na)], 0.77[BA(K)], 0.42[BA(Ca)], 0.30 [BA(Mg)], and 82.87 kJ/mol[BA], 37.85 kJ/mol[BA(Na)], 69.98 kJ/mol[BA(K)], 33.43 kJ/mol[BA(Ca)], 88.90 kJ/mol [BA(Mg)], respectively.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.383-394
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• 1979

Treatment of valvular heart disease with valve replacement has been one of the most popular procedures in cardiac surgery recently. Although, first effort was directed toward the prosthetic valve, it soon became popular that bioprosthesis, the valvular xenograft, was prefered in the majority cases. Valvular xenograft has some superiority to the artificial prosthetic valve in some points of thromboembolism and hemolytic anemia, and it also has some inferiority of durability, immunologic reaction and resistance to Infection. Tremendous efforts were made to cover the inferiority with several methods of collection, preservation, and valve mounting of the porcine valve or pericardium of the calf, and also with surgical technique of the valvular xenograft replacement. Auther has collected 320 porcine aortic valves immediately after slaughter, and aortic cusps were coapted with cotton balls in the Valsalva sinuses to protect valve deformity after immersion in the Hanks' solution, and oxidation, cross-linking and reduction procedures were completed after the proposal of Carpentier in 1972. Well preserved aortic valves were suture mounted in the hand-made tissue valve frame of 19, 21, and 23 mm J.d., and also in the prosthetic vascular segment of 19 mm Ld. with 4-0 nylon sutures after careful trimming of the aortic valves. Completed valves were evaluated with bacteriologic culture, pressure tolerance test with tolerane gauge, valve durability test in the saline glycerine mixed solution with tolerance test machine in the speed of 300 rpm, and again with pathologic changes to obtain following results: 1. Bacteriologic culture of the valve tissue in five different preservation method for two weeks revealed excellent and satisfactory result in view of sterilization including 0.65% glutaraldehyde preservation group for one week bacteriologic culture except one tissue with Citobacter freundii in 75% ethanol preserved group. 2. Pressure tolerance test was done with an apparatus composed of V-connected manometer and pressure applicator. Tolerable limit of pressure was recorded when central leaking jet of saline was observed. Average pressure tolerated in each group was 168 mmHg in glutaraldehyde, 128 mmHg in formaldehyde, 92 mmHg in Dakin's solution, 48 mmHg in ethylene oxide gas, and 26 mmHg in ethanol preserved group in relation to the control group of Ringer's 90 mmHg respectively. 3. Prolonged durability test was performed in the group of frame mounted xenograft tissue valve with 300 up-and-down motion tolerance test machine/min. There were no specific valve deformity or wearing in both 19, 21, and 23 mm valves at the end of 3 months (actually 15 months), and another 3 months durability test revealed minimal valve leakage during pressure tolerance test due to contraction deformity of the non-coronary cusp at the end of 6 months (actually 30 months) in the largest 23 mm group. 4. Histopathologic observation was focussed in three view points, endothelial cell lining, collagen and elastic fiber destructions in each preservation methods and long durable valvular tolerance test group. Endothel ial cell lining and collagen fiber were well preserved in the glutaraldehyde and formaldehyde treated group with minimal destruction of elastic fiber. In long durable tolerance test group revealed complete destruction of the endothelial cell lining with minimal destruction of the collagen and elastic fiber in 3 month and 6 month group in relation to the time and severity. In conclusion, porcine xenograft treated after the proposal of Carpentier in 1972 and preserved in the glutaraldehyde solution was the best method of collection, preservation and valve mounting. Pressure tolerance and valve motion tolerance test, also, revealed most satisfactory results in the glutaraldehyde preserved group.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.33-40
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• 2006

The characteristics of the aluminum waste melting and the distribution of the radioactive nuclides have been investigated for the estimation on the volume reduction and the decontamination of the aluminum wastes from the decommissioning of the TRIGA MARK it and III research reactors at the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute(KAERI). The aluminum wastes were melted with the use of the fluxes such as flux $A:NaCl-KCl-Na_3AlF_6$, flux B:NaCl-NaF-KF, flux $C:CaF_2$, and flux $D:LiF-KCl-BaCl_2$ in the DC graphite arc furnace. For the assessment of the distribution of the radioactive nuclides during the melting of the aluminum, the aluminum materials were contaminated by the surrogate nuclides such as cobalt(Co), cesium(Cs) and strontium(Sr). The fluidity of aluminum melt was increased with the addition of the fluxes, which has slight difference according to the type of fluxes. The formation of the slag during the aluminum melting added the flux type C and D was larger than that with the flux A and B. The rate of the slag formation linearly increased with increasing the flux concentration. The results of the XRD analysis showed that the surrogate nuclide was transferred to the slag, which can be easily separated from the melt and then they combined with aluminum oxide to form a more stable compound. The distribution ratio of cobalt in ingot to that in slag was more than 40% at all types of fluxes. Since vapor pressures of cesium and strontium were higher than those that of the host metals at the melting temperature, their removal efficiency from the ingot phase to the slag and the dust phase was by up to 98%.

• Journal of the Korean Vacuum Society
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.527-533
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• 2006

Spinel $LiNi_xMn_{2-x}O_4$ thin films were synthesized up to x = 0.9 by a sol-gel method employing spin-coating. The Ni-substituted films were found to maintain cubic structure at low x but to exhibit tetragonal structure for $x{\geq}0.6$. Such cubic-tetragonal phase transition indicates that $Ni^{3+}(d7)$ ions with low-spin $(t_{2g}^6,e_g^1)$ state occupy the octahedral sites of the compound, thus being subject to the Jahn-Teller distortion. By x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy both $Ni^{2+}$ and $Ni^{3+}$ ions were detected. Optical properties of the $LiNi_xMn_{2-x}O_4$ films were investigated by spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE) in the visible?ultraviolet range. The measured dielectric function spectra by SE mainly consist of broad absorption structures attributed to charge-transfer (CT) transitions, $O^{2-}(2p){\rightarrow}Mn^{4+}(3d)$ for 1.9 $(t_{2g})$ and $2.8{\sim}3.0$ eV $(e_g)$ structures and $O^{2-}(2p){\rightarrow}Mn^{3+}(3d)$ for 2.3 $(t_{2g})$ and $3.4{\sim}3.6$ eV $(e_g)$ structures. Also, sharp absorption structures were observed at about 1.6, 1.7, and 1.9 eV, interpreted as due to d-d crystal-field transitions within the octahedral $Mn^{3+}$ ion. The strengths of these absorption structures are reduced by the Ni substitution. Rapid reduction of the CT transition strength involving the eg states for x = 0.6 is attributed to the reduced wavefunction overlap between the $e_g$ and the $O^{2-}(2p)$ states due to the tetragonal extension of the lattice constant by the Jahn-Teller effect.