• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.582-594
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• 2018

In this study, the vertical and horizontal flow wetlands were combined in series to create conditions for flow in the exhalation and anaerobic state with the aim of monitoring the variability and reduction of dissolved organic matterin the bio-reactive artificial wetlands, and the performance assessment was conducted as acrylic reaction groups by designing artificial wetlands that filled the functionalresiduals. In case of artificial wetlands in vertical and horizontal planes, the concentration of dissolved oxygen (DO) in the reaction tank was measured as 2.7 mg/L in the vertical flow wetlands under exhalation, and N.D. in the horizontal flow artificial wetlands under anaerobic conditions. The test was carried out by changing the operation time to 140 min, 80 min, and 60 min. The test was conducted with the same natural operation time of 20 min depending on the operation time. All hours of operation were shown to be due to microbial activity. In 3D-EEM, it was found that the longer the driving time was taken, the more reduction the organic compounds in the areas of insoluble human resources, III and V. Further research on the mechanism analysis of future reduction effects is expected to be carried out, but the findings are expected to contribute to the development of technologies for reducing obfuscated substances using artificial wetlands in the future.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.11
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• pp.1268-1276
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• 2018

The cytidine analog decitabine (DEC) acts as a nucleic acid synthesis inhibitor, whereas ammonium pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) is an inhibitor of nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible synergistic inhibitory effect of these two inhibitors on proliferation of human gastric cancer AGS cells. The inhibitory effect of PDTC on AGS cell proliferation was significantly increased by DEC in a concentration-dependent manner, and this inhibition was associated with cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase and the induction of apoptosis. This induction of apoptosis by the co-treatment with PDTC and DEC was related to the induction of DNA damage, as assessed by H2AX phosphorylation. Further studies demonstrated that co-treatment with PDTC and DEC induced the disruption of mitochondrial membrane potential, increased the generation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the expression of pro-apoptotic Bax, and down-regulated the expression of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2, ultimately resulting in the release of cytochrome c from the mitochondria into the cytoplasm. Co-treatment with PDTC and DEC also activated caspase-8 and caspase-9, which are representative caspases of the extrinsic and intrinsic apoptosis pathways. Co-treatment also activated caspase-3, which was accompanied by proteolytic degradation of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase. Taken together, these data clearly indicated that co-treatment with PDTC and DEC suppressed the proliferation of AGS cells by increasing DNA damage and activating the ROS-mediated extrinsic and intrinsic apoptosis pathways.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.20-31
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• 2019

Objectives: The seeds from Arctium lappa have been considered for its various pharmacological properties, which include anti-carcinogenic, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, and anti-viral activities. Methods: In the present study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory effect of the ethanol extract from the seeds of Arctium lappa L (EAL) on cytokine-induced vascular inflammation in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). Results: Pretreatment with EAL significantly decreased tumor necrosis factor alpha ($TNF-{\alpha}$)-induced cell adhesion molecules expression such as intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), and endothelial-selectin (E-selectin) in a dose-dependent manner. Cell adhesion assay showed that pretreatment with EAL suppressed HUVEC-monocyte adhesion by $TNF-{\alpha}$ over $1{\mu}g/ml$ concentration. We investigated the involvement of nuclear transcription factor kappa-B ($NF-{\kappa}B$) in $TNF-{\alpha}$-induced vascular inflammation. $NF-{\kappa}B$ p65 nuclear expression was induced by $TNF-{\alpha}$, however, pretreatment with EAL was attenuated that nuclear translocation. In cytoplasm, EAL was also attenuated $TNF-{\alpha}$-induced decrease of inhibitor of ${\kappa}B-{\alpha}$ ($I{\kappa}B-{\alpha}$) expression. Moreover, EAL significantly decreased $TNF-{\alpha}$-induced production of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). Conclusions: Taken together, our findings suggest that seeds of Arctium lappa L could be a therapeutic herb for prevention of cardiovascular diseases throughout the inhibition of vascular endothelial inflammation.

• ALGAE
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.111-126
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• 2019

The phototrophic dinoflagellate Biecheleriopsis adriatica is a small suessioid species characterized by a fragile thin wall. Although the morphology of this dinoflagellate is well established, there is currently little information available on its distribution and the environmental factors that influence this distribution. Thus, to investigate the spatial and seasonal distributions of the vegetative cells of B. adriatica in Korean waters, surface water samples were collected on a seasonal basis from 28 stations in the East, West, and South Sea of Korea and Jeju Island from April 2015 to October 2018, and abundances of the vegetative cells of B. adriatica were quantified using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reactions, for which we developed the species-specific primer and probe set. Simultaneously, major environmental parameters, including temperature, salinity, nutrient concentrations, and dissolved oxygen concentrations were measured. The vegetative cells of B. adriatica were detected at 20 of the 28 sampling stations: 19 stations in summer and 6 in autumn, although from no stations in either spring or winter. The ranges of water temperature and salinity at sites where this species was detected were $17.7-26.4^{\circ}C$ and 9.9-34.3, respectively, whereas those of nitrate and phosphate concentrations were not detectable-96.2 and $0.18-2.66{\mu}M$, respectively. Thus, the sites at which this species is found are characterized by a narrow range of temperature, but wide ranges of salinity and concentrations of nitrate and phosphate. The highest abundance of the vegetative cells of B. adriatica was $41.7cells\;mL^{-1}$, which was recorded in Jinhae Bay in July 2018. In Jinhae Bay, the abundance of vegetative cells was significantly positively correlated with the concentration of nitrate, but was negatively correlated with salinity. On the basis of these findings, it appears that the abundance of B. adriatica vegetative cells shows strong seasonality, and in Jinhae Bay, could be affected by the concentrations of nitrate.

• Journal of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.57-63
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• 2019

This study was conducted to find out the effect that ${\kappa}-Carrageenan$ has on the properties of dog sperm when it was added to the cryoprotectant. Extender basically was contained 1.21 g Trizma base, 0.67 g citric acid, 0.4 g glucose, 0.03 g penicillin G, 0.05 g streptomycin sulfate. Extender1 was added with 0.1%, 0.2%, 0.3%, and 0.5% carrageenan, while extender2 was supplemented with glycerol. After freezing-thawing, the motility, viability, acrosome integrity, apoptosis, and ROS (reactive oxygen specifications) of sperm were measured to analyze the effects of the supplementation of carrageenan. Total Motile (TM), Rapid Progressive Motile (RPM), Medium Progressive Motile (MPM), and Immotile were measured through the CASA system after thawing in 37 degree water. Extender with 0.2% ${\kappa}-carrageenan$ ($64.26{\pm}0.49$) was significantly higher than control ($40.24{\pm}8.27$) (p < 0.05). RPMs of extender with 0.1%, 0.2% ${\kappa}-carrageenan$ ($57.64{\pm}6.34$, $56.47{\pm}1.35$) were significantly higher than the other groups (p < 0.05). Acrosome integrity was measured by dyeing to PSA-FITC with an epifluorescence microscope. Normal acrosome ratio of extender with 0.5% ${\kappa}-carrageenan$ ($61{\pm}8.03$) was higher than the other groups (p < 0.05). Apoptosis was measured with a FACSCalibur flow cytometer using FITC (FITC Annexin V Apoptosis Detection Kit). Treated groups of ${\kappa}-carrageenan$ of 0.1% ($0.81{\pm}0.05$), 0.2% ($0.85{\pm}0.05$) were significantly higer (p < 0.05) than control. Modified SYBR/PI staining was used for determination of viability and DCF staining was used for evaluation of ROS. Viability and ROS were not significantly different from other groups. In conclusion, adding a certain concentration of carrageenan to the extender of cryopreservation, carrageenan contributes to the improvement of the sperm motility, acrosome integrity and prevention of apoptosis.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.208-216
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to investigated the biological activities such as cytotoxic, anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory using Mentha arvensis L. extracts. Mentha arvensis L. was prepared by extracting with DW and 80% ethanol, after cell viability was assessed by MTT assay using RAW 264.7 cells. Antioxidant activities, and Anti-inflammatory activities measured through changes in the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), nitric oxide (NO), leukotrien B4 (LTB4), and anti- or in-flammatory cytokines($IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor $(TNF)-{\alpha}$, and IL-10) on LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells. All test measured by ELISA reader and Luminex. Mentha arvensis L. was no cytotoxic in water and 80% ethanol extracts, and Concentration of 100 ug/ml of 80% ethanol extract was suppressed the productions of ROS in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells. Also, Productions of NO, LTB4, inflammatory or anti-inflammatory cytokines showed efficacy change that dose-independent of all extracts. In other words, Mentha arvensis L. showed significant biological activities showing anti-inflammatory, and anti-oxidant. These results may be developed as a raw material for new health food and therapeutics to ease the symptoms mentioned above.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.211-220
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• 2018

Nitric oxide (NO) has an important role in oocyte maturation and embryonic development in mammals. This study examined the effect of exogenous NO donor S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine (SNAP) in a maturation medium on meiotic progression and embryonic development after parthenogenesis (PA) and somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) in pigs. When oocytes were exposed to $0.1{\mu}M$ SNAP for first 22 h of in vitro maturation (IVM) in Experiment 1, SNAP significantly improved blastocyst development in both defined and standard follicular fluid-supplemented media compared to untreated control (48.4 vs. 31.7-42.5%). SNAP treatment significantly arrested meiotic progression of oocytes at the germinal vesicle stage at 11 h of IVM (61.2 vs. 38.7%). However, there was no effect on meiotic progression at 22 h of IVM (Experiment 2). In Experiment 3, when oocytes were treated with SNAP at 0.001, 0.1 and $10{\mu}M$ during the first 22 h of IVM to determine a suitable concentration, $0.1{\mu}M$ SNAP (54.2%) exhibited a higher blastocyst formation than 0 and $10{\mu}M$ SNAP (36.6 and 36.6%, respectively). Time-dependent effect of SNAP treatment was evaluated in Experiment 4. It was observed that SNAP treatment for the first 22 h of IVM significantly increased blastocyst formation compared to no treatment (57.1% vs. 46.2%). Antioxidant effect of SNAP was compared with that of cysteine. SNAP treatment significantly improved embryonic development to the blastocyst stage (49.1-51.5% vs. 34.4-37.5%) irrespective of the presence or absence of cysteine (Experiment 5). Moreover, SNAP significantly increased glutathione (GSH) content and inversely decreased the reactive oxygen species (ROS) level and mitochondrial oxidative activity in IVM oocytes. SNAP treatment during IVM showed a stimulating effect on in vitro development of SCNT embryos (Experiment 7). These results demonstrates that SNAP improves developmental competence of PA and SCNT embryos probably by maintaining the redox homeostasis through increasing GSH content and mitochondrial quality and decreasing ROS in IVM oocytes.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.11
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• pp.1241-1250
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• 2019

Artemisia argyi H. has been used for centuries as a traditional medicine and food supplement in Asian countries. The objective of this study was to investigate the physiological activities of Artemisia argyi H. extracts prepared by butanol, chloroform, ethyl acetate, ethyl ether, hexane, and methanol extraction. We evaluated total phenol and flavonoid content, antioxidant activity, nitric oxide (NO) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) release, and osteoclastogenesis inhibition. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents were highest in the methanol extract (49.46 mg GAE/g and 24.32 mg QE/g, respectively). The methanol extracts also had the highest antioxidant activity (DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging ability and ferric reducing antioxidant power), while the hexane extract had the lowest. The release of NO and ROS was dose-dependently decreased by pre-treatment with all solvent extracts. At the same concentrations, the ethyl acetate and butanol extracts showed higher inhibition of NO and ROS production when compared with the other extracts. The butanol extract, at a concentration of $20{\mu}g/ml$, inhibited about 89% of the activity of the osteoclast marker, tartrate resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP). These results suggest that butanol extracts of Artemisia argyi H. may be effective natural medications for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.43-52
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• 2020

As the membrane gas separation technology grows, various models were developed by numerous researchers to describe the separation process. In this work, the counter-current model was compared thoroughly with experimental data. Experimentally, hollow fiber membrane using CA module was prepared for the separation of biogas. The pure gas permeation properties of membrane module for methane, nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon dioxide were measured. The permeance of CO2 and CH4 were 25.82 GPU and 0.65 GPU, respectively. The high CO2/CH4 selectivity of 39.7 was obtained. the separation test for three different simulated mixed gases were carried out after pure gas test, and the gas concentration of the permeate at various stage-cut were measured from CA membrane module. Results showed that the experimental data agreed with the numerical simulation. A mathematical model has implemented in this study for the separation of biogas using a membrane module. The finite difference method (FDM) is applied to calculate the membrane biogas separation behaviors. Futhermore, the counter-current model can be considered as a convenient model for biogas separation process.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.610-616
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• 2011

A series of polyurethane acrylate/ZnO (PUA/ZnO) nanocomposite films with different ZnO contents were successfully prepared via a UV-curing system. The synthesis and physical properties including morphological structure, thermal properties, barrier properties and optical properties, and antimicrobial properties were investigated as a function of ZnO concentration. FTIR and SEM results showed that these PUA/ZnO nanocomposite films did not have a strong interaction between PUA and ZnO, which may lead to no increase in thermal stability. By incorporating ZnO nanoparticles, the UV blocking and antibacterial properties increased as the content of ZnO increased. Specially, the oxygen permeability in composite films changed from $2005cc/m^2/day$ to $150cc/m^2/day$ by adding the ZnO nanoparticle, which indicates that the PUA/ZnO nanocomposite films can be applied as good barrier packaging materials. Physical properties of the UV-cured PUA/ZnO nanocomposite film are strongly dependent upon the dispersion state of ZnO nanoparticles and their morphology in the films.