• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.419-428
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• 2021

The pH of cement-based materials (CBMs) is an important factor for their durability, sustainability, and long service life. Currently, the use of supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) is becoming mandatory due to economic, environmental, and sustainable issues. There is a decreasing trend in pH of CBMs due to incorporation of SCMs. The determination of numerical values of pH is very important for various low and high volume SCMs blended cement mortars for the better understanding of different defects and durability issues during their service life. In addition, the effect of cement hydration and pozzolanic reaction of SCMs on the pH should be determined at initial and later ages. In this study, the effect of low and high-volume fly ash (FA) and ground granulated ballast furnace slag (GGBFS) cement mortars in different curing conditions on their pH values has been determined. Thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) was carried out to support the findings from pH measurements. In addition, thermal conductivity (k-value) and strength activity indices of these cement mortars were discussed. The results showed that pH values of all blended cement mortars were less than ordinary Portland cement (OPC) mortar in all curing conditions used. There was a decreasing tendency in pH of all mortars with passage of time. In addition, the pH of cement mortars was not only dependent on the quantity of Ca(OH)₂. The effect of adding SCMs on the pH value of cement mortar should be monitored and measured for both short and long terms.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.19-25
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• 2005

This study was conducted to determine the effect of dietary salt on the synthesis of glucocorticoids in the adrenal cortex of mice. Mice had ad libitum access to 3% sodium chloride as the only drinking fluid (high salt diet) for either 4 days or 4 weeks. Adrenocortical expression of cytochrome P450 11beta-hydroxylase, a major regulatory enzyme in the biosynthesis of glucocorticoids, was examined by immunohistochemistry and western blot analysis. Ultrastructure of adrenocortical cell and plasma level of corticosterone were analyzed as well. Size and density of lipid droplets in the cortical cell were increased by high salt diet. Four days of high salt diet decreased P450 11beta-hydroxylase in the adrenal cortex, but 4 weeks increased it. Plasma level of corticosterone changed in parallel with the Cortical level of P450 11 beta-hydroxylase. These results suggest that high salt diet may modulate the biosynthesis of glucocorticoids, at least partly, via regulating the expression of P450 11beta-hydroxylase in adrenocortical cells.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.21 no.11
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• pp.1624-1628
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• 2008

Experiments were conducted to evaluate the nutritional value of yellow-seeded rapeseed meal (YRSM). In the first experiment nutrient retention was recorded by 48 Arbor Acres-broiler chickens (28-d old) to determine AMEn (nitrogen-corrected apparent metabolizable energy), coefficient of apparent protein digestibility based on ileal digesta nitrogen, excreta nitrogen and uric acid nitrogen. The second experiment was carried out with 304 Arbor Acres-broiler chickens to compare effects of SBM (soybean meal) and YRSM on performance, carcass and digestive tract status. In the control treatment, SBM was replaced by graded levels of YRSM at 15, 22.5 and 30% of diet. Digestibility of YRSM protein was significantly lower (p<0.001) than SBM protein. The protein digestibility based on ileal measurement was significantly higher (p<0.001) than protein digestibility from excreta samples. There was no significant difference (p>0.001) between ileal and excreta digestibility of protein based on uric acid. AMEn as a fraction of gross energy was 0.54 in SBM and 0.45 in YRSM. With the exception of 30% YRSM, other YRSM treatments resulted in major effects on length and weight of the gastrointestinal tract. The results of this study have shown no adverse effect on performance as well as protein digestibility and energy value in response to replacement of SBM by YRSM with the exception of 22.5 and 30% YRSM.

• Korea Information Processing Society Review
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.103-111
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• 2008

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.87-91
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• 2008

We induced the activation of melanocytes in the epidermis of C57BL/6 mice by ultraviolet B (UVB) irradiation and observed the effect of Bu-Zhong-Yi-Qi-Tang (BZYQT) on the formation, and decrease of UVB-induced epidermal melanocytes. C57BL/6 mice were irradiated by UVB $80\;mJ/cm^2$ (0.5 mW/sec) daily for 7 days, and BZYQT was intraperitoneally or topically applied pre- or post-irradiation. For the estimation of change of epidermal melanocytes, light microscopic observation with dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) stain was performed. Split epidermal sheets prepared from the ear of untreated mice exhibited 11-16 melanocytes/$mm^2$, and one week after UV irradiation, the applied areas show an increased number of strongly DOPA-positive melanocytes with stout dendrites. But intraperitoneal or topical treatment with BZYQT before each irradiation interrupted UVB-induced pigmentation and resulted in a marked reduction in the number of epidermal melanocytes as compared to radiation control skin. The number and size of DOPA-positive epidermal melanocytes were also significantly decreased in intraperitoneally injected or topically applicated group after irradiation with BZYQT at 3rd and 6th weeks after irradiation. The present study suggests the BZYQT as inhibitor of UVB-induced pigmentation and depigmenting agent.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.40 no.11
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• pp.1556-1561
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to investigate antioxidant enzyme activity and vitamin E concentrationin in Sprague-Dawley rat after being fed various extracts of Hizikia fusiforme. There were six experimental groups: control group (C), H. fusiforme ethanol extract group (EtOH), H. fusiforme dichloromethane fraction group ($CH_2Cl_2$), H. fusiforme ethylacetate fraction group (EtOAc), H. fusiforme butanol fraction group (n-BuOH), H. fusiforme water fraction group ($H_2O$). H. fusiforme extracts (400 mg/kg B.W) were orally administrated to the rats every day for 4 weeks. The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and concentrations of malondialdehyde (MDA) and vitamin E in the liver and blood were measured. The activity of SOD in the liver was significantly higher in the $CH_2Cl_2$ and $H_2O$ groups (p<0.05) than in the control and other extract groups. The SOD activity in serum increased significantly in all H. fusiforme groups (p<0.05) compared to the control group and it was also significantly higher in the EtOH and $H_2O$ groups (p<0.05) than in other extract groups. The serum catalase activity increased significantly in the n-BuOH group (p<0.05) compared to the control and other extract groups. The plasma MDA concentration decreased significantly in the n-BuOH and $H_2O$ group (p<0.05) compared to the control group. Serum concentration of ${\alpha}$-tocopherol showed no significant differences in most of the experimental groups, but it was significantly higher in the EtOAc group (p<0.05). The ${\alpha}$-tocopherol concentrations in the liver showed a significant increase in the $CH_2Cl_2$ and $H_2O$ groups (p<0.05) compared to the control and other extract groups. The liver ${\gamma}$-tocopherol concentrations in H. fusiforme extract groups showed a tendency to increase compared to the control group and it was significantly higher in the $H_2O$ group (p<0.05) than in other extract groups. These results suggest that supplementation of water extracts of H. fusiforme extract could be effective in improving the antioxidant system.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.94-99
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• 2006

This study investigated the protective effect of the butanol (BuOH) fraction from Laminaria japonica (BFLJ) extract on high glucose-induced oxidative stress in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Freeze-dried L japonica was extracted with distilled water, and the extracted solution was mixed with ethanol then centrifuged. The supernatant was subjected to sequential fractionation with various solvents. The BuOH fraction was used in this study because it possessed the strongest antioxidant activity among the various solvent fractions. To determine the protective effect of the BFLJ, oxidative stress was induced by exposing of HUVECs to the high glucose (30 mM) or normal glucose (5.5 mM) for 48 hr. Cell viability, lipid peroxidation, glutathione (GSH) concentration, and antioxidant enzyme activities such as catalase, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-px), and glutathion reductase (GSH-re) were measured. Exposure of HUVECs to high glucose for 48 hr resulted in a significant (p<0.05) decrease in cell viability, SOD, GSH-px and GSH-re and a significant (p<0.05) increase in thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) formation in comparison to the cells treated with 5.5 mM glucose or untreated with glucose. BFLJ treatment decreased TBARS formation and increased cell viability, GSH concentration, and activities of antioxidant enzymes including catalase, SOD, GSH-px, and GSH-re in high glucose pretreated HUVECs. These results suggest that BFLJ may be able to protect HUVECs from high glucose-induced oxidative stress, partially through the antioxidative defence systems.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.25 no.7
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• pp.1036-1040
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• 2004

$Mn_{12}O_{12}(O_2CCH_2CH_2CH_2Cl)_{16}(H_2O)_4]$ (noted as $Mn_{12}$-BuCl), a new polynuclear complex of manganese chlorobutyrate has been successfully prepared by substitution of acetate with 4-chlorobutyric acid. The $Mn_{12}-BuCl$ crystallizes into triclinic space group P-1 with a = 14.5560(11) ${\AA}$, b = 14.5819(11) TEX>${\AA}$, c = 27.265(2) ${\AA}$, ${\alpha}\;=\;84.1140(10)^{\circ}\;,\;{\beta}\;=\;88.805(2)^{\circ},\;{\gamma}\;=\;89.8820(10)^{\circ}$, and Z = 2. The local environments of manganese 3+ and 4+ ions of the title compound are close to those of other $Mn_{12}$ compounds. The electrochemical data for $Mn_{12}-BuCl$ involve reversible reactions of two-electron reductions. The $Mn_{12}-BuCl$ also presents magnetic relaxation below 10 K implying that each molecule behaves as a single molecule magnet.

• BMB Reports
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.157-162
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• 2019

Our previous study found that two novel cancer-related genes, PRR11 and SKA2, constituted a classic gene pair that was regulated by p53 and NF-Y in lung cancer. However, their role and regulatory mechanism in breast cancer remain elusive. In this study, we found that the expression levels of PRR11 and SKA2 were upregulated and have a negative prognotic value in breast cancer. Loss-of-function experiments showed that RNAi-mediated knockdown of PRR11 and/or SKA2 inhibited proliferation, migration, and invasion of breast cancer cells. Mechanistic experiments revealed that knockdown of PRR11 and/or SKA2 caused dysregulation of several downstream genes, including CDK6, TPM3, and USP12, etc. Luciferase reporter assays demonstrated that wild type p53 significantly repressed the PRR11-SKA2 bidirectional promoter activity, but not NF-Y. Interestingly, NF-Y was only essential for and correlated with the expression of PRR11, but not SKA2. Consistently, adriamycin-induced (ADR) activation of endogenous p53 also caused significant repression of the PRR11 and SKA2 gene pair expression. Notably, breast cancer patients with lower expression levels of either PRR11 or SKA2, along with wild type p53, exhibited better disease-free survival compared to others with p53 mutations and/or higher expression levels of either PRR11 or SKA2. Collectively, our study indicates that the PRR11 and SKA2 transcription unit might be an oncogenic contributor and might serve as a novel diagnostic and therapeutic target in breast cancer.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.129-136
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• 2014

Objectives The purpose of this study is to find out clinical and radiological correlation between lumbar lordotic angle, lumbar intervertebral disc angle and lumbar spinal stenosis. Methods Total 250 patients' who had visited Bu-Chun Jaseng Hospital of Korean Medicine lumbar lordotic angle, intervertebral disc angle of L4/5 and dural sac dimension of L4/5 were measured by X-ray and MRI films. We analysed correlation between lumbar lordotic angle, intervertebral disc angle of L4/5 and lumbar spinal stenosis in terms of clinical and radiological aspect. Results 1. The mean intervertebral disc angle of L4/5 were $10.72{\pm}3.98^{\circ}$, the mean lumbar lordotic angle were $41.97{\pm}11.73^{\circ}$ and the mean dural sac dimension of L4/5 were $133.18{\pm}45.46mm^2$. 2. This study shows that dural sac dimension of L4/5 was inversely reated to intervertebral disc angle of L4/5 by statistically (p<0.05). 3. There was visible difference regarding intervertebral disc angle of L4/5 between patients who had been diagnosed with lumbar spinal stenosis by clinically and patients who had not been diagnosed with lumbar spinal stenosis by clinically; The former's angle was relatively higher than the latter's (p<0.05). Conclusions There was a statistical significance between intervertebral disc angle of L4/5 and lumbar spinal stenosis in single-segment.