• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.279-288
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• 1996

Chronic exposure to cadmium impairs various renal tubular functions, including organic acid (anion) secretion. To investigate the mechanism of cadmium-induced alterations in the organic anion transport system, kinetics of p-aminohippurate (PAH) uptake was studied in renal cortical basolateral membrane vesicles (BLMV) isolated from cadmium-intoxicated rats (adult male Sprague-Dawley). Cadmium intoxication was induced by subcutaneous injections of $CdCl_{2}$ (2 mg Cd/kg per day) for 3 weeks. The renal plasma membrane vesicles were prepared by Percoll gradient centrifugation. The vesicular uptake of $^{14}C$-PAH was determined by rapid filtration technique using Millipore filter. Cadmium intoxication resulted in a marked attenuation of $Na^{+}$-dependent, ${\alpha}$-ketoglutarate (${\alpha}$KG)-driven PAH uptake with no changes in $Na^{+}$ and ${\alpha}$KG-independent transport component. Kinetic analysis indicated that Vmax, but not Km, of the $Na^{+}$-dependent, ${\alpha}$KG-driven component was reduced. A similar reduction of $Na^{+}$-dependent, ${\alpha}$KG-driven PAH uptake was observed in normal membrane vesicles directly exposed to inorganic cadmium in vitro, and this was accompanied by an inhibition of both $Na^{+}$-dependent ${\alpha}$KG uptake and ${\alpha}$KG-PAH exchange activity. These results indicate that during chronic exposure to cadmium, free cadmium ions liberated in the proximal tubular cytoplasm directly interact with the basolateral membrane and impair the active transport capacity for organic anions, most likely due to an inhibition of both $Na^{+}$-dicarboxylate cotransporter and dicarboxylate-organic anion antiporter activities.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.519-525
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• 2010

Ethanol was used as reductant to remove $NO_x$ over Ag/$Al_2O_3$ catalyst via SCR from stationary emission source. Among the tested hydrocarbon reductants, ethanol showed highest de-$NO_x$ performance over the Ag/$Al_2O_3$ catalyst. De-$NO_x$ efficiency of about 83% was obtained in the condition of GHSV 20,000 $hr^{-1}$, $NO_x$ 200 ppm, CO 200 ppm, $O_2$ 13%, $H_2O$ 5% and mole ratio of ethanol/$NO_x$ = 2 between temperature of $300^{\circ}C$ and $400^{\circ}C$. While $SO_2$ presence in the $NO_x$ exhaust suppressed the catalytic activity, catalyst with acid (0.7% $H_2SO_4$) treatment of catalyst showed higher catalytic activity, where In-Situ DRIFT showed S presence over catalyst surface was increased after acid treatment of catalyst. From in-situ DRIFT and SCR results, it was concluded that sulfur presence over the surface of Ag/$Al_2O_3$ catalyst was the dominant factor to control the de-$NO_x$ reaction yield via HC-SCR from the exhausted gas including $SO_2$.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.85-94
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• 2015

RDX (hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine) is the most important explosive contaminant, both in concentration and in frequency, at military shooting ranges in which green technologies such as phytoremediation or constructed wetlands are the best option for mitigation of explosive compounds discharge to the environment. A study was conducted with two identical lab-scale plug flow constructed wetlands planted with Amur silver grass to treat water artificially contaminated with 40 mg/L of toxic explosive compound, RDX. The reactor was inoculated with or without RDX degrading mixed culture to evaluate plant-microorganism interactions in RDX removal, transformation products distribution, and kinetic constants. RDX and its metabolites in water, plant, and sediment were analyzed by HPLC to determine mass balance and kinetic constants. After 30 days of operation, the reactor reached steady-state at which more than 99% of RDX was removed with or without the mixed culture inoculation. The major transformation product was TNX (Trinitroso-RDX) that comprised approximately 50% in the mass balance of both reactors. It was also the major compound in the plant root and shoot system. Acute toxicity analysis of the water samples showed more than 30% of toxicity reduction in the effluent than that of influent containing 40 mg/L of RDX. In the Amur silver grass mesocosm seeded with the mixed culture, the specific RDX removal rate, that is 1st order removal rate normalized to plant fresh weight, was estimated to be 0.84 kg⁻¹ day⁻¹ which is 16.7% higher than that in the planted only mesocosm. Therefore, the results of this study proved that Amur silver grass is an effective plant for RDX removal in constructed wetlands and the efficiency can be increased even more when applied with RDX degrading microbial consortia.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.26 no.12
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• pp.688-695
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• 2016

Recrystallization behavior has been investigated for commercial purity AA1050 (99.5wt%Al) and high purity 3N Al (99.9wt% Al). Samples were cold rolled with 90% of thickness reduction and were annealed isothermally at 290, 315, and 350o C for various times until complete recrystallization was achieved. Hardness measurement and Electron Backscatter Diffraction(EBSD) analyses, combined with Grain Orientation Spread(GOS), were employed to investigate the recrystallization behavior. EBSD analysis combined with GOS were distinctly revealed to be a more useful method to determine the recrystallization fraction and to characterize the recrystallization kinetics. As the annealing temperature increased, recrystallization in AA1050 accelerated more than that process did in Al 3N. Both AA1050 and Al 3N showed the same temperature dependence of the n value of the Johnson-Mehl-Avrami-Kolmogorov equation(JMAK equation), i.e., n values increased as annealing temperature increased. Activation energy of recrystallization in AA1050 is about 176 kJ/mol, which is comparable with the activation energy of grain boundary migration in cold-rolled AA1050. This value is somewhat higher than the activation energy of recrystallization in Al 3N.

• BMB Reports
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.370-377
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• 1997

A novel assay method is described for rapid quantitation of reaction rate of sterol ${\Delta}^7$-reductase (${\Delta}^7$-SR) which catalyzes reduction of the ${\Delta}^7$-double bond of sterols. Of six different organ tissues-liver, small intestine, brain, lung, kidney, and testis-. ${\Delta}^7$-SR activity was detected only in liver (2.30 nmol/min/mg protein) and testis (0.11 nmol/min/mg protein). Using a newly developed method which employs diet-induced enzyme proteins and ergosterol as substrate, we assessed both kinetics ($K_m=210\;{\mu}M$, $V_{max}=1.93\;nmol/min/mg$) and inhibition of the rat hepatic ${\Delta}^7$-SR against well-studied cholesterol lowering agents such as triparanol ($IC_{50}=16\;{\mu}M$). 3-$\beta$-[2-(diethylamino)ethoxy]androst-5-en-17-one (U18666A) ($IC_{50}=5.2\;{\mu}M$), and trans-1.4-bis(2-chlorobenzylaminomethyl)cyclohexane dihydrochloride (AY-9944) ($IC_{50}=0.25\;{\mu}M$). Of the three well-known AY-9944-sensitive cholesterogenic enzymes (i.e., ${\Delta}^7$-SR, sterol ${\Delta}^8$-isomerase, and sterol ${\Delta}^14$-reductase). ${\Delta}^7$-SR was found to be the most sensitive enzyme with a noncompetitive inhibition of this compound ($K_i=0.109\;{\mu}M$). Substrate specificity studies of the microsomal ${\Delta}^7$-SR indicate that the relative reaction rate for 7-dehydrocholesterol and ergosterol are 5.6-fold and 1.6-fold higher than that for lathosterol. ${\Delta}^7$-SR activity was also modulated by feeding rats a diet supplemented with 0.5% ergosterol (>2.6-fold) in addition to 5.0% cholestyramine plus 0.1% lovastatin ($\simeq$5.0-fold). Finally, microsomal ${\Delta}^7$-SR was solubilized by 1.5% 3-[3-(cholamidopropyl)-dimethylammonio]-1-propanesulfonate (CHAPS) and enriched on PEG (0~10%) precipitation, which should be suitable for further purification of the enzyme.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.71-77
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• 2007

Cisplatin treatment increases the excretion of inorganic phosphate in vivo. However, the mechanism by which cisplatin reduces phosphate uptake through renal proximal tubular cells has not yet been elucidated. We examined the effect of cisplatin on $Na^+$-dependent phosphate uptake in opossum kidney (OK) cells, an established proximal tubular cell line. Cells were exposed to cisplatin for an appropriate time period and phosphate uptake was measured using $[^{32}P]$-phosphate. Changes in the number of phosphate transporter in membranes were evaluated by kinetic analysis, $[^{14}C]$phosphonoformic acid binding, and Western blot analysis. Cisplatin inhibited phosphate uptake in a time- and dose-dependent manner, and also the $Na^+$-dependent uptake without altering $Na^+$-independent uptake. The cisplatin inhibition was not affected by the hydrogen peroxide scavenger catalase, but completely prevented by the hydroxyl radical scavenger dimethylthiourea. Antioxidants were ineffective in preventing the cisplatin-induced inhibition of phosphate uptake. Kinetic analysis indicated that cisplatin decreased Vmax of $Na^+$-dependent phosphate uptake without any change in the Km value. $Na^+$-dependent phosphonoformic acid binding was decreased by cisplatin treatment. Western blot analysis showed that cisplatin caused degradation of $Na^+$-dependent phosphate transporter protein. Taken together, these data suggest that cisplatin inhibits phosphate transport in renal proximal tubular cells through the reduction in the number of functional phosphate transport units. Such effects of cisplatin are mediated by production of hydroxyl radicals.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.59-67
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• 1988

Anaerobic digestion at the temperature of $35-55^{\circ}C$ was conducted using an artificial sludge of uniform composition. The hydraulic retention time of 5 days was chosen because the temperature effect was effectively shown at a high loading. Inhibition of the methane fermentation decreased as the temperature increased. Acid fermentation was prevalent at the mesophilic and intermediate temperatures, while active methane fermentation took place at $55^{\circ}C$. Temperature not only affects activity of the microorganisms, but also affects physical and chemical properties of the sludge, Digestion inhibition was much reduced when the feed sludge was diluted, and active methane fermentation was possible at all temperatures. The digestion efficiency was governed by the organic loading rate as well as the hydraulic 10ading rate. No reduction of the digestion efficiency at $40-45^{\circ}C$, which had been referred to a critical temperature range, was observed. The digestion efficiency increased monotonically from mesophilic to thermophilic range. Improved settling properties of digested sludge was also recorded at higher temperatures.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.11
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• pp.6709-6714
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• 2013

Background: Breast cancer is a leading cause of death in women. The available chemotherapy drugs have been associated with many side effects. Bromelain has novel medicinal qualities including anti-inflammatory, anti-thrombotic, fibrinolytic and anti-cancer functions. Commercially available bromelain is obtained through tedious methods; therefore, recombinant bromelain may provide a cheaper and simpler choice with similar quality. Materials and Methods: This study aimed to assess the effects of commercial and recombinant bromelain on the cytokinetic behavior of MCF-7 breast cancer cells and their potential as therapeutic alternatives in cancer treatment. Cytotoxic activities of commercial and recombinant bromelain were determined using (sulforhodamine) SRB assay. Next, cell viability assays were conducted to determine effects of commercial and recombinant bromelain on MCF-7 cell cytokinetic behavior. Finally, the established growth kinetic data were used to modify a model that predicts the effects of commercial and recombinant bromelain on MCF-7 cells. Results: Commercial and recombinant bromelain exerted strong effects towards decreasing the cell viability of MCF-7 cells with $IC_{50}$ values of 5.13 ${\mu}g/mL$ and 6.25 ${\mu}g/mL$, respectively, compared to taxol with an $IC_{50}$ value of 0.063 ${\mu}g/mL$. The present results indicate that commercial and recombinant bromelain both have anti-proliferative activity, reduced the number of cell generations from 3.92 to 2.81 for commercial bromelain and to 2.86 for recombinant bromelain, while with taxol reduction was to 3.12. Microscopic observation of bromelain-treated MCF-7 cells demonstrated detachment. Inhibition activity was verified with growth rates decreased dynamically from 0.009 $h^{-1}$ to 0.0059 $h^{-1}$ for commercial bromelain and to 0.0063 $h^{-1}$ for recombinant bromelain. Conclusions: Commercial and recombinant bromelain both affect cytokinetics of MCF-7 cells by decreasing cell viability, demonstrating similar strength to taxol.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.66-72
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• 2005

Effect of the pH, molar ratio of Cu(II)/EDTA, concentration of Cu(II)-EDTA and ionic strength on the photocatalytic oxidation(PCO) of Cu(II)-EDTA in solar light was studied in this work. Experimental results in this work were compared with previous results obtained with UV-lamp. In the kinetics, Cu(II)-EDTA decomposition was favorable below neutral pH. The removal of Cu(II) and DOC was favorable as $TiO_2$ dosage increased. The initial rate for the decomplexation of Cu(II)-EDTA linearly increased as the concentration of Cu(II)-EDTA increased. The removal of Cu(II) and DOC was not much affected by variation of ionic strength with $NaClO_4$ as a background ion while much reduction was observed in the presence of background ions having higher formal charges. The removal trend of Cu(II) and DOC with variation of ionic strength and concentration of Cu(II)-EDTA in solar light was similar with that in UV light. Variation of the molar ratio of Cu(II)/EDTA showed a negligible effect on the removal of both Cu(II) and DOC. However, removal of both Cu(II) and DOC was two-times greater than that previous results obtained with UV light.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.13 no.9
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• pp.69-74
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• 2012

This study investigated the TNT decomposition by the treatment of alkaline hydrolysis. To obtain this objecitive, spectrum shift characteristics, pH effect, kinetics, and product analysis were examined during the alkaline hydrolysis by means of hydroxide ions. At pH = 12, an aqueous solution of TNT was changed into yellow-brown coloring, in which its absorbances were newly increased in a range of wavelength 400-600 nm. From the kinetic data, pseudo-first-order rate constant in a excess of hydroxide ion, in contrast to TNT concentration, was $0.0022min^{-1}$, which means that the reaction rate between TNT and hydroxide ion can be very slow, and that 1,047 min is necessary to achieve a 90% reduction of the initial TNT. In products analyses, nitrite ions and formic acid were mainly produced by the alkaline hydrolysis, nitrate ions and oxalic acid as minor products were generated.