• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.256-265
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• 2011

Ambers have been used as a gemstone and a religious object since the ancient times and found in several archaeological sites in Korea. To prepare an enhanced conservation measures, we surveyed the chemical and spectroscopic properties of the ambers according to the provenance. Total 14 amber samples were collected from 6 different provenances including Baltic, Chiapas, Colombian, Dominican, Fushun and Madagascar amber. Infrared (IR) spectroscopic analysis was conducted for the non-destructive examination of the amber samples. They were also analyzed with pyrolysis/GC/MS (py/GC/MS) at the pyrolysis temperature of $300^{\circ}C$ with the on-line derivatization to trimethylsilyl ester. Baltic shoulder corresponding to the absorption at $1250cm^{-1}{\sim}1150cm^{-1}$ appeared in the IR spectrum of Baltic amber. IR spectra of the other ambers also showed somewhat distinctive characteristic peaks. In py/GC/MS analysis peaks assignable to succinic acid, dehydroabietic acid and pimaric acid were detected, which are known to be the components of the amber. In the meanwhile, the presence of compounds appearing in certain amber will be applied to differentiate the provenances of amber relics if their fragments are available for the analysis. These results are expected to help the confirmation of archaeological amber relics and archaeometric interpretation of provenances and manufacturing techniques.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.165-173
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• 2012

In this work, scientific and systematic analysis was conducted for finding out the methods and techniques of ancient ink stick making. Analysis the ancient ink stick on ancient documents and wooden writing as letter or painting, we concluded as followings. From the analysis of ancient wood by dendrochronology, wood was cut at 1899, which provided the information on the year of ink stick's made on writing on ancient wood. Single particle size for soot of ancient ink stick was 107 nm for ink on the roof-filling timber in Sinsunwonjeon of Changdeok Palace, compared to 38 to 86 nm on the letter on ancient 12 paper document. Aggregate particle size was 370 nm for ink on the roof-filling timber in Sinsunwonjeon of Changdeok Palace, but 206 to 318 nm for aggregate particle size on 12 paper documents. There was similar pattern between single particle size and aggregate particle size of soot, which might provide the information of raw material for ancient ink. From infra-red and Raman spectroscopic analysis of sheet of writing on paper or wood, there was severe interference from background material (paper or wood). From Raman spectroscopic analysis of ancient ink carefully separated from ancient wood, spectrum pattern was closer to ink stick made by the soot from pine burning.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.220-225
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• 2020

Hair is made of proteins containing various amino acids. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is believed to be responsible for the most damaging effects of sunlight, and also plays an important role in hair aging. The purpose of this study was to investigate the changes in morphological and chemical structures after ultraviolet B (UVB) irradiation of human hair. The UVB-irradiated hair showed characteristic morphological and structural changes, compared to those of the normal hair. The result from a scanning electron microscope (SEM) equipped with an energy dispersive X-ray diffractometer (EDX) showed that the scale of UV-irradiated hair appeared to be rough and the amount of oxygen element was higher than that of the normal hair. Fluorescence and three dimensional (3D) topographical images were obtained by a confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM). In 3D images, the green emission intensity of normal hair was much higher than that of fluorescing UVB-irradiated hair. The intensity of green emission reflects the intrinsic fluorescence of hair protein. Also, a fluorescent imaging method using fluorescamine reagent was used to identify the free amino groups resulting from a peptide bond breakage in UVB-irradiated hair. Strong blue fluorescence of UVB-irradiated hair, which indicates a very high level of amino groups, was observed by CLSM. Therefore, the fluorescamine as an extrinsic fluorescence could provide a useful tool to identify the peptide bond breakage in UVB-irradiated hair. Infrared image mapping was also employed to assess the cross-sections of normal and UVB-irradiated specimens to examine the oxidation of disulfide bonds. The degree of peak areas with strong absorbance for the disulfide mono-oxide was spread from the outside to the inside of hair. The spectroscopic techniques used alone, or in combination, launch new possibilities in the field of hair cosmetics.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.395-404
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• 2024

Background: Ginsenoside Rg₁ (Rg₁) is one of the main active components in Chinese medicines, Panax ginseng and Panax notoginseng. Research has shown that Rg₁ has a protective effect on the cardiovascular system, including anti-myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury, anti-apoptosis, and promotion of myocardial angiogenesis, suggesting it a potential cardiovascular agent. However, the protective mechanism involved is still not fully understood. Methods: Based on network pharmacology, ligand-based protein docking, proteomics, Western blot, protein recombination and spectroscopic analysis (UV-Vis and fluorescence spectra) techniques, potential targets and pathways for Rg₁ against myocardial ischemia (MI) were screened and explored. Results: An important target set containing 19 proteins was constructed. Two target proteins with more favorable binding activity for Rg₁ against MI were further identified by molecular docking, including mitogen-activated protein kinase 1 (MAPK1) and adenosine kinase (ADK). Meanwhile, Rg₁ intervention on H9c2 cells injured by H₂O₂ showed an inhibitory oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) pathway. The inhibition of Rg₁ on MAPK1 and OXPHOS pathway was confirmed by Western blot assay. By protein recombination and spectroscopic analysis, the binding reaction between ADK and Rg₁ was also evaluated. Conclusion: Rg₁ can effectively alleviate cardiomyocytes oxidative stress injury via targeting MAPK1 and ADK, and inhibiting oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) pathway. The present study provides scientific basis for the clinical application of the natural active ingredient, Rg₁, and also gives rise to a methodological reference to the searching of action targets and pathways of other natural active ingredients.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.64-72
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• 2002

Purpose : To introduce and demonstrate the advantages of the new hybrid two-dimensional (2D) proton spectroscopic imaging (SI) over the single voxel spectroscopy (SVS) and conventional 2D SI in the clinical application of spectroscopy for pediatric cerebral disease. Materials and Methods : Eighty-one hybrid 2D proton spectroscopic imaging was performed in 79 children (36 normal infants and children, 10 with hypoxic-ischemic injury, 20 with toxic-metabolic encephalopathy, seven with brain tumor, three with meningoencephalitis, one with neurofibromatosis, one with Sturge-Weber syndrome and one with lissencephaly) ranging in age from the third day of life to 15 years. In adult volunteers (n=5), all three techniques including hybrid 2D proton SI, SVS using PRESS sequence, and conventional 2D proton SI were performed. Both hybrid 2D proton SI and SVS using PRESS sequence were performed in clinical cases (n=). All measurements were performed with a 1.5-T scanner using standard head quadrature coil. The 16$\times$16 phase encoding steps were set on variable field of view (FOV) depending on the size of the brain. The hybrid volume of interest inside FOV was set as $75{\times}75{\times}15{\;}\textrm{mm}^3$ or smaller to get rid of unwanted fat signal. Point-resolved spectroscopy (TR/TE=1,500 msec/135 or 270msec) was employed with standard chemical shift selective saturation (CHESSI pulses for water suppression. The acquisition time and spectral quality of hybrid 2D proton SI were compared with those of SVS and conventional 2D proton SI. Results : The hybrid 2D proton SI was successfully conducted upon all patients.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.27 no.7
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• pp.1038-1042
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• 2006

A new type of DTPA-bis-amides (L1-L4) and their Gd(III)-complexes of the type $[Gd(L)(H_2O)]{\cdot}nH_2O$ (5: L1; 6: L2; 7: L3; 8: L4) have been prepared and characterized by analytical and spectroscopic techniques. The X-ray crystal structure of 8 has been determined for structural confirmation. The coordination geometry adopts a tricapped trigonal prism geometry with L4 acting as a chelate octadentate and a water molecule in the coordination sphere. Crystals are monoclinic, $P2_1$, a = 14.468(3), b = 19.235(4), c = 13.527(2) $\AA$ $\beta$ = $107.245(3)^{\circ}$, V = 3595.2(11) $\AA^3$, Z = 4, $D_{calc}$ = 1.570. Significant increases in relaxivities are observed with 6 and 7 as compared with that of $Omniscan^{(R)}$, a commercial MR agent: R1 = 12.46 $mM^{-1}\;s^{-1}$, R2 = 8.76 $mM^{-1}\;s^{-1}$ for 6; R1 = 12.77 nm-1 s-1, R2 = 7.60 mM-1 s-1 for 7; R1 = 4.9 $mM^{-1}\;s^{-1}$, R2 = 4.8 $mm^{-1}\;s^{-1}$ for $Omniscan^{(R)}$. In the case of 5, however, both R1 and R2 are found to be lower to show 2.09 $mM^{-1}\;s^{-1}$, and 1.82 $mM^{-1}\;s^{-1}$, respectively.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.1217-1223
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• 2008

A series of Zr,S co-doped $TiO_2$ were synthesized by a modified sol-gel method and characterized by various spectroscopic and analytical techniques. The presence of sulfur caused a red-shift in the absorption band of $TiO_2$. Co-doping of sulfur and zirconium (Zr-$TiO_2$-S) improves the surface properties such as surface area, pore volume, and pore diameter and also enhances the thermal stability of the anatase phase. The Zr-$TiO_2$-S systems are very effective visible-light active catalysts for the degradation of toluene. All reactions follow pseudo firstorder kinetics with the decomposition rate reaching as high as 77% within 4 h. The catalytic activity decreases in the following order: Zr-$TiO_2$-S >$TiO_2$-S >Zr-$TiO_2$>$TiO_2$$\approx$ P-25, demonstrating the synergic effect of codoping with zirconium and sulfur. When the comparison is made within the series of Zr-$TiO_2$-S, the catalytic performance is found to be a function of Zr-contents as follows: 3 wt % Zr-TiO2-S >0.5 wt % Zr-$TiO_2$-S> 5 wt % Zr-$TiO_2$-S >1 wt % Zr-$TiO_2$-S. Higher calcination temperature decreases the reactivity of Zr-$TiO_2$-S.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2016.02a
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• pp.355-355
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• 2016

There has been an explosive development of nanocrystal (NC) synthesis and application due to their composition-dependent specific properties. Despite the composition, shape, and size of NCs foremost determine their physicochemical properties, the surface state and molecule conjugation also drastically change their characteristics. To make practical use of NCs, it is a prerequisite to understand the NC surface state and the degree to which they have been modified because the reaction occurs on the interface between the NCs and the surrounding medium. We report in here an analysis method to identify conjugated ligands and their binding states on semiconductor nanocrystals based on their molecular information. Surface science techniques, such as time-of-flight secondary-ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) and FT-IR spectroscopy, are adopted based on the micro-aggregated sampling method. Typical trioctylphosphine oxide-based synthesis methods of CdSe/ZnS quantum dots (QDs) have been criticized because of the peculiar effects of impurities on the synthesis processes. Since the ToF-SIMS technique provides molecular composition evidence on the existence of certain ligands, we were able to clearly identify the n-octylphosphonic acid (OPA) as a surface ligand on CdSe/ZnS QDs. Furthermore, the complementary use of the ToF-SIMS technique with the FT-IR technique could reveals the OPA ligands' binding state as bidentate complexes.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.579-588
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• 2015

Fungi of the genus Pestalotiopsis have drawn attention for their capability to produce an array of bioactive secondary metabolites that have potential for drug development. Here, we report the determination of a polyketide derivative compound, pestalotiollide B, in the culture of the saprophytic fungus Pestalotiopsis microspora NK17. Structural information acquired by analyses with a set of spectroscopic and chromatographic techniques suggests that pestalotiollide B has the same skeleton as the penicillide derivatives, dibenzodioxocinones, which are inhibitors of cholesterol ester transfer protein (CETP), and as purpactins A and C', inhibitors of acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT). Strain NK17 can make a fairly high yield of pestalotiollide B (i.e., up to 7.22 mg/l) in a constitutive manner in liquid culture. Moreover, we found that a putative histone deacetylase gene, designated as hid1, played a role in the biosynthesis of pestalotiollide B. In the hid1 null mutant, the yield of pestalotiollide B increased approximately 2-fold to 15.90 mg/l. In contrast, deletion of gene hid1 led to a dramatic decrease of conidia production of the fungus. These results suggest that hid1 is a modulator, concerting secondary metabolism and development such as conidiation in P. microspora. Our work may help with the investigation into the biosynthesis of pestalotiollide B and the development for new CETP and ACAT inhibitors.

• Journal of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.303-306
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• 2005

Transient luminous events (TLEs; sprites, elves, jets and etc.) are lightning-related optical flashes occurring above thunderstorms. Since the first discovery of sprites in 1989, scientists have learned a great deal about the morphological, spectroscopic and electromagnetic characteristics of TLEs through ground and spacecraft campaigns. However, most of the TLE studies were based on events recorded over US High Plains. To elucidate the possible biasing effects, space-borne observations are needed and have their merits. Imager of sprites and Upper Atmospheric Lightning (ISUAL) on the FORMOSAT-2 satellite is the first instrument to carry out a true global measurement of TLEs from a low- earth orbit. In this short paper, we apply a common astronomical data analysis technique, two-color diagram, on the ISUAL spectrophotometer (SP) data. By choosing appropriated bandpasses and converting the measured flux of TLEs into the unit of magnitude, two-color diagrams of TLEs can be constructed. We demonstrate that two-color diagrams, which were constructed from the narrow-band spectrophotometer data, can be used to classify different types of TLEs and trace their temporal evolution. The amount of reddening due to Earth's atmosphere can also be estimated from two-color diagrams assembled from the broad-band spectrophotometer data.