• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.559-567
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• 2013

In recent years, NF (nanofiltration) membrane has been receiving great attention for hardness removal and has begun to replace traditional lime soda ash softening process, particularly in Florida, USA, mainly due to less sludge production and easy operation. This study aimed to provide detailed surface characteristics of various commercial NF membranes by performing sophisticated surface analysis, which would help more fundamentally understand the performance of NF membranes. More specifically, a total of 7 NF membranes from top NF/RO manufacturers in the world were examined for basic performance tests, surface analysis, and fouling potential assessment. The results demonstrated that NF membranes are classified into two groups in terms of surface zeta potential; they are highly negatively charged ones, and neutral and/or less negatively charged ones. Their hydrophobicities, measured by contact angle, varied from hydrophilic to slightly hydrophobic ones. The AFM measurements showed various surface roughness, ranging from 23 nm (smooth) to 162 nm (rough) of average peak height. Lab-scale fouling experiments were performed using feedwater obtained from conventional water treatment plants in the province of Korea, and their results attempted to correlate to surface characteristics of NF membranes. However, unlike typical RO membranes, no clear correlation was found in this study, indicating that fouling mechanisms of NF membrane may be different from those of typical RO membranes, and both cake deposition and pore blocking mechanisms should be considered simultaneously.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.2045-2050
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• 2011

Using first principles density functional theory the formation energies of various binary compounds of lithium graphite and its homologues were calculated. Lithium and graphite react to form $Li_1C_6$ (+141 mV) but not form $LiC_4$ (-143 mV), $LiC_3$ (-247 mV) and $LiC_2$ (-529 mV) because they are less stable than lithium metal itself. Properties of structure and reaction potentials of $C_5B$, $C_5N$ and $B_3N_3$ materials as iso-structural graphite were studied. Boron and nitrogen substituted graphite and boron-nitrogen material as a iso-electronic structured graphitic material have longer graphene layer spacing than that of graphite. The layer spacing of $Li_xC_6$, $Li_xC_5B$, $Li_xC_5N$ materials increased until to x=1, and then decreased until to x=2 and 3. Nevertheless $Li_xB_3N_3$ has opposite tendency of layer spacing variation. Among various lithium compositions of $Li_xC_5B$, $Li_xC_5N$ and $Li_xB_3N_3$, reaction potentials of $Li_xC_5B$ (x=1-3) and $Li_xC_5$ (x=1) from total energy analyses have positive values against lithium deposition.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.402-408
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• 2003

A quantitative method was suggested for estimating damages in fishery production due to the diffusion and deposition of suspended silt and clay by various construction processes in tidal flat fishing grounds. Marine populations are maintained through the process of spawning, growth, recruitment, natural death and death by fishing each year. All of the year classes of the population in a fishery ground could be affected when damages occur by human activities such as land filling or reclamation. The propose of this study is to calculate damages in terms of fishery production using a quantitative population dynamic method. If the maximum age in the population is $X_\lambda,$ the starting year of damage is $t_s,$ and the ending year of damage is $t_e,$ the number of year classes damaged is $t_{s-n\lambda}-t_e,$ Many year classes present in the year $t_s,$ and so if damages occur, they Influence all the year classes which are present in the population. Damaged year classes in year $t_e$ would still be in the population until the year $t_{e+n\lambda}$, where $n_{\lambda}$ is the oldest age class. If the expected yield of a year class is constant, the total yield from year classes in the fishing ground during the construction periods can be calculated as follows: $Y_\Phi=[(t_e-t_s+1)+n_c]{\cdot}Y_E+\sum\limits^{n_\lambda-n_c}_{l=1}\;\sum\limits^{n_\lambda-n_c}_{l=i}\;Y_{n_c+i}$ This method was applied for damage estimation in the production of Ruditapes philippinarum in a tidal flat fishing ground.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.371-380
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• 2013

Doxorubicin is still main drug in chemotherapy with limitation of use due to adverse drug reaction. Increased oxidative stress and alteration of nitric oxide control have been involved in cardiotoxicity of doxorubicin (DOX). A Disintegrin And Metalloproteinase (ADAMs) are transmembrane ectoproteases to regulate cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions, but role in cardiac disease is unclear. The aim of this study was to determine whether DOX activates peroxynitrite and ADAM 10 and thus ADAM and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) induce cardiac remodeling in DOX-induced cardiomyopathy. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to cardiomyopathy by DOX (6 times of 2.5 mg/kg DOX over 2-weeks), and were randomized as four groups. Then followed by 3, 5, 7, and 14 days after cessation of DOX injection. DOX-injected animals significantly decreased left ventricular fractional shortening compared with control by M-mode echocardiography. The expressions of cardiac nitrotyrosine by immunohistochemistry were significant increased, and persisted for 2 weeks following the last injection. The expression of eNOS was increased by 1.9 times (p<0.05), and iNOS was marked increased in DOX-heart compared with control (p<0.001). Compared to control rats, cardiac ADAM10- and MMP 9- protein expressions increased by 20 times, and active/total MMP 9 proteolytic activity showed increase tendency at day 14 after cessation of DOX injection (n=10, each group). DOX-treated $H_9C_2$ cell showed increased ADAM10 protein expression with dose-dependency (p<0.01) and morphometric changes showed the increase of ventricular interstitial, nonvascular collagen deposition. These data suggest that activation of cardiac peroxynitrite with increased iNOS expression and ADAM 10-dependent MMP 9 expression may be a molecular mechanism that contributes to left ventricular remodeling in DOXinduced cardiomyopathy.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.217-222
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• 2010

Many studies have reported that bleomycin, anti-cancer drug, induces pulmonary fibrosis as a side effect. However, few investigations have focused on the dose-response effects of bleomycin on pulmonary fibrosis. Therefore, in the present study, we investigated the effects of different doses of bleomycin in male mice. ICR mice were given 3 consecutive doses of bleomycin: 1, 2, or 4 mg/kg in bleomycin-treated (BT) groups and saline only in vehicle control (VC) groups. The animals were sacrificed at 7 and 24 days postinstillation. The severity of pulmonary fibrosis was evaluated according to inflammatory cell count and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity in the broncho alveolar lavage fluid (BALF), and lung tissues were histologically evaluated after hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), and Masson's trichrome staining. BT groups exhibited changed cellular profiles in BAL fluid compared to the VC group, which had an increased number of total cells, neutrophils, and lymphocytes and a modest increase in the number of macrophages at 7 days post-bleomycin instillation. Moreover, BT groups showed a dose-dependent increase in LDH levels and inflammatory cell counts. However, at 24 days after treatment, collagen deposition, interstitial thickening, and granulomatous lesions were observed in the alveolar spaces in addition to a decrease in inflammatory cells. These results indicate that pulmonary fibrosis induced by 4 mg/kg bleomycin was more severe than that induced by 1 or 2 mg/kg. These data will be utilized in experimental animal models and as basic data to evaluate therapeutic candidates through non-invasive monitoring using the pulmonary fibrosis mouse model established in this study.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.16 no.E2
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• pp.85-96
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• 2000

The concentrations of Pb, Mn, Al and Na were measured from a total of 26 snow samples collected from a 1.5-m deep snow pit in Livingston Island, South Shetland Islands, at the northern tip of the Antarctic Peninsula. Ore sampling location is great concern, because of its proximity to the southern extremity of south America, a candidate for the source regions of pollutant aerosols entering Antarctica. The mean concentrations of Pb and Mn were found to be 4.97 pg g(sup)-1 and 20.6 pgg(sup)-1, respectively. These concentrations levels are similar to those reported for recent snow at other Antarctic sites with pronounced spring maxima for both metals. Contributions form natural sources are estimated to be minor (∼16%) for Pb. For Mn, on the other hand, contribution from rock and soil dusts is found to be very important. Excess Pb over Pb from natural sources is likely to be anthropogenic, especially from South Americal. Our results show that yearly Pb fallout flux is much greater in Antarctic coastal areas than at other Antarctic locations far from the coast , indicating that the transport and deposition patterns of pollutant aerosols are not simple is Antarctica. It is also suggested that the recycling of anthropogenic Pb in seawater to the atmosphere could significantly contribute to the Pb fallout flux in the Antarctic coastal regions.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.28 no.7
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• pp.976-986
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• 2015

The present study was conducted to determine the effects of lipid sources with different fatty acids profile on meat fatty acids profile and beef quality traits of Nellore. A total of 45 Nellore animals with an average initial body weight of $419{\pm}11kg$ (at $15{\pm}2mo$) were distributed in a completely randomized design consisting of 5 treatments and 9 replicates. The roughage feed was maize silage (600 g/kg on a dry matter [DM] basis) plus concentrate (400 g/kg on a DM basis). The dietary treatments were as follows: without fat (WF), palm oil (PO), linseed oil (LO), protected fat (PF), and soybean grains (SG). No effects of lipid sources were observed (p>0.05) on beef color, pH, water-holding capacity, and sarcomere length. Beef from cattle fed PO had greater shear-force values (p<0.05) compared to beef from cattle fed WF. Deposition of main unsaturated fatty acids (oleic, linoleic, and linolenic) was greater in treatments WF, SG, and LO, respectively, while the values of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) were greater when animals were fed LO. The inclusion of LO in the diet enhances the concentration of CLA in longissimus muscle and subcutaneous fat besides improving the atherogenicity index and elongase activity. As such, LO can be used with the aim to improve the quality of beef from confined Nellore cattle. Conversely, the use of PO is not recommended since it may increase the concentration of undesirable unsaturated fatty acids in muscle and subcutaneous fat, shear-force and the atherogenicity index.

• Advances in nano research
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.261-279
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• 2017

Spectroscopic investigation of Si quantum dots (Si-QDs) embedded in silicon nitride was performed over a broad stoichiometry range to optimize light emission. Plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition was used to grow the $SiN_x$ films on Si (001) substrates. The film composition was controlled via the flow ratio of silane ($SiH_4$) and ammonia ($NH_3$) in the range of R = 0.45-1.0 allowed to vary the Si excess in the range of 21-62 at.%. The films were submitted to annealing at $1100^{\circ}C$ for 30 min in nitrogen to form the Si-QDs. The properties of as-deposited and annealed films were investigated using spectroscopic ellipsometry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman scattering and photoluminescence (PL) methods. Si-QDs were detected in $SiN_x$ films demonstrating the increase of sizes with Si excess. The residual amorphous Si clusters were found to be present in the films grown with Si excess higher than 50 at.%. Multi-component PL spectra at 300 K in the range of 1.5-3.5 eV were detected and nonmonotonous varying total PL peak versus Si excess was revealed. To identify the different PL components, the temperature dependence of PL spectra was investigated in the range of 20-300 K. The analysis allowed concluding that the "blue-orange" emission is due to the radiative defects in a $SiN_x$ matrix, whereas the "red" and "infrared" PL bands are caused by the exciton recombination in crystalline Si-QDs and amorphous Si clusters. The nature of radiative and no radiative defects in $SiN_x$ films is discussed. The ways to control the dominant PL emission mechanisms are proposed.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.18 no.10
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• pp.1451-1456
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• 2005

To study the acute effect of dietary docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, $C_{22:6}$) on the expression of adipocyte determination and differentiation-dependent factor 1 (ADD1) mRNA in pig tissues, weaned, crossbred pigs (28 d of age) were fed with either 10% (on as-fed basis) tallow (high stearic acid), soybean oil (high linoleic acid), or high DHA algal oil for 2 d. The plasma and liver DHA reflected the composition of the diet. The adipose tissue and skeletal muscle DHA did not reflect the diet in the short term feeding. The results also showed that the diet containing 10% algal DHA oil significantly decreased the total plasma cholesterol (39%) and triacylglycerol (TG; 46%) in the pigs. Soybean oil significantly decreased plasma TG (13.7%; p<0.05), but did not have an effect on plasma cholesterol. The data indicate that different dietary fatty acid compositions have different effects on plasma lipids. The ADD1 mRNA was decreased (p<0.05) in the liver of DHA oil-treated pigs compared with the tallow-treated pigs. The diets did not have significant effect on the ADD1 mRNA in adipose tissue. Addition of algal DHA oil in the diet increased acyl CoA oxidase (ACO) mRNA concentration in the liver, suggesting that dietary DHA treatment increases peroxisomal fatty acid oxidation in the liver. However, dietary soybean oil supplementation did not affect mRNA concentrations of ADD1 or ACO in the tissues of pigs. Because ADD1 increases the expression of genes associated with lipogenesis, and ACO is able to promote fatty acid oxidation, feeding DHA oil may change the utilization of fatty acids through changing the expression of ADD1 and ACO. Therefore, feeding pigs with high DHA may lead to lower body fat deposition.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.2314-2320
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• 2015

MBR (Membrane Bio-Reactor) process is known to consume enormous energy to control membrane fouling. To solve this problem, electro-coagulation technique has been applied to MBR. A series of electro-coagulation was applied to activated sludge suspension under different current density condition. After the electro-coagulations, membrane filtration of the activated sludge suspensions was conducted to investigate the effect of electro-coagulation on the fouling. As current density increased 10 to 40A/m2, the total fouling resistance (Rc+Rf) decreased from 18 to 79%, showing that the electro-coagulation improved the membrane filtration efficiency. Both the organic concentration in bulk and the particles size distribution were not nearly changed before and after the electro-coagulation. The enhanced filtration efficiency might be due to the aluminum hydroxide generated from chemical precipitation, which can be acted as a dynamic membrane preventing a deposition of foulants on membrane surfaces.