• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.54.1-54.16
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• 2020

Objectives: This study aimed to synthesize nanocrystals (NCs) of zinc oxide (ZnO) and calcium ion (Ca²⁺)-doped ZnO with different percentages of calcium oxide (CaO), to evaluate cytotoxicity and to assess the effects of the most promising NCs on cytotoxicity depending on lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation. Materials and Methods: Nanomaterials were synthesized (ZnO and ZnO:xCa, x = 0.7; 1.0; 5.0; 9.0) and characterized using X-ray diffractometry, scanning electron microscopy, and methylene blue degradation. SAOS-2 and RAW 264.7 were treated with NCs, and evaluated for viability using the MTT assay. NCs with lower cytotoxicity were maintained in contact with LPS-stimulated (+LPS) and nonstimulated (-LPS) human dental pulp cells (hDPCs). Cell viability, nitric oxide (NO), and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production were evaluated. Cells kept in culture medium or LPS served as negative and positive controls, respectively. One-way analysis of variance and the Dunnett test (α = 0.05) were used for statistical testing. Results: ZnO:0.7Ca and ZnO:1.0Ca at 10 ㎍/mL were not cytotoxic to SAOS-2 and RAW 264.7. +LPS and -LPS hDPCs treated with ZnO, ZnO:0.7Ca, and ZnO:1.0Ca presented similar NO production to negative control (p > 0.05) and lower production compared to positive control (p < 0.05). All NCs showed reduced ROS production compared with the positive control group both in +LPS and -LPS cells (p < 0.05). Conclusions: NCs were successfully synthesized. ZnO, ZnO:0.7Ca and ZnO:1.0Ca presented the highest percentages of cell viability, decreased ROS and NO production in +LPS cells, and maintenance of NO production at basal levels.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.25 no.12
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• pp.1748-1758
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• 2012

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of chemical composition of wheat shorts and red dog on energy and amino acid digestibility in growing pigs and to establish prediction models to estimate their digestible (DE) and metabolizable (ME) energy content and as well as their standardized ileal digestible (SID) amino acid content. For Exp. 1, sixteen diets were fed to thirty-two growing pigs according to a completely randomized design during three successive periods. The basal diet was based on corn and soybean meal while the other fifteen diets contained 28.8% wheat shorts (N = 7) or red dog (N = 8), added at the expense of corn and soybean meal. Over the three periods, each diet was fed to six pigs with each diet being fed to two pigs during each period. The apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of energy in wheat shorts and red dog averaged 75.1 and 87.9%. The DE values of wheat shorts and red dog averaged 13.8 MJ/kg (range 13.1 to 15.0 MJ/kg) and 15.1 MJ/kg (range 13.3 to 16.6 MJ/kg) of dry matter, respectively. For Exp. 2, twelve growing pigs were allotted to two $6{\times}6$ Latin Square Designs with six periods. Ten of the diets were formulated based on 60% wheat shorts or red dog and the remaining two diets were nitrogen-free diets based on cornstarch and sucrose. Chromic oxide (0.3%) was used as an indigestible marker in all diets. There were no differences (p>0.05) in SID values for the amino acids in wheat shorts and red dog except for lysine and methionine. Apparent ileal digestibility (AID) and SID values for lysine in different sources of wheat shorts or red dog, which averaged 78.1 and 87.8%, showed more variation than either methionine or tryptophan. A stepwise regression was performed to establish DE, ME and amino acid digestibility prediction models. Data indicated that fiber content and amino acid concentrations were good indicators to predict energy values and amino acid digestibility, respectively. The present study confirms the large variation in the energy content and amino acid digestibility in wheat shorts and red dog, and describes the factors that influence this variation and presents equations based on chemical composition that could probably be used to predict the DE and ME values as well as the amino acid digestibility of wheat shorts and red dog.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.26 no.11
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• pp.1630-1636
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• 2013

An investigation was carried out to assess the carcass characteristics and meat quality aspects of immunocastrated male pigs of medium genetic potential for lean meat deposition in carcass (53 to 55%). When the crossbred Large White x Landrace pigs (n = 45) were 70 days old, they were distributed in a totally randomized design in three treatments (castrated males, females and immunocastrated males) with three replicates of five animals. The pigs were slaughtered when they were 140 days old. Carcass temperature and pH were recorded twice, at 45 min and 24 h after slaughter. The carcasses were evaluated for hot and cold carcass yield, commercial cuts yield, length and depth, back fat thickness, loin eye area and lean meat percentage. The Longissimus dorsi muscle was extracted for analysis of color ($L^*$, $a^*$, $b^*$), exudate loss, cooking loss and centesimal and sensorial analysis of the meat. There were no significant differences for the evaluated parameters between castrated males, immunocastrated males and females, except for backfat thickness between the 7th and 8th thoracic vertebra and the point P2 (lower for immunocastrated males) and carcass temperature at 45 min post slaughter (higher in immunocastrated males), however, this did not interfer with the rate of pH decrease post mortem and the meat quality. The results from this research did not indicate a benefit of immunocastration on carcass characteristics of pigs of medium genetic potential for lean meat deposition in carcass, when compared to surgical castration.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Automotive Engineers
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.76-84
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• 2010

The aim of this study is to analyze the effect of the ethanol blending in diesel-ethanol blended fuels on the spray and combustion characteristics in a common-rail four-cylinder diesel engine. For the analysis of the spray characteristics, the spray images were obtained using a high speed camera with metal-halide lamps. From these spray images, the macroscopic spray characteristics such as the spray tip penetration and spray cone angle were investigated. Also, the combustion characteristics including the combustion pressure and the rate of heat release were studied with the analysis of the exhaust emissions in diesel-ethanol blended fuel driven diesel engine. It can be confirmed from the experiment on spray characteristics of diesel-ethanol blended fuels that the increased ethanol blending ratio induced the decrease of the spray tip penetration after the end of the injection. The spray cone angle slightly increased by the blending of ethanol fuel. In the experiment on atomization characteristics, the ethanol blending caused the improvement of the diesel atomization performance. On the other hand, at the same engine load condition, the increase of the ethanol blending ratio lead to lengthen the ignition delays, and to decrease the peak combustion pressure and the rate of heat release. Totally, the combustion and emission characteristics of ULSD and DE10 showed similar characteristics. However, in the case of DE20, CO and HC rapidly increased, and $NO_x$ decreased. It can be believed that 20% ethanol disturbed the combustion of diesel-ethanol blended fuel due to the low cetane number and evaporation.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.900-905
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• 2015

DeNOx catalysts composed of Mn, Cu and $TiO_2$ were prepared and tested for $NH_3$-SCR. The performance of each catalyst was studied for the NOx removal efficiency while changing the calcination temperature, reaction time, and oxygen concentration. The hydrogen conversion efficiency of a calcined catalyst was measured at the $H_2$-TPR system. The change in the specific surface area of catalyst according to the calcination temperature was analyzed. As a result, the proper calcination temperature was approximately $300^{\circ}C$. If the calcination temperature is increased to $500^{\circ}C$, the NOx removal efficiency of Mn and Cu constituents is largely decreased at the low temperature range. Oxygen in flue gas is an important parameter in the SCR reaction and optimal oxygen concentration is approximately 8 vol.%.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.693-700
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• 2011

To evaluate the antioxidant effects of vitamin C, vitamin E and sorghum bran, alone or in combination on chicken sausages, 9 kg of chicken thigh meat was prepared. All thigh meat was divided into seven different batches as follows; no antioxidant (CON); vitamin C (VTC), vitamin E (VTE) or sorghum bran (SOR) at 0.02%; or three different combination ratios of vitamin C, vitamin E and sorghum bran at 0.02% (VT2, 2:1:1; VT4, 4:1:1; VT6, 6:1:1). All cooked sausages were stored at $4^{\circ}C$, and six sausages per treatment were used for chemical analysis on five different storage days. As the addition of vitamin E was increased, sausages stored for 10 d had decreased redness; thereby, VTE showed the lowest CIE $a^*$ (p<0.05). Sausages mixed with vitamins and sorghum bran combinations had lower peroxide and free fatty acid values (p<0.05) when compared to sausages without antioxidants. The TBARS were the lowest in sausages containing vitamin C, vitamin E and sorghum bran at 6:1:1 ratio, and they significantly differed to CON, VTC and SOR treatments (p<0.05). Therefore, our results suggest that meat mixed with vitamins and sorghum bran had more antioxidant activity than the meat mixed with only antioxidant vitamins or without antioxidants.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.115-121
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• 2011

Purpose : This article is to describe a modified device for intraoral radiography which was developed to obtain reproducible radiographic images for assessment of distal osseous defects of the mandibular second molar (2 Mm) after impacted third molar (3 Mm) surgery. Materials and Methods : A commercial available alignment system for posterior region was modified by adding a reference gauge pin (millimetric) and threading a hollow acrylic cylinder at the ring of the radiographic positioner to attach the X-ray collimator. The design included customized resin acrylic stent for the occlusal surface of the 2Mm in maximum intercuspal position, individualizing the biteblock positioner. Periapical radiographs were taken before and after surgical extraction of 3 Mm, employing the radiographic technique of parallelism described by Kugelberg (1986) with this modified film holder and inserting the gauge pin on the deepest bone probing depth point. Results : This technique permitted to obtain standardized periapical radiographs with a moderate to high resolution, repeatability, and accuracy. There was no difference between the measurements on the pre- and post-operative radiographs. This technique allowed better maintenance of the same geometric position compared with conventional one. The insertion of the gauge pin provided the same reference point and localized the deepest osseous defect on the two-dimensional radiographs. Conclusion : This technique allowed better reproducibility in posterior radiographic records (distal surface of 2 Mm) and more accurate measurements of radiographic bone level by the use of a millimetric pin.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.246-256
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• 2022

The present study focused on the potential mechanism of betulin (BT), a pentacyclic triterpenoid isolated from the bark of white birch (Betula pubescens), against chronic alcohol-induced lipid accumulation and metaflammation. AML-12 and RAW 264.7 cells were administered ethanol (EtOH), lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or BT. Male C57BL/6 mice were fed Lieber-DeCarli liquid diets containing 5% EtOH for 4 weeks, followed by single EtOH gavage on the last day and simultaneous treatment with BT (20 or 50 mg/kg) by oral gavage once per day. In vitro, MTT showed that 0-25 mM EtOH and 0-25 µM BT had no toxic effect on AML-12 cells. BT could regulate sterolregulatory-element-binding protein 1 (SREBP1), lipin1/2, P2X7 receptor (P2X7r) and NOD-like receptor family, pyrin domains-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) expressions again EtOH-stimulation. Oil Red O staining also indicated that BT significantly reduced lipid accumulation in EtOH-stimulated AML-12 cells. Lipin1/2 deficiency indicated that BT might mediate lipin1/2 to regulate SREBP1 and P2X7r expression and further alleviate lipid accumulation and inflammation. In vivo, BT significantly alleviated histopathological changes, reduced serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and triglyceride (TG) levels, and regulated lipin1/2, SREBP1, peroxisome proliferator activated receptor α/γ (PPARα/γ) and PGC-1α expression compared with the EtOH group. BT reduced the secretion of inflammatory factors and blocked the P2X7r-NLRP3 signaling pathway. Collectively, BT attenuated lipid accumulation and metaflammation by regulating the lipin1/2-mediated P2X7r signaling pathway.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.7
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• pp.29-33
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• 1966

This experiment was conducted to study the relationship between the energy value and the nitrogen content in the rat urine. Thirteen rats for ad libitum feeding group and 16 rats for two-meal group were employed in this experiment. The experimental period consisted of 22 days with a preliminary period of 10 days. During the last eight days of the experiment the urine was collected quantitatively. The rats fed two-meal per day excreted significantly (p<0.005) more nitrogen and energy in the urine than those fed ad libitum. A linear relationship between the energy concentration and nitrogen content was found. The urinary energy value was increased as the urinary nitrogen content was increased. A prediction equation was derived to compute the energy value from the content of nitrogen as follows: Y=8.924X+0.182 $S_{y{\cdot}x}=0.788$ where Y=urinary energy(kcal/100 ml) X=urinary nitrogen(gm/100 ml) Since the standard deviation of estimate is in small magnitude (0.788 kcal) when it is compared with the amount of intake of gross energy, digestible energy or metabolizable energy, this equation can be used safely to estimate the energy value from nitrogen content. Consequently, considerable amound of time and labor for the actual determination of energy can be saved. The ratio of energy to nitrogen was found to be 9.4 for ad adlibitum group and 8.6 for two-meal group. No significant difference between two group in this respect was observed.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.76-90
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• 1993

To clarify the relations between photoperiodism and x-organ of eyestalks to the control of gonadal maturation in a freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium nipponense, the present investigation was performed with following examinations: 1) the influence of water temperature and daylength on the control of gonadal maturation, 2) the effect of eyestalk ablation on the gonadal maturation, 3) the seasonal variation of histology of MEX-organ (medulla externa X-organ) in the eyestalk. In previtellogenesis period (December${\sim}$March) and vitellogenesis period (April${\sim}$May), gonadal maturation was considerablely influnced by water temperature. In these periods, GSI increased and gonads were matured with water temperature rising without regard to photoperiod conditions (12L/12D and 15L/9D). In spawning period (June${\sim}$August), however, gonadal maturation was influenced by photoperiod condition. While high value of GSI was kept at long photoperiod regime (15L/9D), GSI was decreased at short photoperiod regime (12L/12D). In resting period (September${\sim}$November), no rematuration was occurred at all the experimental regimes combinated with water temperatures ($16^{\circ}C,\;22^{\circ}C,\;28^{\circ}C$) and photoperiod (12L/12D, 15L/9D). Effect of X-organ which inhibite the gonadal maturation was stronger in resting period than that in previtellogenesis and ealy spawning periods by observations on the effectiveness of eyestalk ablation on the gonadal maturation. In MEX-organ of eyestalk, the number of neurosecretory cells of which size was over $20{\mu}m$ in diameter varied according to the reproductive cycle. The number of cells increased $77{\pm}12$ in resting period, and decreased $55{\pm}7$ in vitellogenesis period. Volume of Bellonci's organ, however, increased in vitellogenesis period in comparison with that in resting period.