• BMB Reports
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• v.48 no.7
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• pp.395-400
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• 2015

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disability caused by a decrease of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra (SN). Although the etiology of PD is not clear, oxidative stress is believed to lead to PD. Catalase is antioxidant enzyme which plays an active role in cells as a reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenger. Thus, we investigated whether PEP-1-Catalase protects against 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP⁺) induced SH-SY5Y neuronal cell death and in a 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-trtrahydropyridine (MPTP) induced PD animal model. PEP-1-Catalase transduced into SH-SY5Y cells significantly protecting them against MPP⁺-induced death by decreasing ROS and regulating cellular survival signals including Akt, Bax, Bcl-2, and p38. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that transduced PEP-1-Catalase markedly protected against neuronal cell death in the SN in the PD animal model. Our results indicate that PEP-1-Catalase may have potential as a therapeutic agent for PD and other oxidative stress related diseases. [BMB Reports 2015; 48(7): 395-400]

• Journal of Advanced Marine Engineering and Technology
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.230-237
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• 2017

In this study, electrochemical methods were used to determine the optimum protection potential of S355ML steel for the cathodic protection of offshore wind-turbine-tower substructures. The results of potentiodynamic polarization experiments indicated that the anodic polarization curve did not represent a passivation behavior, while under the cathodic polarization concentration, polarization was observed due to the reduction of dissolved oxygen, followed by activation polarization by hydrogen evolution as the potential shifted towards the active direction. The concentration polarization region was found to be located between approximately -0.72 V and -1.0 V, and this potential range is considered to be the potential range for cathodic protection using the impressed current cathodic protection method. The results of the potentiostatic experiments at various potentials revealed that varying current density tended to become stable with time. Surface characterization after the potentiostatic experiment for 1200 s, by using a scanning electron microscope and a 3D analysis microscope confirmed that corrosion damage occurred as a result of anodic dissolution under an anodic polarization potential range of 0 to -0.50 V, which corresponds to anodic polarization. Under potentials corresponding to cathodic polarization, however, a relatively intact surface was observed with the formation of calcareous deposits. As a result, the potential range between -0.8 V and -1.0 V, which corresponds to the concentration polarization region, was determined to be the optimum potential region for impressed current cathodic protection of S355ML steel.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2014.02a
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• pp.344-344
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• 2014

Transparent amorphous oxide semiconductors such as a In-Ga-Zn-O (a-IGZO) have advantages for large area electronic devices; e.g., uniform deposition at a large area, optical transparency, a smooth surface, and large electron mobility >10 cm2/Vs, which is more than an order of magnitude larger than that of hydrogen amorphous silicon (a-Si;H).1) Thin film transistors (TFTs) that employ amorphous oxide semiconductors such as ZnO, In-Ga-Zn-O, or Hf-In-Zn-O (HIZO) are currently subject of intensive study owing to their high potential for application in flat panel displays. The device fabrication process involves a series of thin film deposition and photolithographic patterning steps. In order to minimize contamination, the substrates usually undergo a cleaning procedure using deionized water, before and after the growth of thin films by sputtering methods. The devices structure were fabricated top-contact gate TFTs using the a-IGZO films on the plastic substrates. The channel width and length were 80 and 20 um, respectively. The source and drain electrode regions were defined by photolithography and wet etching process. The electrodes consisting of Ti(15 nm)/Al(120 nm)/Ti(15nm) trilayers were deposited by direct current sputtering. The 30 nm thickness active IGZO layer deposited by rf magnetron sputtering at room temperature. The deposition condition is as follows: a rf power 200 W, a pressure of 5 mtorr, 10% of oxygen [O2/(O2+Ar)=0.1], and room temperature. A 9-nm-thick Al2O3 layer was formed as a first, third gate insulator by ALD deposition. A 290-nm-thick SS6908 organic dielectrics formed as second gate insulator by spin-coating. The schematic structure of the IGZO TFT is top gate contact geometry device structure for typical TFTs fabricated in this study. Drain current (IDS) versus drain-source voltage (VDS) output characteristics curve of a IGZO TFTs fabricated using the 3-layer gate insulator on a plastic substrate and log(IDS)-gate voltage (VG) characteristics for typical IGZO TFTs. The TFTs device has a channel width (W) of $80{\mu}m$ and a channel length (L) of $20{\mu}m$. The IDS-VDS curves showed well-defined transistor characteristics with saturation effects at VG>-10 V and VDS>-20 V for the inkjet printing IGZO device. The carrier charge mobility was determined to be 15.18 cm^2 V-1s-1 with FET threshold voltage of -3 V and on/off current ratio 10^9.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.300-307
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• 1987

The present study was investigated on the DNA damage by the peroxidation of polar and non-polar lipid fractionated from mackerel lipid to elucidate the DNA damage mechanism by fish oil peroxidation. The degree of DNA damage by polar lipid peroxidation became greater with the increase of its concentration, and such DNA damage was induced below 100 millieq./kg in POV for 4 days incubation. Among the polar lipid peroxidation products, singlet oxygen $^1O_2$ and superoxide anion ${\cdot}O_2^-$ greatly affected to the DNA damage than hydrogen peroxide $H_2O_2$ and hydroxyl radical ${\cdot}OH$. Non-polar lipid peroxidation also induced the DNA damage with the increase of its concentration, but such effect was lower than the case of total lipid and polar lipid. And, the effects of active crygens on the DNA damage by non-polar lipid peroxidation was the same as in the case of total and polar lipid peroxidation.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.70-78
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• 2009

Coptis japonica (C. japonica) is a perennial medicinal plant that has anti-inflammatory activity. C. japonica contains numerous biologically active alkaloids including berberine, palmatine, epi-berberine, and coptisine. The most well-known anti-inflammatory principal in C. japonica is berberine. For example, berberine has been implicated in the inhibition of iNOS induction by cytokines in microglial cells. However, the efficacies of other alkaloids components on microglial activation were not investigated yet. In this study, we investigated the effects of three alkaloids (palmatine, epi-berberine and coptisine) from C. japonica on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced microglial activation. BV2 microglial cells were immunostimulated with LPS and then the production of several inflammatory mediators such as nitric oxide (NO), reactive oxygen species (ROS) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) were examined as well as the phosphorylation status of Erk1/2 mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK). Palmatine and to a lesser extent epi-berberine and coptisine, significantly reduced the release of NO, which was mediated by the inhibition of LPS-stimulated mRNA and protein induction of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) from BV2 microglia. In addition to NO, palmatine inhibited MMP-9 enzymatic activity and mRNA induction by LPS. Palmatine also inhibited the increase in the LPS-induced MMP-9 promoter activity determined by MMP-9 promoter luciferase reporter assay. LPS stimulation increased Erk1/2 phosphorylation in BV2 cells and these alkaloids inhibited the LPS-induced phosphorylation of Erk1/2. The anti-inflammatory effect of palmatine in LPS-stimulated microglia may suggest the potential use of the alkaloids in the modulation of neuroinflammatory responses, which might be important in the pathophysiological events of several neurological diseases including Alzheimer's disease (AD), multiple sclerosis (MS), Parkinson's disease (PD) and stroke.

• Korean Journal of Weed Science
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.191-196
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• 1998

This experiment was conducted to investigate the mulch effect of rice straw and dead water foxtail treated with herbicides on weed germination, seedling establishment, and early growth of rice under the no-till culture condition. The percent seedling establishment of rice straw + dead water foxtail mulch was decreased significantly compared to rice straw mulch and non-mulch. Rice straw mulch and rice straw + dead water foxtail mulch inhibited the early growth of no-till direct seeded rice remarkably. However, they promoted rice growth after active tillering stage. Rice straw mulch and rice straw+dead water foxtail mulch in no-till direct seeding decreased weed occurrence significantly. The control value of barnyardgrass, compared with non-mulch, was 96.5% in the rice straw mulch and 75.6% in the rice straw + dead water foxtail mulch, respectively. The pH and concentration of dissolved oxygen in irrigated water were reduced significantly by both rice straw mulch and rice straw+dead water foxtail mulch during early rice growth stage.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.17-21
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• 2017

BACKGROUND: Castor oil and wormseed extract are important active ingredients for biopesticide, and ricinoleic acid in castor oil and three monoterpenes (ascaridole, carvacrol and p-cymene) in wormseed extract are known bioactive substances. However, their stabilities had not been studied, even though the stability was the core property for estimation of shelf-life of biopesticide. Aimed to investigate the thermal stabilities of the bioactive substances in castor oil and wormseed extracts. METHODS AND RESULTS: The contents of ricinoleic acid and three monoterpenes (ascaridole, carvacrol and p-cymene) were analyzed by gas chromatography (GC). The thermal stabilities of the bioactive substance were measured at $0^{\circ}C$, $23^{\circ}C$, $30^{\circ}C$, $40^{\circ}C$, $45^{\circ}C$ and $54^{\circ}C$ for 84 d. The half-lives of ricinoleic acid in biopesticides was ranged from 28.9 d to 57.8 d at $30^{\circ}C$, and the stability of pure castor oil were located in the range ($t_{1/2}$=46.2d for Indian product and 27.7 d for Korean product) at the same temperature. The half-lives of the total monoterpenes in biopesticides were ranged from 3.9 d to 27.7 d at $30^{\circ}C$. Among the monoterpenes, the stability ascaridole and p-cymene were decreased in acidic condition. All the bioactive substances showed similar stability on the different thermal conditions. CONCLUSION:The half-lives of most bioactive substance from castor oil and wormseed extracts were less than 100 d. To increase the stability of bioactive substance in biopesticide, stabilizing additives like antioxidant and oxygen remover should be considered to extend of the shelf-life.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Surface Engineering Conference
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• 2018.06a
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• pp.39-39
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• 2018

최근 플라즈마 의학이 발달하면서 제트, 펜, 니들, 토치 등의 다양한 형태의 플라즈마 발생기가 개발되었으며 내부의 가스라인으로 가스의 종류, 유속, 조성 등을 조절하여 생물학적 효과를 극대화 할 수 있고 안정적으로 플라즈마 방전상태를 유지할 수 있으나 처리 면적이 좁아 실제 생물학적 시스템 (세포, 조직, 그리고 박테리아) 적용에 있어 한계점이 존재한다. 이러한 한계점을 극복하기 위해서 유전체격벽방전 (Dielectric barrier discharge, DBD) 방식을 이용한 플렉서블 활성종 발생기를 제작하고 생물학적 시스템에 적용하기 위한 방전 특성 평가를 진행하였으며, 간단한 in vitro 모델인 한천 젤을 이용하여 플라즈마 처리에 따른 전달물질의 침투거리를 확인하였다. 플라즈마 방전 시 생성되는 수산화기 [OH], 과산화수소 [$H_2O_2$], 초산소음이온 [$O_2{^-}$], 오존 [$O_3$], 그리고 산화질소 [$NO_x$]와 같은 산소 및 질소 활성종 (Reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, RONS)은 세포벽 또는 세포막의 주요 구성성분인 다당류와 인지질의 과산화 반응을 통해 구조를 변화시키고 생물학적 시스템의 표면의 pH를 낮춘다. 이러한 RONS의 작용은 살균, 소독 뿐만 아니라 약물의 침투를 돕는다. 일반적으로 한천 겔은 농도에 따라 생체 내 뇌 조직과 물리적 특성이 유사하고, 미생물학 기질, 방사선학 연구를 위한 조직모델로 사용되기 때문에 본 연구에서는 3%와 5% 농도의 한천 젤을 사용하여 침투거리를 확인하였다. 한천 젤은 $2.5{\times}2.5{\times}2.5cm^3$의 크기로 준비되었고 대조군으로 염료가 포함된 에멀젼을 0.01 g 도포하고, 실온에서 30분간 보존 후 단면을 잘라 현미경으로 침투거리를 확인하였으며, 실험군으로 플라즈마 전처리 후 에멀젼을 도포한 시표와 에멀젼 도포 후 플라즈마 처리한 시료에 대해 에멀젼 침투거리의 변화를 확인하였다. 본 연구의 플렉서블 활성종 발생기는 인체에 부착하여 사용되기 때문에 화상, 홍반을 유발을 방지하기위해 $40^{\circ}C$의 온도에서 실험을 진행하였고 이때에 플라즈마 방전조건은 $0.065W/cm^2$ 수준의 전력을 소모하는 1.7 kV의 전압, 16 kHz의 주파수로 10분간 처리하였다. 그 결과 3%의 한천 젤의 경우 침투거리 0.779 mm에서 0.826 mm, 0.942 mm까지 침투거리가 증가하였고 5%의 한천 젤의 경우 0.859 mm, 0.949 mm로 증가하였다. 이러한 침투거리 증가는 젤 표면의 다당류를 구성하고 있는 단량체가 플라즈마 처리시 화확적 구조가 끊어져 결론적으로 약물 침투가 증가된 것으로 판단된다.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.799-807
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• 2006

The catalytic activity of $Pt/{\gamma}-Al_2O_3$ catalysts for the oxidation of toluene and toluene+xylene mixture was investigated in the microreactor of fixed-bed type. The calcination temperatures and loadings of $Pt/{\gamma}-Al_2O_3$ catalysts played the important role in the activity of catalysts for the oxidation of toluene. The increasing calcination temperatures and loadings of $Pt/{\gamma}-Al_2O_3$ catalysts increased the crystallite size of the platinum to result in the higher oxidation activity of catalysts. The catalytic activity for the toluene oxidation over $Pt/{\gamma}-Al_2O_3$ catalysts turned out to be increasing in the order of $500^{\circ}C\;<\;800^{\circ}C<600^{\circ}C\;<\;700^{\circ}C$ for calcination temperatures and 0.1 wt% < 0.3 wt% < 1.0 wt% for platinum loadings, respectively. The 1.0 wt% $Pt/{\gamma}-Al_2O_3$ catalysts calcined at $700^{\circ}C$ for 3 hrs in the air showed the highest activity for the oxidation of the toluene. The decrease of oxidation activity of $Pt/{\gamma}-Al_2O_3$ catalysts calcined at $800^{\circ}C$ might result from the decrease of active sites by sintering of platinum metals as well as ${\gamma}-Al_2O_3$ supports. The 1.0wt% $Pt/{\gamma}-Al_2O_3$ catalyst showed the activity from the lower temperature at $120^{\circ}C$, reached the light-off temperature ($T_{50%}$) at $180^{\circ}C$, and leveled off its activity at $340^{\circ}C$ with the conversion of 100% 'Mutual promotion' effects were observed for the binary mixture of toluene and xylene. The activity of the easy-to-oxidize toluene was slightly increased with the existence of the xylene. It might suggest the different mechanism for the oxidation of toluene and xylene on the $Pt/{\gamma}-Al_2O_3$ catalysts on different sites, and its reaction of gaseous oxygen.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.902-911
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• 2010

Oriental melon ($Cucumis$ $melo$ var. $makuwa$) is a popular and high-value market fruit cultivated in Korea. Consumers are becoming increasingly interested in oriental melon as a healthy diet over the past few years. However, the melons have relatively high quality loss because the fruit are mainly produced for a limited period of time in the summer season. Lack of the proper postharvest treatments and high temperature exposure at harvest or during distribution are the most critical environmental factors limiting postharvest life of fruit. This review focuses on the overview of current research studies for postharvest treatment and functional packaging technology of oriental melon in Korea. Major physiological problems of the harvest fruit include the ripening process in quality changes of the produce such as loss of weight, firmness, flavor, and decay during the storage periods. Low temperature at 7 to $10^{\circ}C$ with high relative humidity of 90 to 95% is the suitable environmental condition used to maintain the quality of fresh oriental melon. Controlled atmosphere (CA) storage or modified atmosphere (MA) packaging can be used as supplemental treatments to extend postharvest-life. For oriental melon, an optimum CA is currently recommended to be 2-3% oxygen and 5-10% carbon dioxide atmosphere. Precooling, pretreatments of ethylene action and functional packaging system can be applied to oriental melon after harvest in order to extend storage life. Major active packaging technologies are concerned with a selectively gas permeable film related to respiration of produce and the packaging applications of ethylene removal, antimicrobial, and antifogging substances to keep the effective freshness of fruit.