• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• 제5권6호
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• pp.520-526
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• 2011

Folate deficiency and hyperhomocysteinemia are found in most patients with alcoholic liver disease. Oxidative stress is one of the most important mechanisms contributing to homocysteine (Hcy)-induced tissue injury. However it has not been examined whether exogenous administration of folic acid attenuates oxidative stress and hepatic toxicity. The aim of this study was to investigate the in vivo effect of folic acid supplementation on oxidative stress and hepatic toxicity induced by chronic ethanol consumption. Wistar rats (n = 32) were divided into four groups and fed 0%, 12%, 36% ethanol, or 36% ethanol plus folic acid (10 mg folic acid/L) diets. After 5 weeks, chronic consumption of the 36% ethanol diet significantly increased plasma alanine transaminase (ALT) (P < 0.05) and aspartate transaminase (AST) (P < 0.05), triglycerides (TG) (P < 0.05), Hcy (P < 0.001), and low density lipoprotein conjugated dienes (CD) (P < 0.05) but decreased total radical-trapping antioxidant potential (TRAP) (P < 0.001). These changes were prevented partially by folic acid supplementation. The 12% ethanol diet had no apparent effect on most parameters. Plasma Hcy concentration was well correlated with plasma ALT (r = $0.612^{**}$), AST (r = $0.652^*$), CD (r = $0.495^*$), and TRAP (r = $-0.486^*$). The results indicate that moderately elevated Hcy is associated with increased oxidative stress and liver injury in alcohol-fed rats, and suggests that folic acid supplementation appears to attenuate hepatic toxicity induced by chronic ethanol consumption possibly by decreasing oxidative stress.

• 한국토양비료학회지
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• 제45권5호
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• pp.738-743
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• 2012

Topographic conditions of agricultural fields work as a important factor to identify different soil properties. This study was conducted to investigate the selected soil chemical properties and the concentrations of heavy metals, Cd, Cr, Pb, Cu, Ni, and Zn, in the paddy fields of different topographic areas at four year intervals from 1999 to 2011. Three-hundred soil sampling sites in the paddy fields were selected from the different topographic areas that were local valley and fans, fluvio-marine deposits, alluvial plains, and diluvial terraces. The mean values of soil pH ranged 5.7~5.8 that were within optimal range for rice cultivation. The mean values of other properties such as soil organic matter (SOM) content, the concentrations of exchangeable cations, $K^+$, $Ca^{2+}$, and $Mg^{2+}$, and available silicate concentration were lower or close to the optimal values, but the mean concentrations of available phosphorus were exceeded the range of optimal value, $80{\sim}120mg\;kg^{-1}$, in many paddy fields. In particular, The concentrations of available phosphorus in the paddy fields of local valley and fans, alluvial plains, and fluvio-marine plains were mostly declined. However, in diluvial terrace areas, the phosphorus concentrations unexpectedly increased; furthermore, they were significantly higher than those in other topographic areas. The mean concentrations of 0.1 M HCl-extractable heavy metals, Cd, Cr, Pb, Cu, Ni, and Zn, in the paddy fields were slightly and gradually declined during the study years, but the Pb concentrations were not statistically changed. In addition, the concentrations of heavy metals were widely ranged depending on the different sampling sites. Nevertheless, the concentrations of heavy metals were significantly lower than the levels of Soil Contamination Warning Standard (SCWS) for agricultural lands (1-region) presented in Soil Environment Conservation Law (SECL).

• 한국토양비료학회지
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• 제45권5호
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• pp.817-821
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• 2012

Soil samples collected from abounded mines of Boryeong area in South Korea were used in isolating bacterial strains and their capacity to solubilize inorganic phosphates and heavy metal tolerance were assessed in vitro. Three different inorganic phosphate sources (Ca phosphate, Fe phosphate, and Al phosphate) and four different heavy metals (Co, Cd, Pb and Zn) each with three concentrations ($100{\mu}g\;mL^{-1}$, $200{\mu}g\;mL^{-1}$, and $400{\mu}g\;mL^{-1}$) were used. The bacterial isolates PSB-1, PSB-2, PSB-3, and PSB-4 solubilized significantly higher amount of Ca phosphate during the first five days of incubation though subsequent drop in soluble phosphorus level in the medium was observed at the later stage (after 5 days) of the incubation. Solubilization of Ca phosphate and Fe phosphate was concomitant with the acidification of the culture medium compared to the control where it remained constant. Isolated strains could solubilize Fe phosphate to certain extent ($25-45{\mu}g\;mL^{-1}$) though solubilization of Al phosphate was found negligible. All the isolates were tolerant to heavy metals (Cd, Pb, and Zn) up to the concentration of $400{\mu}g\;mL^{-1}$ except PSB-1 and PSB-8, which were shown to be vulnerable to Co even at $100{\mu}g\;mL^{-1}$. Heavy metal tolerant strains should be further evaluated for plant growth promoting activities also under field conditions in order to assess their agricultural and environmental significance.

• 멤브레인
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• 제13권4호
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• pp.211-218
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• 2003

생분해성 음이온 계면활성제인 deoxycholic acid(DCA)의 미셀을 이용한 한외여과에서 카드뮴의 제거 특성을 살펴보았다. 본 연구에서는 교반 한외여과 셀을 사용하였으며, 한외여과 막은 분획분자량(molecular weight cut-off)이 서로 다른 Millipore사의 YM1, YM3, YM10 및 YM30을 사용하였다. DCA와 카드뮴의 혼합용액에서 DCA의 임계미셀농도는 순수 DCA 용액에서 보다 낮아지고, 미셀의 크기는 증가되었다. 카드뮴이온의 제거율은 사용한 막의 분획분자량에 의해서는 거의 영향이 없었으나, 카드뮴이온에 대한 DCA의 몰 비의 증가에 따라서는 급격히 증가하였다. 카드뮴이온에 대한 DCA의 몰 비가 3일 때 카드뮴이온의 제거율은 사용한 막에 관계없이 99.6% 이상이었다. 순수 투과플럭스에 대한 혼합용액의 투과플럭스의 비로 정의한 상대 투과플럭스는 YM3 > YM1 > YM10 > YM30 막의 순서로 감소하였다.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• 제10권4호
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• pp.135-143
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• 2010

Background: Cordyceps militarys water extract (CME) has been reported to exert antitumor and immunomodulatory activities in vivo and in vitro. However, the therapeutic mechanism has not yet been elucidated. In this study, we examined the effects of CME on the antigen presenting function of antigen presenting cells (APCs). Methods: Dendritic cells (DCs) were cultured in the presence of CME, and then allowed to phagocytose microspheres containing ovalbumin (OVA). After washing and fixing the efficacy of OVA, peptide presentation by DCs were evaluated using CD8 and CD4 T cells. Also, we confirmed the protein levels of proinflammatory cytokines through western blot analysis. Results: CME enhanced both MHC class I and class II-restricted presentation of OVA in DCs. In addition, the expression of both MHC class I and II molecules was enhanced, but there was no changes in the phagocytic activity of exogenous OVA. Furthermore, CME induced the protein levels of iNOS, COX-2, proinflammatory cytokines, and nuclear p65 in a concentration-dependent manner, as determined by western blot. Conclusion: These results provide an understanding of the mechanism of the immuno-enhancing activity of CME on the induction of MHC-restricted antigen presentation in relation to their actions on APCs.

• 마이크로전자및패키징학회지
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• 제12권3호
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• pp.213-217
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• 2005

ITO(indium tin oxide)/Glass 기판위에 정공 수송층으로 PEDOT:PSS[poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfolnate)]과 발광층으로 MEH-PPV[poly(2-methoxy-5-(2-ethyhexoxy)-1,4phenylenvinylene)]의 고분자를 사용하여 ITO/PEDOT:PSS/MEH-PPV/Al 구조를 갖는 고분자 유기 발광다이오드 (polymer light emitting diode: PLED)를 제작하였다. 고분자 유기 발광다이오드 제작시 MEH-PPV의 농도$(0.1\;wt\%\~0.9\;wt\%)$가 발광층 표면 거칠기와 박막층판의 마찰계수(friction coefficient)에 미치는 영향을 조사하였다. MEH-PPV의 농도를 $0.1\;wt\%$에서 $0.9\;wt\%$로 증가함에 따라 발광층의 RMS 값은 1.72 nm 에서 1.00 nm로 감소하여 거칠기가 개선되는 경향을 보여 주었다. 또한 발광층 박막의 마찰계수는 0.048에서 0.035로 감소하여 박막의 접합상태가 나빠지는 현상을 나타내었다. $0.5\;wt\%$의 농도를 갖는 PLED 다이오드에서 최대 휘도인 $409\;cd/m^2$ 값을 얻었다.

• 한국수산과학회지
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• 제46권5호
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• pp.626-637
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• 2013

We measured the grain size, ignition loss (IL), chemical oxygen demand (COD), acid volatile sulfide (AVS) and trace metals (Al, Fe, Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd, Cr, Mn, Hg, and As) of intertidal surface sediment collected from 11 islands (62 stations) in the southern region of Jeollanam Province. The objective of this research was to evaluate the organic matter and trace metals contaminations of sediments from coastal island tidal flats. Surface sediment texture was characterized as follows: mud, sandy silt, muddy sand, and slightly gravelly sand facies. The finer sediments are mainly dominated in the northern part of each island. The concentrations of IL, COD, AVS and some trace metals (Al, Fe, Zn, Cr, Cu, and Hg) were higher in the northwestern part of Wan Island and the area between Gogeum and Sinji Islands, and were associated with relatively finer sediment, as compared to other locations. The concentrations of Mn, Pb, Cd, and As were higher in the northwestern and southeastern parts of Geoguem and Pyungil Islands, but were not correlated with mean grain size. Based on sediment quality guidelines (SQGs), the concentrations of trace metals were lower than the values of effect range low (ERL), used in United States, and threshold effects level (TEL), used in Korea, with exception of As. Similarly, the intertidal sediments were moderately contaminated with As, based on the the enrichment factor (EF) and the geoaccumulation index ($I_{geo}$). The high concentration of As in intertidal sediments from this study region may be due to the input of naturally or artificially contaminated submarine groundwater, contaminated waste from seaweed aquaculture operations and/or land-based seaweed processing facilities. Further studies are needed to identify the sources of As in this study region, and to determine the effects of As contamination on coastal ecosystem.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• 제19권4호
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• pp.347-354
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• 2013

Cordyceps militaris, a traditional medicinal mushroom, produces a component compound, cordycepin (3'-deoxyadenosine). Cordycepin has many pharmacological activities including immunological stimulating, anti-cancer, and anti-infection activities. However, the therapeutic mechanism has not yet been elucidated. In this study, we examined the effects of cordycepin on the antigen-presenting function of antigen-presenting cells (APCs). Dendritic cells (DCs) were cultured in the presence of cordycepin and then allowed to phagocytose microspheres containing ovalbumin (OVA). After washing and fixing, the efficacy of OVA peptide presentation by DCs was evaluated using CD8 and CD4 T cells. Also, we confirmed the protein levels of proinflammatory cytokines through RT-PCR and Western blot analysis. Cordycepin decreased both MHC class I and class II-restricted presentation of OVA and suppressed the expression of both MHC molecules and the phagocytic activity toward exogenous OVA. The class II-restricted OVA presentation-regulating activity of cordycepin was also confirmed using mice that had been injected with cordycepin followed by soluble OVA. Furthermore, cordycepin suppressed the mRNA and protein levels of iNOS, COX-2, pro-inflammatory cytokines in a concentration-dependent manner. These results provide an understanding of the mechanism of the T cell response-regulating activity of cordycepin through the inhibition of MHC-restricted antigen presentation in relation to its actions on APCs.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• 제32권2호
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• pp.444-450
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• 2011

A novel method that utilizes poly(5-methyl-2-thiozyl methacrylamide-co-2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid-co-divinylbenzene) [MTMAAm/AMPS/DVB] as a solid-phase extractant was developed for simultaneous preconcentration of trace Cd(II), Co(II), Cr(III), Cu(II), Fe(III), Mn(II), Ni(II), Pb(II), and Zn(II) prior to the measurement by flame atomic absorpiton spectrometry (FAAS). Experimental conditions for effective adsorption of the metal ions were optimized using column procedures. The optimum pH value for the simultaneously separation of the metal ions on the new adsorbent was 2.5. Effects of concentration and volume of elution solution, sample flow rate, sample volume and interfering ions on the recovery of the analytes were investigated. A high preconcentration factor, 100, and low relative standard deviation values, $\leq$1.5% (n = 10), were obtained. The detection limits (${\mu}gL^{-1}$) based on the 3s criterion were 0.18 for Cd(II), 0.11 for Co(II), 0.07 for Cr(III), 0.12 for Cu(II), 0.18 for Fe(III), 0.67 for Mn(II), 0.13 for Ni(II), 0.06 for Pb(II), and 0.09 for Zn(II). The validation of the procedure was performed by the analysis of two certified reference materials. The presented method was applied to the determination of the analytes in various environmental samples with satisfactory results.

• 한국해양학회지:바다
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• 제18권2호
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• pp.70-79
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• 2013

원유 유출 사고 시 원유에 의한 생태계 영향 뿐만 아니라 원유에 포함된 중금속에 의한 오염도 평가되어야 한다. 허베이 스프리트호 유출 해역 부근의 조간대 및 연안역에서 사고 직후인 2007년 12월, 2008년 1월에 표층 퇴적물을 채취하였고 유기탄소, 황 및 금속 원소들을 정량하여 원유에 의한 퇴적물의 중금속 오염을 평가하고자 하였다. 원유에는 C, S 및 V, Ni가 함유되어 있었고, As, Cd 등 유해한 금속은 함유되어 있지 않았다. 유기탄소 농도로 보았을 때 오염이 가장 심한 정점은 원유의 영향이 약 10% 정도인 것으로 추정되었으며, 이 정점에서는 다른 정점들에 비해 높은 V 농도를 보였다. 금속간의 비(V/Al 및 Ni/Al)를 통하여 원유 오염 의심 정점을 다른 정점과 구분할 수 있었으며 이 비들을 향후 원유 오염 지시자로 활용할 수 있으리라 예상된다.