• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.106-110
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• 2003

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) has long been considered an important cause of severe lower respiratory tract infection in infants and young children throughout the world. Unfortunately, no effective treatment of RSV exists. Therefore, New agents are needed to reduce the impact of RSV. We have studied the anti-viral effect of traditional Chinese midicinal herbs for over ten years and find Herba Patrinea (a Chinese medicinal herb) has the anti-RSV effect in vitro. In this study, the Herba Patrinea was extracted with hot water, condensed and sterilized. The cytotoxicity of the aqueous extract was tested by adding the diluted extract directly to HeLa cells and its effect on anti-RSV was estimated by the CPEI assay. As a result, the median cytotoxic concentration $(CC_{50})$ of Herba Patrinea was 32 mg/ ml by morphological observation, the median effective concentration (50% effective concentration, $EC_{50}$) of the Herba Patrinea against replication of the Long strain of RSV in HeLa cells were 1.25 mg/ml. The selectivity index $(SI=CC_{50}/EC{50})$ is 25.6. Moreover, Herba Patrinea gave a dose-dependent response in inhibiting RSV. In time of addition experiment, Herba Patrinea inhibited replication of RSV in HeLa cells when it was added at 0h, 2h, and 4h after virus infection. In summary, the results of this study suggest Herba Patrinea may be a novel anti-RSV drug and it is worthy of further studying.

• The Journal of Engineering Research
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.207-213
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• 1998

In order to fabricate ideal powders, new processing is necessary in which the solute atoms in solution rapidly move to mix each other to the degree of molecular level, the viscosity of solution should be low not to effect the moving of solute atoms, and the powders could be directly obtained as crystalline. Supercritical fluid is defined as condensed gas state up to its critical pressure and temperature. In this paper, supercritical fluid methods were studied as a new ceramic processing of powder preparation. The crystalline anatase powders of $TiO_2$ which are useful for photocatalyst materials were fabricated by hydrolysis of titanium(IV) ethoxide using water which was ethanol as a supercritical fluid.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.49-54
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• 2015

Objectives : This study investigated the neuroprotective effect of Gastodia Rhizoma-gamibang (GG) water extracts against scopolamine-induced neurotoxicity in the hippocampus of male Sprague-Dawley rats. Methods : The animals were divided into five different groups with six animals per each group. The normal group (Nor) was administered with saline, while the control group (Con) was administered with saline after scopolamine treatment. The experimental group (Exp) was administered orally GG extracts at doses of 200 mg/kg (GG1 group), 400 mg/kg (GG2 group), 1000 mg/kg (GG5 group) for 30 day after scopolamine treatment. Results : From a light microscopy study, the nuclei of neurons and glial cells in the hippocampus were more shrunken or condensed in the 30 day control group compared with normal group. In the experimental groups, proportional to the dose, recovered from neurotoxicity induced by scopolamine. The control group, the density of hippocampal neurons were reduced 17-20% compared to normal group. The densities of neurons from the CA1, and CA3 area of the hippocampus in the GG1, GG2 and GG5 groups significantly increased compared with the Con. In the experimental group, neuronal cells are recovered from scopolamine-induced damage. A number of glial cells are observed increase from GG2 and GG5 groups. The PAS-positive materials in the tissues hippocampus), was lower in the Exp than the Con. Conclusions : The present study demonstrates that Gastodia Rhizoma-gamibang extract reduces neuronal damage in the hippocampus of scopolamin-induced impairment mice.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.1057-1065
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• 1999

The study was designated to investigate the electron microscopic findings following diethylnitrosamine (DEN) treatment in rats. Forty four male (Srague Dawley) rats were continuously given water containing 0.01% DEN for 13 weeks and livers of five rats with more tumor lesions at 16 and 17 weeks after initial treatment were used as EM materials. In transmission electron microscopic findings, most small-sized hepatocytes were active cells containing large mount of organelles, but light (pale staining) hepatocytes among small-sized hepatocytes were injured cells containg disorganized organelles. Tumor cells among small-sized hepatocytes were irregularly arranged and have pleomorphic nuclei containing electron dense chromatin but the organelles in cytoplasm were swelled. Large-sized hepatocytes were active cells with condensed chromatin but the cytoplasm of these cells were pale due to be injured and dilated organelles. Dark hepatocytes were apoptotic cells with homogenous pyknotic nuclei and cytoplasm, and the cytoplasm of these cells contained dilated smooth endoplasmic reticulum (sER) but these sER were non-vesiculated. Cholangiocarninoma cells were crowded and were pale by far less number of organelles in cytoplasm and nuclei. In scanning electron microscopic findings, the lumens of portal veins, bile canaliculi, bile ductules, bile ducts and sinusoids were dilated and have irregular folded inner surface by protruded parenchyma.

• Journal of The Korea Institute of Healthcare Architecture
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.7-15
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• 2015

Purpose : When natural disaster occurs, the victims are evacuated to temporary shelters such as indoor gymnasiums or large space buildings until their homes are recovered. If someone in this temporary shelter is infected with an airborne infectious disease, it becomes easier for the disease to spread to the other people in the shelter than it would be under normal conditions. Therefore, temporary shelters need to provide not only water and food but also hygienic indoor conditions. Methods : In this study, the use of mechanical systems such as ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) systems and air cleaners were simulated using numerical analysis to find out how these systems can control airborne infection in temporary shelters. An indoor gymnasium was selected as a temporary shelter for the numerical simulation model considering Korea's post-disaster response system. Influenza A virus was assumed as an airborne infectious disease and the diffusion of the virus was made by one person in the shelter. Results : The result of this study showed that the UVGI systems disinfected the virus more effectively than the air cleaners by creating a more stable airflow after the disinfection process. The air cleaners could remove the virus but since it created an unstable airflow in the temporary shelter, the virus was condensed to a certain area to show a higher virus concentration level than the source location. Implications : In the temporary shelter, it is necessary to use UVGI systems or air cleaners for hygienic indoor conditions.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.345-350
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• 2007

During PEMFC operation, OCV(open circuit voltage) and low humidity conditions accelerate the degradation of perfluorosulfonic acid membrane. There have been no studies that clearly explain why these conditions accelerate the membrane degradation. In this study, the hydrogen permeability through the membrane, I-V polarization of MEA, fluoride emission rate(FER) and $H_2O_2$ concentration in condensed water were measured during cell operation under OCV and low relative humidity(RH). The experimental results were evaluated with oxygen radical mechanism the most commonly known for membrane degradation. It seems that low RH of anode is a good condition for $H{\cdot}$ radical formation on the Pt catalyst and the OCV condition accelerate the $H{\cdot}$ to form $HO_2{\cdot}$ radical attacking the polymer membrane.

• Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.253-262
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• 2007

Although the importance of good conservation of historical sites including ancient royal tombs is well aware, still not much attention has been paid for facilities to realize it. There are numerous ancient royal tombs spread in Korean peninsula which are opened and some of them are selectively on display for public access. However, the conservation measures of these sites have not been seriously investigated. Even the level of understanding of the underground environment of tombs is not satisfactory. In the present study, we focus on the dehumidification loads to maintain appropriate conservation conditions in terms of temperature and humidity. Two experimental tombs different in size were built in KNU (Kongju National University) campus with the dimensions ($L{\times}W{\times}H$) of $1.0m{\times}2.8m{\times}1.0m\;and\;1.3m{\times}3.0m{\time}1.2m$, respectively, HVAC systems are installed to maintain a suitable condition for conservation, i.e., $22{\pm}2^{\circ}C$ in temperature and $55{\pm}5%$ in relative humidity. The condensed water are measured to estimate the dehumidification loads while the temperature and the humidity inside the tombs were maintained within the specified range.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.101-107
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• 2020

Objective: The present study investigated sperm chromatin quality and testosterone levels in acrylamide-treated mice and the possible protective effects of vitamin E on the fertility potential of spermatozoa. Methods: Thirty-two adult male mice were divided equally into four groups. Group 1 was the control, group 2 received acrylamide (10 mg/kg, water solution), group 3 received vitamin E (100 mg/kg, intraperitoneal), and group 4 received both acrylamide and vitamin E. After 35 days, spermatozoa from the right cauda epididymis were analyzed in terms of count, motility, morphology, and viability. Sperm DNA integrity and chromatin condensation were assessed by acridine orange (AO), aniline blue (AB), toluidine blue (TB), and chromomycin A3 (CMA3) staining. Results: In acrylamide-treated mice, significantly lower sperm concentration, viability, motility, and testosterone levels were found in comparison with the control and acrylamide+vitamin E groups (p< 0.05). In the vitamin E group, significantly more favorable sperm parameters and testosterone levels were found than in the other groups (p< 0.05). There were also significantly more spermatozoa with less condensed chromatin in the acrylamide-treated mice than in the other groups. Moreover, significantly more spermatozoa with mature nuclei (assessed by AB, CMA3, AO, and TB staining) were present in the vitamin E group than in the control and acrylamide+vitamin E groups. Conclusion: This study revealed the deleterious effects of acrylamide on sperm parameters and sperm chromatin quality. Vitamin E can not only compensate for the toxic effects of acrylamide, but also improve sperm chromatin quality in mice.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.276-281
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• 2004

In this study we investigated the spectral properties, including electric absorption, circular and linear dichroism (CD and LD), and fluorescence emission, of DNA in a DNA-branched polyethyleneimine (BPEI) polyplex at various polymer molecular weights (M$\_$w/) and BPEI-amine-to-DNA-phosphate ratios (N/P ratios). All BPEIs exhibited a common N/P dependence in their absorption and CD spectra. At N/P ratios ＜ 1.0, we observed some hyperchromism in the absorption spectrum, red-shifts in CD bands, and decreases in LD intensity and fluorescence intensity of intercalated ethidium. At intermediate N/P ratios, complete collapse of all spectra occurred. As the N/P ratio increased further, the polyplex dissolved in water. From its characteristic CD spectrum obtained under these conditions, we conclude that the DNA exists in a B-like form. The fluorescence and LD intensities never recovered even at high N/P ratios- which indicates that the dissolved polyplex possesses positive charges and the DNA in the polyplex is condensed despite its B-form CD spectrum. The N/P range in which the absorption and CD signals collapsed was wider when the BPEIs M$\_$w/ decreased. In the case where the BPEIs M$\_$w/ was 0.8 k, recovery of the absorption and CD spectral properties at a high N/P ratio was never achieved, which suggests that the molecular weight of the polymer plays an important role in its dissolution at a high N/P ratio.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.247-255
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• 2007

During the winter season in Korea, the relative humidity of greenhouse at night often exceeds 90% because air temperature inside the greenhouse is usually controlled using a heater with all of windows closed to minimize heat loss, thereby requiring the use of a dehumidifier that can maintain optimum humidity levels of $70{\sim}80%$ to provide a good growth condition of crops. Also, such a high humid condition can cause the development of a pest, such as insects, fungi or diseases. However, the use of most conventional dehumidifiers for low temperature dehumidification is limited because their performance is degraded due to frost accumulation on the evaporator coil. This study was carried out to develop a refrigeratory-based dehumidifier suitable for low temperature dehumidification in greenhouse cultivation. The developed dehumidifier consists of a condenser and an evaporator installed separately so that relative and absolute humidity levels can be reduced when air passed through the condenser and evaporator, respectively. The prototype dehumidifier showed a dehumidification capacity of $5{\sim}7kg/h$ when air with a temperature of $15{\sim}25^{\circ}C$ and a relative humidity of $70{\sim}95%$ came into the dehumidifier. Under the condition that either temperature or relative humidity was fixed, the amount of condensed water was proportional to the levels of both temperature and relative humidity.