• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.493-500
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• 2023

In this study, we developed an impedance sensor capable of controlling electrode polarization by coating iridium oxide (IrO_x) on the surface of the screen-printed carbon electrode. IrO_x was deposited on the surface of carbon electrodes according to the number of cycles (0~50 cycles) by cyclic voltammetry. Observation of scanning electron microscope images revealed that the size and number of IrO_x particles increased as the number of cycles increased. The changes in impedance responses as a function of the NaCl concentration of the as-obtained sensors were investigated using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The sensors manufactured in 50 cycles exhibited the best coefficient of determination and reproducibility, attributed to the well-controlled electrode polarization. We further demonstrated the usefulness of the IrO_x-based sensor as a diagnosis sensor for dry eye syndrome by comparing the results of the commercially available osmometer and our sensor using actual solution samples.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.261-271
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• 2024

Sulfur is one of the inorganic elements used by plants to develop and produce phytoalexin to resist certain diseases. This study reported a method for preparing a material for plant disease resistance. Sulfur nanoparticles (SNPs) stabilized in the chitosan-Cu²⁺ (CS-Cu²⁺) complex were synthesized by hydrolysis of Na₂S₂O₃ in an acidic medium. The obtained SNPs/CS-Cu²⁺ complex consisting of 0.32% S, 4% CS, and 0.7% Cu (w/v), contained SNPs with an average size of ~28 nm as measured by transmission electron microscopy images. The X-ray diffraction pattern of the SNPs/CS-Cu²⁺ complex showed that SNPs had orthorhombic crystal structures. Interaction between SNPs and the CS-Cu²⁺ complex was also investigated by ultraviolet-visible. Results in vitro nematicidal effect of materials against Meloidogyne incognita showed that SNPs/CS-Cu²⁺ complex was more effective in killing second-stage juveniles (J2) nematodes and inhibiting egg hatching than that of CS and CS-Cu²⁺ complex. The values of LC₅₀ in killing J2 nematodes and EC₅₀ in inhibiting egg hatching of SNPs/CS-Cu²⁺ complex were 75 and 51 mg/l, respectively. These values were lower than those of CS and the CS-Cu²⁺ complex. The test results on the nematicidal effect against M. incognita on coffee pots showed that the SNPs/CS-Cu²⁺ complex was 100% effective at a concentration of 150 mg/l. Therefore, the SNPs/CS-Cu²⁺ complex could be considered as a biochemical material with potential for agricultural applications to control root-knot nematodes.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.69 no.1
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• pp.1-14
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• 2024

High soil salinity is the most severe threat to global rice production as it causes a significant decline in rice yield. Here, we investigated the effects of various plant extracts on rice plant stress associated with high salinity. Additionally, we examined various physiological and biochemical parameters such as growth, photosynthetic activity, chlorophyll content, and lipid peroxidation - in rice plants after treatment with selected plant extracts under salt stress conditions. Of the 11 extracts tested, four - soybean leaf, soybean stem, moringa (Moringa oleifera), and Undaria pinnatifida extracts - were found to effectively reduce salt stress. A reduction of only 3-23% in shoot fresh weight was observed in rice plants under salt stress that were treated with these extracts, compared to the 43% reduction observed in plants that were exposed to stress but not given plant extract treatments (control plants). The effectiveness varied with the concentration of the plant extracts. Water content was higher in rice plants treated with the extracts than in the control plants after 6 d of salt stress, but not after 4 d of salt stress. Although photosynthetic efficiency (Fv/Fm), electron transport rate (ETR), and the content of pigments (chlorophyll and carotenoid) varied based on the types and levels of stress and the extracts that the rice plants were treated with, generally, photosynthetic efficiency and pigment content were higher in the treated rice compared to control plants. Reactive oxygen species (ROS), such as superoxide radicals, hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), and malondialdehyde (MDA), increased as the duration of stress increased. ROS and MDA levels were lower in the treated rice than in the control plants. Proline and soluble sugar accumulation also increased with the duration of the stress period. However, proline and soluble sugar accumulation were lower in the treated rice than in the control plants. Generally, the values of all the parameters investigated in this study were similar, regardless of the plant extract used to treat the rice plants. Thus, the extracts found to be effective can be used to alleviate the adverse effects of stress on rice crops associated with high-salinity soils.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.330-339
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• 2024

Corn cobs were fermented with Aspergillus niger to produce soluble dietary fiber (SDF) of high quality and excellent food safety. In this work, the fermentation process was optimized by single-factor test and response surface methodology (RSM). The optimal fermentation conditions were determined to be a material-liquid ratio of 1:30, an inoculum concentration of 11%, a temperature of 32℃, a time of 6 days, and a shaking speed of 200 r/min. Under these conditions, the SDF yield of corn cob increased from 2.34% to 11.92%, and the ratio of soluble dietary fiber to total dietary fiber (SDF/TDF) reached 19.08%, meeting the requirements for high-quality dietary fiber (SDF/TDF of more than 10%). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) analysis revealed that the fermentation effectively degraded part of cellulose and hemicellulose, resulting in the formation of a loose and porous structure. After fermentation the water swelling capacity, water-holding capacity, and oil-holding capacity of the corn cob SDF were significantly improved and the adsorption capacity of glucose, cholesterol, and nitrite ions all increased by more than 20%. Moreover, the total phenolic content increased by 20.96%, which correlated with the higher antioxidant activity of SDF. Overall, the fermentation of corn cobs by A. niger increased the yield and enhanced the functional properties of dietary fiber (DF) as well.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.774-782
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• 2024

This study aimed to elucidate the anti-colon cancer mechanism of ginsenoside Rg1 in vitro and in vivo. Cell viability rate was detected using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) tetrazolium assay. The inhibitory effect of ginsenoside Rg1 against CT26 cell proliferation gradually increased with increasing concentration. The in vivo experiments also demonstrated an antitumor effect. The monodansylcadaverine (MDC), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and expression of autophagy marker proteins confirmed that ginsenoside Rg1 induced autophagy in vitro. Ginsenoside Rg1 induced autophagy death of CT26 cells, but this effect could be diminished by autophagy inhibitor (3-methyladenine, 3-MA). Additionally, in a xenograft model, immunohistochemical analysis of tumor tissues showed that the LC3 and Beclin-1 proteins were highly expressed in the tumors from the ginsenoside Rg1-treated nude mice, confirming that ginsenoside Rg1 also induced autophagy in vivo. Furthermoer, both in vivo and in vitro, the protein expressions of p-Akt, p-mTOR, and p-p70S6K were inhibited by ginsenoside Rg1, which was verified by Akt inhibitors. These results indicated that the mechanism of ginsenoside Rg1 against colon cancer was associated with autophagy through inhibition of the Akt/mTOR/p70S6K signaling pathway.

• Electronic Materials Letters
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• v.18
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• pp.198-204
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• 2022

The design of the material synthesis process is important because this process can be applied to a variety of materials and used in different applications. Herein, we selectively oxidized two types of metals in a carbon nanofiber (CNF) support and then left only one type of metal on a porous support using selective etching. Ni and MgO were formed in the CNFs through annealing, and then MgO was etched with an HCl etchant. In the selective oxidation process, two types of metal were selected by considering the oxidation tendency between the metal and C. Ni was selected as an oxidant of C, and Mg was selected as a reductant of C. The two metals with significantly different oxidation tendencies were predicted to have different reactivity with the etchant, making them suitable for selective etching. The effectiveness of selective etching was verified by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). In EDS, the atomic concentration of Mg was selectively reduced. In TEM, the formation of a porous structure was confirmed.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.56 no.10
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• pp.4115-4126
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• 2024

The swelling behavior of ferritic/martensitic steels (FC92-B/-N, HT9, and Gr.92) was investigated following 3.5 MeV Fe⁺⁺ ion irradiation. Tested alloys were helium-pre-implanted up to the peak contents of 120 and 240 appm with He/dpa ratio of 1 appm/dpa at room temperature and then exposed to self-ion beam to the peak damage conditions of 120 and 240 dpa at 475 ℃. Field-emission transmission electron microscopy was used to characterize the cavity evolution. FC92-B exhibited the highest resistance to swelling among the irradiated alloys. The final volumetric swelling of FC92-B reached 1.3 % at 70 dpa and 2.9 % at 140 dpa. On the other hand, HT9 exhibited the highest swelling, reaching 7.4 % at 140 dpa. Comparing the present swelling results at 140 dpa/140 appm He with swelling data at 280 dpa/280 appm He from our previous study, it was observed that Gr.92 and FC92-N swelled more at 140 dpa/140 appm He than at 280 dpa/280 appm He. This negative correlation between swelling and dose in Gr.92 and FC92-N is primarily attributed to the helium-associated swelling suppression at higher helium concentration of 280 appm. A bimodal cavity size distribution appeared only in Gr.92 and FC92-N at 280 dpa/280 appm. This result demonstrates that the excess amount of helium over 200 appm promoted early-stabilization of new-born cavities, resulting in preferentially enhanced cavity nucleation, while impeding the growth of nucleated cavities. An inhibition in cavity growth possibly led to an extended duration of nucleation-dominant stages, finally suppressing swelling in ion-irradiated Gr.92 and FC92-N alloys.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.68-75
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• 2013

The physiological properties of water extracts from Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus L.) leaves (JAL) with different extraction processes (stirrer extraction, SE; reflux extraction, RE; autoclave extraction, AE; low temperature high pressure extraction, LTPE) were investigated. The freeze-dried powder yields of SE, RE, AE, and LTPE were 22.33%, 29.88%, 31.65, and 15.74%, respectively. AE showed the highest value of extract yield. The $a^*$ and $b^*$ values were higher in AE compared to other extracts. Total polyphenolics and flavonoids contents in AE was significantly higher than in other extracts. The amount of proanthocyanidin related substances were highest in LTPE (29.36 mg/g), followed by RE (21.57 mg/g), SE (20.35 mg/g), and AE (13.02 mg/g). The electron donating abilities of SE, RE, AE, and LTPE at a concentration of $500{\mu}g/mL$ (w/v) were 76.16%, 39.55%, 25.50%, and 12.59%, respectively. Reducing power for the four different processes was 1.79, 1.60, 1.51, and 1.17, respectively. Additionally the same tendency was observed with electron donating ability and reducing power for ABTS radical and nitrite scavenging abilities. AE and LTPE showed relatively high antioxidant activities. Alpha-glucosidase, xanthine oxidase, and angiotensin I-converting enzyme inhibitory activities of LTPE at a concentration of $500{\mu}g/mL$ (w/v) were somewhat higher than other extracts. Additionally, there was significantly higher or little lower inhibitory activity compared to the control group. In conclusion, we provided experimental evidence that extracts of JAL have potential as functional materials, and component analysis of JAL could be used as new cosmeceuticals. Also, LTPE is the superior method for the enhancement of biological activity.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.43-48
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• 2006

This study was performed to confirm physiological activities according to cultivars and parts of Ulsan pear (wonhwang, pungsu, whangkeum, whasan and shingo). Total contents of phenolic compounds from peel, pulpy substance and core were 699.3-800.6, 51.5-112.5 and 254.0-401.5 mg/100 g as tannic acid equivalent, respectively. There were difference contents by cultivars, and peel and core of shingo and pulpy substance of wonhwang showed high contents, respectively. Total flavonoid contents of peel, pulpy substance and core were 125.2-164.2, 25.9-35.9 and 45.1-60.0 mg/100g, respectively and those of shingo cultivar showed comparatively high. Electron donating ability was in the order of peel (66.1-90.7%), core (48.5-82.8%) and pulpy substance (24.9-58.2%), and whasan cultivar showed comparatively low. Nitrite scavenging activity was in the order of peel (58.2-100.8%), core (59.5-86.2%), pulpy substance (39.9-82.5%). There were little difference by cultivars of core but peel and pulpy substance of shingo cultivar showed comparatively low nitrite scavenging activity. And as the concentration of each extract increased, nitrite scavenging activity increased. Xanthine oxidase inhibition rate was in the order of peel (14.1-75.4%), core (5.3-71.8%), pulpy substance (2.2-67.5%). And there little difference by cultivars and which was increased as the concentration of each extract increased.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.567-576
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• 2015

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the functionality of ethanol extract of Aster scaber by analyzing anti-oxidant components and anti-oxidant activities, which was grown in wild and culture field. The yields of Aster scaber ethanol extracts were high after blanching treatment. The polyphenol content of dried Aster scaber grown in wild was 35.59 mg/g, which was higher than that of Aster scaber grown in culture field. The electron donating ability in all Aster scaber extracts were increased with increase in extract concentration, and the electron donating ability was the highest in extracts of the dried Aster scaber after blanching. The SOD-like activity of Aster scaber was the highest in its extract grown in wild field. In addition, the SOD-like activities of extracts of the dired Aster scaber after blanching were highest among the extracts of cultivated Aster scaber. The nitrite scavenging ability of extracts was increased at pH 1.2, and those was the highest in wild fresh Aster scaber. The inhibition effects on xanthine oxidase and tyrosinase were increased with increase in extract concentration, and the inhibition effects of extracts of Aster scaber in wild field were higher than those grown in culture field. Therefore, the consumption of Aster scaber would provide beneficiary effects due to its antioxidant activities and prevention of aging. The development of various processed food using Aster scaber will promote the consumption and its values.