• Journal of Marine Life Science
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.20-26
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• 2017

In this study, we evaluated the toxic effects of heavy metals (As, Cr and Pb) on the population growth rate (r) of the marine diatom, Skeletonema costatum. The r of the species was determined after 96 h (4 days) exposure to As (0, 0.31, 0.63, 1.25, 2.50 and 5.00 mg L^-1), Cr (0, 0.16, 0.31, 0.63, 1.25 and 2.50 mg L^-1) and Pb (0, 1.25, 2.50, 5.00, 10.00 and 20.00 mg L^-1). It was observed that r in the control (absence of As, Cr and Pb) were greater than 0.04, however suddenly decreased with increased heavy metal concentrations. As, Cr and Pb reduced r in a dose-dependent manner and a significant reduction were occurred at concentration of greater than 0.31, 0.31 and 5.00 mg L^-1, respectively. Based on the toxicity, the heavy metal were ranked as Cr>As>Pb, with EC₅₀ (50% effective concentration) values of 0.80, 2.57 and 13.88 mg L^-1, respectively. The lowest-observed-effective-concentration (LOEC) of r in exposed to As, Cr and Pb were 0.63, 0.63 and 10.00 mg L^-1, respectively. Precisely, a concentration of greater than 0.63 mg L^-1 of As, 0.63 mg L^-1 of Cr and 10.00 mg L^-1 of Pb in marine ecosystems induced toxic effect on the r of S. costatum. Based on our results, we suggested that the r of S. costatum might be a useful bio-indicator for the toxicity assessment of heavy metals on the producer in marine ecosystems.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.11
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• pp.1581-1590
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• 2009

Hizikia fusiforme is a kind of brown edible seaweed that mainly grows in the temperate seaside areas of the northwest pacific, including Korea, Japan and China, and has been widely used as a health food for hundreds of years. Recently, H. fusiforme has been known to exert pharmacological activities including antioxidant, antimutagenic and anticoagulant activities. However, the molecular mechanisms of H. fusiforme in malignant cells have not been clearly elucidated yet. In this study, the effects of ethyl alcohol extract of H. fusiforme (EAHF) on the anti-proliferative effects of MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 human breast cancer cells were investigated. EAHF treatment resulted in a concentration-dependent growth inhibition by including apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 cells and G1 phase arrest in MCF-7 cells, which could be proved by MTT assay, DAPI staining, agarose gel electrophoresis and flow cytometry analysis. In MDA-MB-231 cells, the increase in apoptosis induced by EAHF treatment correlated with up-regulation of pro-apoptotic Bax expression. EAHF treatment induced the proteolytic activation of caspase-3 and caspase-9, and a concomitant inhibition of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase, $\beta$-catenin, phospholipase-${\gamma}1$ protein and DNA fragmentation factor 45/inhibitor of caspase-activated DNase. Taken together, these findings provide important new insights into the possible molecular mechanisms of the anti-cancer activity of H. fusiforme.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.409-425
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• 2021

Carbon dioxide has been known to be a typical greenhouse gas causing global warming, and a number of efforts have been proposed to reduce its concentration in the atmosphere. Among them, carbon dioxide capture and storage (CCS) has been taken into great account to accomplish the target reduction of carbon dioxide. In order to commercialize the CCS, its safety should be secured. In particular, if the stored carbon dioxide is leaked in the arable land, serious problems could come up in terms of crop growth. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of carbon dioxide leaked from storage sites on soil fertility. The leakage of carbon dioxide was simulated using the facility of its artificial injection into soils in the laboratory. Several soil chemical properties, such as pH, cation exchange capacity, electrical conductivity, the concentrations of exchangeable cations, nitrogen (N) (total-N, nitrate-N, and ammonia-N), phosphorus (P) (total-P and available-P), sulfur (S) (total-S and available-S), available-boron (B), and the contents of soil organic matter, were monitored as indicators of soil fertility during the period of artificial injection of carbon dioxide. Two kinds of soils, such as non-cultivated and cultivated soils, were compared in the artificial injection tests, and the latter included maize- and soybean-cultivated soils. The non-cultivated soil (NCS) was sandy soil of 42.6% porosity, the maize-cultivated soil (MCS) and soybean-cultivated soil (SCS) were loamy sand having 46.8% and 48.0% of porosities, respectively. The artificial injection facility had six columns: one was for the control without carbon dioxide injection, and the other five columns were used for the injections tests. Total injection periods for NCS and MCS/SCS were 60 and 70 days, respectively, and artificial rainfall events were simulated using one pore volume after the 12-day injection for the NCS and the 14-day injection for the MCS/SCS. After each rainfall event, the soil fertility indicators were measured for soil and leachate solution, and they were compared before and after the injection of carbon dioxide. The results indicate that the residual concentrations of exchangeable cations, total-N, total-P, the content of soil organic matter, and electrical conductivity were not likely to be affected by the injection of carbon dioxide. However, the residual concentrations of nitrate-N, ammonia-N, available-P, available-S, and available-B tended to decrease after the carbon dioxide injection, indicating that soil fertility might be reduced. Meanwhile, soil pH did not seem to be influenced due to the buffering capacity of soils, but it is speculated that a long-term leakage of carbon dioxide might bring about soil acidification.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.52 no.5
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• pp.553-557
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• 2014

Sulfonated polypropylene (S-PP) is prepared by sulfuric acid-acetone aldol condensation reaction of polypropylene (PP) separator to yield hydrophilic separator surface with a moderate amount of $-SO_3H$ groups. Activated carbon supercapacitor is also fabricated adopting the S-PP separator coated with potassium polyacrylate (PAAK) hydrogel polymer electrolyte. As a result, the hydrophilic surface of S-PP separator involves better physical and electrochemical properties such as decrease in contact angle, improvements of wettability, electrolyte uptake, and ionic conductivity to give higher specific capacitance and long cycle-life.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.271-274
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• 2015

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of composition of nutrient solution on the growth and quality of baby leaf vegetables (tat soi, romaine lettuce, beet, and red radish) hydroponically cultivated in plant factory. The seeds of four vegetable crops were sown in urethane sponges and cultivated for 14 days in a plant factory. Light intensity and photoperiod were $110{\mu}mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$ and 16 h, respectively; and air temperature in photo/darkperiod was maintained at $25/20^{\circ}C$. Tap water was used for irrigation for 7 days after sowing, and then plants were irrigated for 7 days using tap water and the nutrient solutions of Korea Wonshi, Japan Enshi, and Yamazaki for lettuce. At 14 days after sowing, the fresh weight of tah soi was highest in the nutrient solution of Yamazaki for lettuce, and there were no significant differences among nutrient solutions in beet and red radish. When we compared leaf color using Hunter's a value, the nutrient solution of Korea Wonshi and Japan Enshi increased green color in baby leaf vegetables, while the nutrient solution of Yamazaki for lettuce increased red color. Total phenolic content of romaine lettuce was highest in the nutrient solution of Korea Wonshi, but tat soi, beet, and red radish showed no significant differences among nutrient solutions in total phenolic contents. From these results, we suggest that using the nutrient solution of Korea Wonshi can enhance the growth and quality of romaine lettuce and the nutrient solution of Yamazaki for lettuce is appropriate for enhancing the growth and red color of beet and red radish in plant factory.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 1998.02a
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• pp.179-179
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• 1998

실리콘 집적회로 제조시 sub-micron 의 contact 형성 공정은 질연막 형성 후 이의 식각 및 세정, c contact 실리사이드, 획산방지막, 배선 금속층의 형성 과정올 거치게 된다. 본 연구팀에서는 C.F야f2 헬리 콘 플라즈마훌 이용한 고선택비 contact 산화막 식각공정시 형성된 잔류막충과 오염 손상올 관찰하고 산소 플라즈마 처리와 후속 열처리에 따른 이들의 제거 정도를 관찰하여 이에 대한 결과를 발표하였다. 본 연구메서는 식각 및 후처리에 따라 잔류하는 잔류막과 손상층이 후속 공정인 contact 실리사이드 형 섬에 미치는 영향올 관찰하였다. C C.F바f2 웰리콘 풀라즈마률 이용한 식각시 공정 변수로는 수소가스 첨가, bias voltage 와 과식각 시간 의 효과를 관찰하였으며 다른 조건은 일정하게 하였다 .. Contact 실리사이드로는 Ti, Co-싫리사이드를 선 택하였으며 Piranha cleaning, 산소 플라즈마 처리, 산소 풀라즈마+600 'C annealing으로 각각 후처리된 시 편을 후처리하지 않은 시펀돌과 함께 실리사이드 형성용‘시펀으로 이용하였다 각각 일정 조건에서 동 일 두께의 실리사이드훌 형성시킨 후 4-point probe룰 이용하여 면저황올 측정하였다 후처리하지 않은 시편의 경무 실리사이드 형성은 아주 시펀의 일부분에서만 형성되었으며 후속 세정 및 얼처리훌 황에 따라 실리사이드의 면저항은 감소하여 식각 과정을 거치지 않은 깨끗한 실리콘 웨이퍼위에 실리사이드 를 형성시킨 값(control 값)에 접근하였다. 실리사이드의 면저항값은 식각시 노훌된 실리콘 표면 위에 형 성된 손상충보다는 잔류막에 큰 영향을 받았으며 수소 가스가 첨가된 식각 가스로 식각한 시편으로 형 성한 실리사이드의 면저항값이 손상이 상대적으로 적은 것으로 관찰된 수소훌 첨가하지 않은 식각 가 스로 식각한 시펀 위에 형성된 실리사이드의 면저황에 비해 낮은 값을 나타내었다. 실리사이드의 전기적 륙성에 미치는 손상층의 영향올 좀더 면밀히 관찰하고자 bare 실리콘 wafer 에 잔류막이 거의 없이 손상층을 유발시키는 식각 조건들 (100% HBr, 100%H2, 100%Ar, Cl싸fz)에 대하여 실 리콘 식각을 수행한 후 Co-실리사이드률 형성하여 이의 면저황을 측정한 걸과 100% Ar 가스로 식각된 시편을 이용하여 형성한 실리사이드의 면저항은 control 에 기까운 면저항값올 지니고 따라서 손상층이 실리사이드 형섬메 미치는 영향은 크지 않음을 알 수 있었다. 이상의 연구 결과훌 통해 손상층이 실리사이드의 형성이나 전기적 톡섬에 미치는 영황은 잔류막층 에 의한 영향보다 적다는 것을 알 수 았으며 잔류막층의 두께보다는 성분이나 걸합상태, 특히 식각 및 후처리 후 잔류하는 탄소 싱분과 C-Si 결함에 큰 영향올 받는 것올 알 수 있었다.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.83-93
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• 2020

Lactoferrin (LF) is an iron-binding glycoprotein that is present in colostrum, milk, and other body secretions. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of lactoferrin hydrolysates (LHs) on the production of immunomodulatory factors, including inflammatory related cytokines. The nuclear factor (NF)-κB reporter assay using human embryonic kidney 293 cells (HEK-293) revealed that NF-κB activity was significantly decreased by 1, 50, and 100 ㎍/mL of LH and the fractions above and below the 10 kDa LH. The mRNA expression of interferon (IFN)-γ in rat basophilic leukemia mast cells (RBL-2H3) treated with the fraction above the 10 kDa LH decreased in a dose-dependent manner, but the cells treated with LH and the fraction below the 10 kDa LH showed an increased expression of IFN-γ in a dose-dependent manner. The level of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 expression decreased dose-dependently in RBL-2H3 cells treated with LH and the fraction above the 10 kDa LH, but the cells treated with the fraction below the 10 kDa LH showed an increased COX-2 expression in a dose-dependent manner. The mRNA expression of interleukin (IL)-4) was dose-dependently decreased by the fraction below the 10 kDa LH in human mast cells (HMC-1). The mRNA expressions of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and IL-6 were significantly dose-dependently decreased by the fractions above and below the 10 kDa LH, but was dose-dependently increased by LH. The production of IL-4 was a little increased by the fraction above the 10 kDa LH compared to the positive control, but was decreased with LH and the fraction below the 10 kDa LH in HMC-1 cells. It was concluded that LF hydrolysates had an immunomodulating effect on anti-, pro-inflammatory and anti-allergic reactions.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.169-186
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• 2000

To study anti-cancer effect and molecular biological mechanism of bee venom for aqua-acupuncture, the effects of bee venom on cell viability, apoptosis, and cell cycle were analyzed using MTT assay, tryphan blue assay, [3H]thymidine release assay, flow cytometric analysis, activity of caspase-3 protease activity assay, and immunocytometric analysis of PCNA. To explore whether anti-cancer effects of bee venom are associated with the transcriptional control of gene expression, quantitative RT-PCR analysis of apoptosis- and cell cycle-related genes was performed. The obtained results are summarized as follows: 1. The MTT assay demonstrated that cell viability was decreased by bee venom in a dose-dependant manner. 2. Significant induction of apoptosis was identified using tryphan blue assay, [$^3H$]thymidine release assay, and flow cytometric analysis of sub $G_1$ fraction. 3. In analysis of caspase-3 protease activity, the activity had increased significantly, in a dose-dependant manner. 4. Quantitative RT-PCR analysis of the apoptosis-related genes showed that Bcl-2 and $Bcl-X_L$ were down-regulated whereas Bax was up-regulated by bee venom treatment. 5. In flow cytometric analysis of cell cycle and immunocytometric analysis of PCNA expression, cell numbers of $G_1$ phase was increased by a dose-dependant manner. 6. In quantitative RT-PCR analysis of the cell cycle-related genes, p21, p27, and p57 were increased, while Cyclin D1, CDK4, c-Myc, c-Fos, and Histone H3 were decreased. In contrast, there were no remarkable changes in expression levels of CDC2 and c-Jun.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.607-614
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• 2009

This study was carried out to investigate the anticarcinogenic and antioxidative activities of Hemicentrotus pulacherrimus (HP). HP was extracted with methanol (HPM), which was then further fractionated into four sub-fractions by using the solvent partition method, affording methanol (HPMM), hexane (HPMH), butanol (HPMB) and aqueous (HPMA) soluble fractions. We determined the anticarcinogenic activities of these four fractions in four kinds of cancer cell lines, such as HepG2, HT29, MCF-7 and B16-F10, by MTT assay. Among various fractions from HPM, the HPMH showed the strongest growth inhibition effect. We also determined the inductive effect on quinone reductase (QR) of HP fractions. HPMB fraction exhibited strong inductive effects in HepG2 cells at a level of 90 ${\mu}g/ml$, showing inductive indexes of 2.26 compared to the control value of 1.0. The antioxidant activities of fractions from HP were also investigated by measuring the scavenging activities of HP against reactive oxygen speicies (ROS), peroxynitrite (ONOO-) and NO. Among the various solvent fractions, HPMH fractions displayed marked antioxidative activities.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.90-97
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• 2016

Background: We have previously found that intra-peritoneal lidocaine instillation before pneumoperitoneum attenuates pneumoperitoneum-induced hypertension. Whether this procedure alters patient's hemodynamic status during operation should be determined for clinical application. This study elucidated the possible mechanism of the attenuation of the pneumoperitoneum-induced hypertension by intra-peritoneal lidocaine before pneumoperitoneum. Methods: Thirty-four patients underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) were randomly allocated into two groups. After induction of general anesthesia, 200 mL of 0.2% lidocaine (lidocaine group, n=17), or normal saline (control group, n=17) were sub-diaphragmatically instilled 10 minutes before pneumoperitoneum. The changes in systolic blood pressure, heart rate, central venous pressure, stroke volume, cardiac output, and systemic vascular resistance were compared between the groups. The number of analgesics used during post-operative 24 h was compared. Results: Systolic blood pressure was elevated during pneumoperitoneum in both groups (p<0.01), but the degree of elevation was significantly reduced in the lidocaine group than in the control (p<0.01). However, stroke volume and cardiac output were decreased and systemic vascular resistance was increased after induction of pneumoperitoneum (p<0.05) without statistical difference between two groups. The number of analgesics used was significantly reduced in the lidocaine group (p<0.01). Conclusion: These data suggest that intra-peritoneal lidocaine before pneumoperitoneum does not alter patient's hemodynamics, and attenuation of pneumoperitoneum-induced hypertension may be the consequence of reduced intra-abdominal pain rather than the decrease of cardiac output during pneumoperitoneum. Therefore, intra-peritoneal lidocaine instillation before pneumoperitoneum is a useful method to manage an intraoperative pneumoperitoneum-induced hypertension and to control postoperative pain without severe detrimental hemodynamic effects.