• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.596-605
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• 2024

Anthocyanins belong to phenolic pigments and are known to have various pharmacological activities. This study aimed to investigate whether anthocyanins could inhibit hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂)-induced oxidative damage in human retinal pigment epithelial ARPE-19 cells. Our results indicated that anthocyanins suppressed H₂O₂-induced genotoxicity, while inhibiting reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and preserving diminished glutathione. Anthocyanins also suppressed H₂O₂-induced apoptosis by reversing the Bcl-2/Bax ratio and inhibiting caspase-3 activation. Additionally, anthocyanins attenuated the release of cytochrome c into the cytosol, which was achieved by interfering with mitochondrial membrane disruption. Moreover, anthocyanins increased the expression of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) as well as its activity, which was correlated with the phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of nuclear factor-erythroid-2 related factor 2 (Nrf2). However, the cytoprotective and anti-apoptotic effects of anthocyanins were significantly attenuated by the HO-1 inhibitor, demonstrating that anthocyanins promoted Nrf2-induced HO-1 activity to prevent ARPE-19 cells from oxidative stress. Therefore, our findings suggest that anthocyanins, as Nrf2 activators, have potent ROS scavenging activity and may have the potential to protect ocular injury caused by oxidative stress.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.29 no.12
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• pp.1925-1930
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• 2019

Carotenoids are organic pigments with antioxidant properties and are widespread in nature. Here, we isolated five microbes, each forming yellow-colored colonies and harboring C₃₀ carotenoid biosynthetic genes (crtM and crtN). Thereafter, Lactobacillus plantarum subsp. plantarum KCCP11226, which showed the highest carotenoid production, was finally selected and the produced pigment was identified as C₃₀ carotenoid 4,4'-diaponeurosporene. This strain exhibited the highest survival rate under oxidative stress and its carotenoid production was also enhanced after exposure to 7 mM H₂O₂. Moreover, it showed the highest ability to scavenge DPPH free radical. Our results suggested that L. plantarum subsp. plantarum KCCP11226, which produces 4,4'-diaponeurosporene as a natural antioxidant, may be a functional probiotic.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.310-317
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• 2022

Recently, interest in the harmful factors of particulate matter (PM), a major component of air pollution, has been increasing. In particular, PM_2.5 with a diameter of less than 2.5 ㎛ is well known to induce oxidative stress accompanied by autophagy in human lung epithelial cells. However, studies on whether PM_2.5 increases autophagy under oxidative stress and whether this process is reactive oxygen species (ROS)-dependent are insufficient. Therefore, in this study, we investigated whether PM_2.5 promotes autophagy through the generation of ROS in human alveolar epithelial A594 cells. According to our results, cells co-treated with PM_2.5 and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) showed a lower cell viability than cells treated with each alone, which was associated with increased total and mitochondrial ROS production. The co-treatment of PM_2.5 and H₂O₂ also increased autophagy induction, which was confirmed through Cyto-ID staining, and the expression of autophagy biomarker proteins increased. However, when ROS generation was artificially blocked by N-acetyl-L-cysteine pretreatment, the reduction in cell viability and induction of autophagy by PM_2.5 and H₂O₂ co-treatment were markedly attenuated. Therefore, the present results suggest that PM_2.5-induced ROS generation may play a critical role in autophagy induction in A549 cells.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.47-52
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• 2013

In this study, the catalytic performance and characterization of $Ni/Ce_xZr_{1-x}O_2$ were investigated using an autothermal reforming (ATR) process for hydrogen production. The $Ni/Ce_xZr_{1-x}O_2$ catalysts were prepared using the following methods: the water method (CZ-W), urea water method (CZ-UW) and urea, water and ethanol method (CZ-UWA). The performance of $Ni/Ce_xZr_{1-x}O_2$ catalysts in autothermal reforming of propane for hydrogen production was studied in a fixed-bed flow reactor. Reaction tests were conducted by using a feed of $H_2O/C_3H_8/O_2$=3/1/0.37 and $300{\sim}700^{\circ}C$. The CZ-UW and CZ-UWA catalysts showed higher propane conversion and hydrogen yield than the CZ-W catalyst. The activity test confirmed that the improvement in the water-ethanol catalyst was due to the low level of carbon deposition. SEM showed that the surface carbon consisted of clusters on the used CZ-UW catalyst, which is incontrast to the nano-fiber morphology observed on the used CZ-UWA catalyst. It was found that the amount of carbon deposition depends on the preparation method. Especially the $Ni/Ce_{0.75}Zr_{0.25}O_2$ was showed higher propane conversion and hydrogen yield than the other catalysts. Also TGA showed that the resistance of carbon deposition increase to Co addition.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.32 no.9
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• pp.3281-3289
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• 2011

The materials composed of the 3d series transition metals are introduced into the hydrocarbon steam-reforming reaction in order to enhance the $H_2$ production and abruptly depress the catalytic deactivation resulting from the strong sintering between the Ni component and the ${\gamma}-Al_2O_3$ support. The conventional impregnation method is used to synthesize the Ni/3d series metal/${\gamma}-Al_2O_3$ materials through the sequentially loading Ni source and the 3d series metal (Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Cu, and Zn) sources onto the ${\gamma}-Al_2O_3$ support. The Mnloaded material exhibits a significantly higher reforming reactivity than the conventional Ni/${\gamma}-Al_2O_3$ and the other Ni/3d series metal/${\gamma}-Al_2O_3$ materials. Particularly the addition of Mn selectively improves the $H_2$ product selectivity by eliminating the formation of $CH_4$ and CO. The $H_2$ production is maximized at a value of 95% over Ni(0.3)/Mn(0.3)/${\gamma}-Al_2O_4$(1.0) with a butane conversion of 100% above $750^{\circ}C$ for up to 55 h.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2022.09a
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• pp.31-31
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• 2022

Plant-derived antioxidants are used as a healthy diet and are known to inhibit various human diseases. In this study, we investigated free radical scavenging and antioxidant activity of extracts from three plants (Ammannia multiflora, Ammannia coccinea and Salix gracilistyla) with the most DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging activity from 196 plant extracts inhabiting along Nakdong River in Republic of Korea. The three extracts also have strong total antioxidant activity. Moreover, the extracts inhibited hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂)-induced reactive oxygen species production and depolarized mitochondrial membrane potential in RAW264.7 macrophages. In zebrafish larvae, 2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (DCFDA) fluorescent intensity, induced by H₂O₂, was markedly reduced by the extracts of A. multiflora, A. coccinea and S. gracilistyla. Meanwhile, the extracts were upregulated Nrf2 and HO-1 expression, and an HO-1 inhibitor reversed the extract-induced oxidative responses both in vivo and in vitro. The data suggest that the extracts of A. multiflora, A. coccinea, and S. gracilistyla exert potential free radical scavenging and antioxidant capacities both in vivo and in vitro by activating the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.8-16
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• 2019

One of the methods for low-pollution combustion, flue gas recirculation(FGR) is effective to reduce nitrogen oxides and it was applied in CH₄/air premixed counterflow flames to identify the change of flame characteristics and NOx mechanisms. Considering that the mole fraction of the products varied depending on the strain rates, the major products: CO₂, H₂O, O₂ and N₂ were recirculated as a diluent to reflect the actual combustion system. With the application of the FGR technique, a turning point of maximum flame temperature under certain strain rate condition was found. Furthermore as the recirculation ratio increased, the tendency of NO was changed before and after the turning point and the analysis on thermal NO and Fenimore NO production was conducted.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.3-11
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• 2020

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Oxidative stress causes cell damage and death, which contribute to the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. Urolithin A (UA), a gut microbial-derived metabolite of ellagitannins and ellagic acid, has high bioavailability and various health benefits such as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. However, it is unknown whether it has protective effects against oxidative stress-induced cell death. We investigated whether UA ameliorates H₂O₂-induced neuronal cell death. MATERIALS/METHODS: We induced oxidative damage with 300 μM H₂O₂ after UA pretreatment at concentrations of 1.25, 2.5, and 5 μM in SK-N-MC cells. Cytotoxicity and cell viability were determined using the CCK-8 assay. The formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was measured using a 2,7-dichlorofluorescein diacetate assay. Hoechst 33342 staining was used to characterize morphological changes in apoptotic cells. The expressions of apoptosis proteins were measured using Western blotting. RESULTS: UA significantly increased cell viability and decreased intracellular ROS production in a dose-dependent manner in SK-N-MC cells. It also decreased the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and the expressions of cytochrome c, cleaved caspase-9, cleaved caspase-3, and cleaved PARP. In addition, it suppressed the phosphorylation of the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway. CONCLUSIONS: UA attenuates oxidative stress-induced apoptosis via inhibiting the mitochondrial-related apoptosis pathway and modulating the p38 MAPK pathway, suggesting that it may be an effective neuroprotective agent.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.61-74
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• 2020

This study was conducted to improve the recycling process of waste fluorescent lamp, and investigate the possibility of using the waste fluorescent lamp glass as a raw material for glass beads, the leaching method of rare earth from the waste phosphor powder, and the possibility of solvent extraction of rare earth from the rare earth leaching solution. The waste phosphor contained 28.9% yttrium oxide, 3.46% cerium oxide, 1.95% europium oxide, 1.76% terbium oxide, and 1.43% lanthanum oxide. As a result of the trial production of glass beads using waste fluorescent lamp glass, it was judged that the production yield and quality were excellent, so that waste fluorescent lamp glass could be used as a raw material for glass beads. The soda roasted waste phosphor was leached in water and thereby the aqueous solution was blown with CO₂ to drop the pH to about 7, Then, Al, Si and residual N₂CO₃ were dissolved, and NaAlCO₃(OH)₂ and SiO₂ were precipitated in the aqueous solution. In the solvent extraction of cyanex272-hydrochloric acid, cyanex272-sulfuric acid, D2EHPA-hydrochloric acid, D2EHPA-sulfuric acid, Ionquest290-hydrochloric acid, Ionquest290-sulfuric acid, p507-hydrochloric acid using xylene as a diluent, the extraction yield of Y, Eu, Ce, La, and Tb are close to 100%. However, in this conditions, the difference in extraction yield for each element, that is, selectivity is 16% or less.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.477-482
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• 2023

Halloysite nanotube (HNT) has a nanotube structure with the chemical formula of Al₂Si₂O₅(OH)₄ · nH₂O and is a natural sediment of aluminosilicate. A lot of research has been conducted to improve the mechanical properties of epoxy composites by generating interactions between HNTs and polymers through surface treatment of HNTs, such as exchange of amine group as a terminal functional group. However, most of the surface modification methods are performed under wet conditions, which require a relatively large amount of time, manpower and solvent. In order to save time and simplify complicated procedures, a dry coating machine was designed and used for amine group exchange. Comparing the XPS results, it was found that the results of NH₂-HNT prepared using a dry coating machine and the substitution through the wet method were not significantly different, and it has been confirmed that the amount of solvent used and the time savings can be made.