• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.541-550
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• 2015

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) cell wall extract on the proliferation and cytokine production of immune cells to select suitable probiotics for space food. Ten strains of LAB (Lactobacillus bulgaricus, L. paracasei, L. casei, L. acidophilus, L. plantarum, L. delbruekii, Lactococcus lactis, Streptococcus thermophilus, Bifidobacterium breve, and Pedicoccus pentosaceus) were sub-cultured and further cultured for 3 d to reach 7-10 Log colony-forming units (CFU)/mL prior to cell wall extractions. All LAB cell wall extracts failed to inhibit the proliferation of BALB/c mouse splenocytes or mesenteric lymphocytes. Most LAB cell wall extracts except those of L. plantarum and L. delbrueckii induced the proliferation of both immune cells at tested concentrations. In addition, the production of T_H1 cytokine (IFN-γ) rather than that of T_H2 cytokine (IL-4) was enhanced by LAB cell wall extracts. Of ten LAB extracts, four (from L. acidophilus, L. bulgaricus, L. casei, and S. thermophiles) promoted both cell proliferating and T_H1 cytokine production. These results suggested that these LAB could be used as probiotics to maintain immunity and homeostasis for astronauts in extreme space environment and for general people in normal life.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.35-47
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• 2023

Myelophycus caespitosus, a brown alga belonging to genus Myelophycus, has been traditionally used as a food and medicinal resource in Northeastern Asia. However, few studies have been conducted on its pharmacological activity. In this study, we evaluated whether methanol extract of M. caespitosus (MEMC) could protect against oxidative damage caused by hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) in C2C12 murine myoblasts. Our results revealed that MEMC could suppress H₂O₂-induced growth inhibition and DNA damage while blocking the production of reactive oxygen species. In H₂O₂-treated cells, cell cycle progression was halted at the G2/M phase, accompanied by changes in expression of key cell cycle regulators. However, these effects were attenuated by MEMC. In addition, we found that MEMC protected cells from induction of apoptosis associated with mitochondrial impairment caused by H₂O₂ treatment. Furthermore, MEMC enhanced the phosphorylation of nuclear factor-erythroid-2 related factor 2 (Nrf2) and expression and activity of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in H₂O₂-treaetd C2C12 myoblasts. However, such anti-apoptotic and cytoprotective effects of MEMC were greatly abolished by HO-1 inhibitor, suggesting that MEMC could increase Nrf2-mediated activity of HO-1 to protect C2C12 myoblasts from oxidative stress.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.235-243
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• 2004

A number of potential applications of aluminum foams are being identified and renewed interest in these engineering materials is also reflected by several current research projects. One of the key issues for industrial exploitation of aluminum foams is the development of cost-effective manufacturing strategies facilitating, preferably, net shape production of foams with controlled porosity and cell size, and minimized structural imperfection. Especially, melt route to aluminum foam production based on the foaming agents offer attraction of low cost and the potential for good microstructure. The present paper is focused mainly on foaming agents of melt-foam aluminum such as $TiH_2$ or $TiH_2-Al$ mixture. For the purpose of economical manufacturing, we are proposed to hydrogen induced mechanical alloying (HIMA) process. Thermo-physical properties of particles synthesized are compared with conventional methods. Specimens synthesized are characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), thermo- gravimetry-differential scanning calorymetry (TG-DSC), pressure-composition-isotherm. (PCI).

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.88-94
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• 2021

The seaweed, Gracilaria verrucosa (red seaweed) was fermented to produce bioethanol. Optimal thermal acid hydrolysis conditions were determined as 200 mM H₂SO₄ and 10% (w/v) seaweed slurry at 130℃ for 60 min yielding 47.5% of pretreatment efficiency (E_p). After the thermal acid hydrolysis, enzymatic saccharification was carried out with 16 U/ml Viscozyme L, Cellic CTec2 or mixture of Viscozyme L and Cellic CTec2 to G. verrucosa hydrolysates. Enzymatic saccharifications with Viscozyme, Cellic CTec2 or mixture of those yielded 7.3 g/l glucose with efficiency of saccharification, E_s = 34.9%, 11.6 g/l glucose with E_s = 64.4% and the mixture of those 9.6 g/l glucose with E_s = 56.6%, respectively. Therefore, based on the E_s value, Cellic CTec2 was selected for the optimal enzyme for enzymatic saccharification of G. verrucosa hydrolysate. The ethanol productions with non-adapted S. cerevisiae CEN-PK2 (wild type) and S. cerevisiae CEN-PK2 with adaptive evolution to galactose produced 8.5 g/l ethanol with Y_EtOH = 0.19 and 21.5 g/l ethanol with Y_EtOH = 0.50 at 144 h, respectively. From these results, the ethanol production by S. cerevisiae with adaptive evolution showed high concentration of ethanol production using G. verrucosa as a substrate.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.534-541
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• 2021

In this study, a novel microwave-matrix reformer was proposed to convert CH₄, which is a major component, to a high quality hydrogen energy. And to identify this performance, it was investigated for O₂/C ratio, steam feed amount and reformed gas recirculation which are affected for methane conversion and product gas yield. Through the parametric screening studies, optimal operating conditions were that O₂/C ratio, steam feed amount and recirculation rate were 1.1, 10 mL/min and 30 L/min. In this conditions, CH₄ conversion was 68.1%, H₂ selectivity 77.2 and H₂/CO ratio 2.62 which are possible applying SOFC stack for RPG (residential power generator).

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.77-83
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• 2023

Energy consumption is increased by rapid industrialization. As a result, climate change is accelerating due to the increase in CO₂ concentration in the atmosphere. Therefore, a shift in the energy paradigm is required. Hydrogen is in the spotlight as a part of that. Currently 95% of hydrogen is fossil fuel-based reforming hydrogen which is accompanied by CO₂ emissions. This is called gray hydrogen, if the CO₂ is captured and emission of CO₂ is reduced, it can be converted into blue hydrogen. There are 3 technologies to capture CO₂: absorption, adsorption and membrane technology. In order to select CO₂ capture technology, the analysis of the exhaust gas should be carried out. The concentration of CO₂ in the flue gas from the hydrogen production process is higher than 20%if water is removed as well as the emission scale is classified as small and medium. So, the application of the membrane technology is more advantageous than the absorption. In addition, if LNG cold energy can be used for low temperature CO₂ capture system, the CO₂/N₂ selectivity of the membrane is higher than room temperature CO₂ capture and enabling an efficient CO₂ capture process. In this study, we will analyze the flue gas from hydrogen production process and discuss suitable CO₂ capture technology for it.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.63 no.2
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• pp.137-145
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• 2020

Oxidative stress is one of the pathogenic mechanisms of various neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease. Neuroglia, the most abundant cells in the brain, is thought to play an important role in the antioxidant defense system and neuronal metabolic support against neurotoxicity and oxidative stress. We investigated the protective effect of paeoniflorin (PF) against oxidative stress in C6 glial cells. Exposure of C6 glial cells to hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂, 500 μM) significantly decreased cell viability and increased amounts of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release, indicating H₂O₂-induced cellular damage. However, treatment with PF significantly attenuated H₂O₂-induced cell death as shown by increased cell survival and decreased LDH release. The H₂O₂-stimulated reactive oxygen species production was also suppressed, and it may be associated with improvement of superoxide dismutase activity by treatment with PF. In addition, an increase in ratio of Bcl-2/Bax protein expression was observed after treatment with PF. In particular, the down-stream of the apoptotic signaling pathway was inhibited in the presence of PF, mostly by reduction of cleaved-poly ADP ribose polymerase, cleaved caspase-3, and -9 protein expression. Furthermore, H₂O₂-induced phosphorylation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 was attenuated by treatment with PF. Taken together, neuroprotective effect of PF against oxidative stress probably result from the regulation of apoptotic pathway in C6 glial cells. In conclusion, our findings suggest that PF may be a potent therapeutic agent for neurodegenerative disorders.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.57-65
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• 2015

β-Glucosidase production by the white rot fungus Flammulina velutipes CFK 3111 was evaluated using different carbon and nitrogen sources under submerged fermentation. Maximal extracellular enzyme production was 1.6 U/ml, corresponding to a culture grown in sucrose 40 g/land asparagine 10 g/l. High production yield was also obtained with glucose 10 g/land asparagine 4 g/l medium (0.5 U/ml). Parameters affecting the enzyme activity were studied using p-nitrophenyl-β-_D-glucopyranoside as the substrate. Optimal activity was found at 50℃ and pHs 5.0 to 6.0. Under these conditions, β-glucosidase retained 25% of its initial activity after 12 h of incubation and exhibited a half-life of 5 h. The addition of MgCl₂, urea, and ethanol enhanced the β-glucosidase activity up to 47%, whereas FeCl₂, CuSO₄, Cd(NO₃)₂, and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide inflicted a strong inhibitory effect. Glucose and cellobiose also showed an inhibitory effect on the β-glucosidase activity in a concentration-dependent manner. The enzyme had an estimated molecular mass of 75 kDa. To the best of our knowledge, F. velutipes CFK 3111 β-glucosidase production is amongst the highest reported to date, in a basidiomycetous fungus.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.31 no.12
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• pp.1009-1016
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• 2007

Numerical study on preferential diffusion effects in flame structure in $CH_4-H_2$ diffusion flames is conducted with detailed chemistry. Comparison of flame structures with mixture-averaged species diffusion and suppression of the diffusivities of $H_2$ and H was made. Discernible differences in flame structures are displayed with three species diffusion models. The behaviors of maximum flame temperatures with those species diffusion models are not explained by scalar dissipation rate but by the nature of chemical kinetics. It is seen that the modifcation of flame structure is mainly due to the preferential diffusion of H2 and thereby the nature of chemical kinetics. It is also found that the behaviors of major species with the three species diffusion models are addressed to the nature of chemical kinetics, and this is evident by examining importantly contributing reaction steps to the production and destruction of those chemical species.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.329-340
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• 2024

Mangiferin is a kind of natural xanthone glycosides and is known to have various pharmacological activities. However, since the beneficial efficacy of this compound has not been reported in retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells, this study aimed to evaluate whether mangiferin could protect human RPE ARPE-19 cells from oxidative injury mimicked by hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). The results showed that mangiferin attenuated H₂O₂-induced cell viability reduction and DNA damage, while inhibiting reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and preserving diminished glutathione (GSH). Mangiferin also antagonized H₂O₂-induced inhibition of the expression and activity of antioxidant enzymes such as manganese superoxide dismutase and GSH peroxidase, which was associated with inhibition of mitochondrial ROS production. In addition, mangiferin protected ARPE-19 cells from H₂O₂-induced apoptosis by increasing the Bcl-2/Bax ratio, decreasing caspase-3 activation, and blocking poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage. Moreover, mangiferin suppressed the release of cytochrome c into the cytosol, which was achieved by interfering with mitochondrial membrane disruption. Furthermore, mangiferin increased the expression and activity of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and nuclear factor-erythroid-2 related factor 2 (Nrf2). However, the inhibition of ROS production, cytoprotective and anti-apoptotic effects of mangiferin were significantly attenuated by the HO-1 inhibitor, indicating that mangiferin promoted Nrf2-mediated HO-1 activity to prevent ARPE-19 cells from oxidative injury. The results of this study suggest that mangiferin, as an Nrf2 activator, has potent ROS scavenging activity and may have the potential to protect oxidative stress-mediated ocular diseases.