• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.274-282
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• 2019

Mercury-resistant ($Hg^R$) bacteria were isolated from heavy metal polluted wastewater and soil collected near to tanneries of district Kasur, Pakistan. Bacterial isolates AZ-1, AZ-2 and AZ-3 showed resistance up to $40{\mu}g/ml$ against mercuric chloride ($HgCl_2$). 16S rDNA ribotyping and phylogenetic analysis were performed for the characterization of selected isolates as Bacillus sp. AZ-1 (KT270477), Bacillus cereus AZ-2 (KT270478) and Bacillus cereus AZ-3 (KT270479). Phylogenetic relationship on the basis of merA nucleotide sequence confirmed 51-100% homology with the corresponding region of the merA gene of already reported mercury-resistant Gram-positive bacteria. The merE gene involved in the transportation of elemental mercury ($Hg^0$) via cell membrane was cloned for the first time into pHLV vector and transformed in overexpressed C43(DE3) E. coli cells. The recombinant plasmid (pHLMerE) was expressed and the native MerE protein was obtained after thrombin cleavage by size exclusion chromatography (SEC). The purification of fusion/recombinant and native protein MerE by Ni-NTA column, dialysis and fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC/SEC) involved unfolding/refolding techniques. A small-scale reservoir of wastewater containing $30{\mu}g/ml$ of $HgCl_2$ was designed to check the detoxification ability of selected strains. It resulted in 83% detoxification of mercury by B. cereus AZ-2 and B. cereus AZ-3, and 76% detoxification by Bacillus sp. AZ-1 respectively (p < 0.05).

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.425-435
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• 2020

Numerous chemical modifications on activated carbon such as acidic conditioning, thermal treatment and metal impregnation have been investigated to enhance adsorption capacities of micropollutants in water treatment plants. In this study, chemical modification including acidic, alkaline treatment, and iron-impregnation was evaluated for adsorption of 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP). For Fe-impregnation, three concentrations of ferric chloride solutions, i.e., 0.2 M, 0.4 M, and 0.8 M, were used and ion-exchange (MIX) of iron and subsequent thermal treatment (MTH) were also applied. Surface properties of the modified carbons were analyzed by active surface area, pore volume, three-dimensional images, and chemical characteristics. The acidic and alkaline treatment changed the pore structures but yielded little improvement of adsorption capacities. As Fe concentrations were increased during impregnation, the active adsorption areas were decreased and the compositional ratios of Fe were increased. Adsorption capacities of modified ACs were evaluated using Langmuir isotherm. The MIX modification was not efficient to enhance 2,4-DCP adsorption and the MES treatment showed increases in adsorption capacities of 2,4-DCP, compared to the original activated carbon. These results implied a possibility of chemical impregnation modification for improvement of adsorption of 2,4-DCP, if a proper modification procedure is sought.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.249-254
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• 2011

A nonthermal plasma reactor in conjunction with a tubular type with a ferroelectric (high-dielectric ceramic) pellet layer was designed and constructed. $SrBiTaO_9$ (SBT) pellets with 2.0 mm in diameter were held within the tube arrangement by two metal mesh electrodes (20 mm separation) connected to a high-voltage AC power supply. The dielectric constant of SBT pellets was 150 at room temperature and 500 at curie temperature ($335^{\circ}C$). The generation rate of ozone in the plasma reactor almost linearly increased with increasing applied voltage. In the case of the plasma reactor packed with SBT pellets the generation rate of ozone sharply increased at the applied voltage more than 20 kV. The ozone generation rate at the negative corona discharge was higher than that of the positive corona discharge. However, the destruction efficiency of toluene and methylene chloride was not increased in proportion to ozone concentration.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.41-49
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• 2021

Objective : Citrus unshiu peel (Citri Unshius Pericarpium) has been prescribed to suppress coughing and phlegm in Korean medicine. In this study, the effect of ethanol extract of Citrus unshiu peel (CEE) on apoptosis was investigated using cadmium chloride (CdCl2) treated HepG2 cells. Methods : CEE was prepared by extracting 300 g of Citri Unshius Pericarpium in 3 L of ethanol for 72 h. Apoptosis was determined by the TUNEL assay. The mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) was monitored using the membrane-permeable fluorescent dye Rh123. The expression level of each protein was monitored by Western blot analysis. Results : CEE protected HepG2 cells from apoptosis as determined by the TUNEL assay. A decrease in MMP was observed in cells exposed to cadmium, indicating that mitochondria are involved in the induction of apoptosis. However, CEE recovered the reduction in MMP caused by cadmium. In addition, decreased expression of B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2), procaspase, and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) by cadmium was increased by CEE. The anti-apoptotic effect of CEE was found to be associated with inhibition of JNK and p38 phosphorylation when examining the expression of phosphorylated MAPK by Western blot. Conclusion : This study showed that CEE exerted anti-apoptotic effects in cadmium-induced HepG2 cells by inhibiting the reduction of MMP and changes in the expression level of apoptotic proteins. These results suggest the potential for CEE to be used for heavy metal-induced liver damage.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.46.1-46.12
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• 2023

Background: Heartworm infection in dogs is caused by Dirofilaria immitis and common in shelter animals and outdoors dogs. Caval syndrome can develop with severe infection and physical heartworm removal is essential with heartworm burdens. In this study, we used an improved transvenous heartworm extraction brush, which was expected to cause less cardiovascular damage and allow easier manipulation. Objectives: This study aims to evaluate efficacy of this improved transvenous heartworm extraction brush. Methods: The brush was designed to improve upon the limitations of the previous brush-type devices. The brush was made of a polyvinyl chloride tube and threads of polyamides or polyglyconates. Metal material was inserted at the front tip for easy visualization under fluoroscopy. The eight dogs diagnosed with caval syndrome with large numbers of heartworms and pulmonary hypertension were used in this study. The removal procedure began with the dissection of the subcutaneous tissue around the right jugular vein. The device was inserted through the jugular vein. After insertion, the tube was rotated to catch the heartworms and extracted with the heartworms hanging on the threads. The procedure was repeated several times. Lastly, jugular vein and skin sutures were made. Adulticidal therapy was administered after heartworm removal. Results: The mean number of removed heartworms was 10.5 ± 4.24 and mean number of remaining heartworms was 0.63 ± 1.06. Total procedure time was 72.63 ± 51.36. Except for three cases, heartworms were not detected on ultrasonography after the procedure. No procedure-related side effects were observed within the 1- to 2-mon. Conclusions: An improved transvenous heartworm extraction brush is efficient for heartworm removal in dogs with caval syndrome.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.195-202
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• 2006

Deterioration of sewer concrete is representative that biochemical corrosion according to the $H_2S$ has growth by inhabit sulfur-oxidzing bacteria because of special environment in sewer. But in case of domestic, fundamentally, sulfur-oxidzing bacteria could moderate development of repair material method is need because of corrosion prevent method is inconsideration with carry out to improve project. In this paper, after development of spread type antibiotic with antibio-metal, antibacterial performance about sulfur-oxidzing bacteria of antibiotic and tested to estimate fundamental properties of bonding strength, abrasion contents, contents of water absorption, contents of air permeability, carbonation depth, chloride ion penetration depth and chemical resistance of spread with antibiotic restorative mortar.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.110-123
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• 2008

The use of CCA as a wood preservative was recently inhibited due to its environmental pollution and human harmfulness. Instead of CCA, copper azole (CuAz) and alkaline copper quaternary (ACQ) have been used as alternative wood preservatives, but the price of the preservatives is much more expensive than that of CCA. As a substitute for high-priced CuAz and ACQ, environmentally friendly wood preservatives were formulated with okara, which is an organic waste from the production of tofu. Prior to formulating the preservatives, okara was hydrolyzed by three levels of sulfuric acid concentration (1, 2.5 and 5%) to easily penetrate the effective components of the preservatives into wood blocks. Final preservative solutions were formulated with the hydrolyzed okara and metal salts, such as copper sulfate, copper chloride and borax. The preservatives were treated into wood blocks by vacuum-pressure method to measure the treatability of the preservatives, and the treated wood blocks were placed in hot water for three days to measure the leachability of the preservatives. The effective components of the preservatives might be successfully penetrated into wood blocks through the uses of hydrolyzed okara and ammonia water. However, the leached amount of effective components was increased as the concentration of acid used for the hydrolysis of okara increased. The treatability and leachability of the preservatives were not affected by hydrolysis temperature but negatively affected by the addition of borax. Based on the results above, the optimal conditions for formulating okara-based wood preservatives cost-effectively and environmentally might be 1% acid hydrolysis of okara and the use of $CuCl_2$ as a metal salt. In addition, the treatability and leachability of okara-based wood preservatives were superior or no differences comparing with those of CuAz. Therefore, it is concluded that okara-based wood preservatives might have a potential to be used as an environmentally friendly wood preservative.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.33 no.2 s.97
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• pp.121-130
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• 2003

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the possibile clinical application of electroplating to increase diameter of an orthodontic wire, through examining the change of physical properties. The diameter of stainless steel orthodontic wire was increased from 0.016 inch to 0.018 inch by electroplating in a bath of nickel sulfate 100g/L, nickel chloride 60g/L, boric acid 30g/L, and sodium chloride 50g/L, under the conditions of 1.7V, $25\~29^{\circ}C\;and\;3.1\~3.3pH$. During the electroplating, the rate of diameter increase was measured every minute. To investigate uniformity, the diameter was measured at three different locations of each wire specimen aster electroplating. An X-ray diffraction test was performed to analyze the nature of the electroplated metal. Following heat treatment to improve adhesion between the wire and electroplated metal, a three-point bending test was conducted to compare stiffness, field strength, and ultimate strength among four wire groups; 0.016 inch, electroplated 016, electroplated and heat-treated 016, and 0.018 inch wires. Through the comparison of each wire group, following results were obtained. 1. In the load-deflection graph, the curve of the electroplated group was Placed between that of the 0.016 inch group and the 0.018 inch group, and the owe was closer to the 0.018 inch group by heat treatment. 2. In the electroplated and heat-treated 016 wire group, the values of stiffness, yield strength and ultimate strength showed higher tendency than in the original 0.016 Inch group. Stiffness and ultimate strength showed statistically significant differences between two groups. 3. Stiffness, yield strength, and ultimate strength of electroplated wire presented lower values than those of 0.018 inch wire group. 4. Stiffness, yield strength, and ultimate strength of electroplated and heat-treated wire showed higher tendency than those of electroplated wire group, and ultimate strength showed statistically significant difference between two groups. 5. After electroplating, the difference in diameter between the three locations was within $0.1\~0.3\%$ variation, and showed no statistical significance.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.45-53
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• 2012

The metal chloride wastes from a pyrochemical process to recover uranium and transuranic elements has been considered as a problematic waste difficult to apply to a conventional solidification method due to the high volatility and low compatibility with silicate glass. In this study, a dechlorination approach to treat LiCl-KCl waste for final disposal was adapted. In this study, a $SiO_2-Al_2O_3-P_2O_5$ (SAP) inorganic composite as a dechlorination agent was prepared by a conventional sol-gel process. By using a series of SAPs, the dechlorination behavior and consolidation of reaction products were investigated. Different from LiCl waste, the dechlorination reaction occurred mainly at two temperature ranges. The thermogravimetric test indicated that the first reaction range was about $400^{\circ}C$ for LiCl and the second was about $700^{\circ}C$ for KCl. The SAP 1071 (Si/Al/P=1/0.75/1 in molar) was found to be the most favorable SAP as a dechlorination agent under given conditions. The consolidation test revealed that the bulk shape and the densification of consolidated forms depended on the SAP/Salt ratios. The leaching test by PCT-A method was performed to evaluate the durability of consolidated forms. This study provided the basic information on the dechlorination approach. Based on the experimental results, the dechlorination method using a $SiO_2-Al_2O_3-P_2O_5$ (SAP) could be considered as one of alternatives for the immobilization of waste salt.

• Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.49-59
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• 1971

This experiment was conducted, how making use of "Seracol 100", a kind of nonionic surface active reagent, during cocoon cooking and silk reeling process which is mainly used in Korea and developed by one of the authors since 1965. Main purpose of the experiment is to investigate the influence of the activity of the reelability aid reagent on various degree of hardness component and various salts which are contained in filature water being used by silk factories now. Specifically, it was tried to determine the effects of the reelability aid reagent added to each sample water of artificially differentiated the degree of hardness component upon sericin solubility. Some of the major findings are summarized as follows. 1. "Seracol 100", with below 5$^{\circ}$dH water, increased sericin solubility in each sample water, but above $10^{\circ}$dH the effect of it shows a significant relationship with the different degree of hardness component. Besides the component (MgCO$_3$)$_4$ㆍMg(OH)$_2$, generally, the higher the degree of hardness in the water, the less the amount of desolved sericin in the water showed. There is little or no difference between 1000 times diluted "Seracol 100" water and 2000 times diluted "Seracol 100" water in terms of sericin solubility. 2. The different kind of degree of hardness component shows a significant relationship with sericin solubility, In case use of "Seracol 100", Mg hardness component affected on the sericin solubility more than Ca hardness. But in the control, contrary to this, that is Ca hardness component did more than Mg hardness, 3. The different kind of salts in degree of hardness component show a significant relationship with sericin solubility. In the control water, nitrate is the greatest among salts affecting on sericin solubility, next chloride and sulfate are in order. In case of "Seracol 100" water, chloride is the least among salts, below $10^{\circ}$dH, next sulfate and nitrate are in order, and above 15$^{\circ}$dH, next nitrate and sulfate are in order. 4. In case of "Seracol 100" water, the more contained heavy metal salts (Fe, Al, Cu, Mn) in the water, the less sericin solubility showed. It is found that there is little or no difference among other salts in terms of sericin solubility. But alkaline metal salt remarkably increased sericin solubility. 5. In case of "Seracol 100" water, tinting of the water was affected by Ca salts more than by Mg salts. Among other salts, only Al and Fe affected on the tinting of the water, specifically, in view of the fact that "Seracol 100" water increase the tinting of Fe salt water, but decrease the tinting of raw silk. It is thought that "Seracol 100" deter Fe$^{+2}$ from absorbing to raw silk by deteriorating the activity of Fe$^{+2}$ . 6. "Seracol 100" have the effect on osmosis of the water, After treatment until 2hrs the osmosis of 1000 times diluted "Seracol 100" water is the greatest, next orders are 2000 times diluted "Seracol 100" and control. From 2 hrs to 6 hrs the osmosis of 2000 times diluted water is the greatest, next orders are 1000 times diluted water and control. After 6 hrs the osmosis of the water is the same order as above. 7. In view of tile fact that "Seracol 100" have the effect to control the degree of hardness during the treatment of cocoon layer in the water, it is thought that, in varying degree of hardness in the water, there is a significant relationship between "Seracol 100" and degree of hardness components in cocoon layer.