• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.176-182
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• 2023

Among 14 subtypes of serotonin receptors (5-HTRs), 5-HT_2AR plays important roles in drug addiction and various psychiatric disorders. Agonists for 5-HT_2AR have been classified into three structural groups: phenethylamines, tryptamines, and ergolines. In this study, the structure-activity relationship (SAR) of phenethylamine and tryptamine derivatives for binding 5-HT_2AR was determined. In addition, functional and regulatory evaluation of selected compounds was conducted for extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs) and receptor endocytosis. SAR studies showed that phenethylamines possessed higher affinity to 5-HT_2AR than tryptamines. In phenethylamines, two phenyl groups were attached to the carbon and nitrogen (R³ ) atoms of ethylamine, the backbone of phenethylamines. Alkyl or halogen groups on the phenyl ring attached to the β carbon exerted positive effects on the binding affinity when they were at para positions. Oxygen-containing groups attached to R³ exerted mixed influences depending on the position of their attachment. In tryptamine derivatives, tryptamine group was attached to the β carbon of ethylamine, and ally groups were attached to the nitrogen atom. Oxygen-containing substituents on large ring and alkyl substituents on the small ring of tryptamine groups exerted positive and negative influence on the affinity for 5-HT_2AR, respectively. Ally groups attached to the nitrogen atom of ethylamine exerted negative influences. Functional and regulatory activities of the tested compounds correlated with their affinity for 5-HT_2AR, suggesting their agonistic nature. In conclusion, this study provides information for designing novel ligands for 5-HT_2AR, which can be used to control psychiatric disorders and drug abuse.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.405-410
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• 2011

High-performance of an electric double layer capacitance (EDLC) electrode was prepared by the amino-fluorination of activated carbon by using $NF_3$ gas. The pore structure and surface chemistry were investigated based on the specific capacitance of EDLC. The amino-fluorination of activated carbon introduced functional groups of nitrogen and fluorine which are beneficial for the specific capacitance of EDLC without the change of pore structures. The E-NF100AC electrode, which has nitrogen and fluorine functional groups less than 1 at%, showed the highly improved specific capacitance of 528 (${\pm}9$) F/g at 2 mV/s showing 122% improved value when comparing with that of non-functionalized E-RAC electrodes. Whereas, the E-NF200AC electrode, which has nitrogen and fluorine functional groups over 1 at%, showed the decreased specific capacitance because of perfluorinated introduction. So, it is concluded that the proper contents of nitrogen and fluorine groups improved the specific capacitance of EDLC.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.93-98
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• 2010

In this work, the electrochemical properties of surface treated multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) were studied. Nitrogen and oxygen functional groups of the MWNTs were introduced by urea and acidic treatment, respectively. The surface functional groups of the MWNTs were confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) measurements and zeta-potential method. The characteristics of $N_2$ adsorption isotherm at 77 K, specific surface area, and total pore volumes were investigated by BET eqaution, BJH method and t-plot method. Electrochemical properties of the functionalized MWNTs were accumulated by cyclic voltammetry at the scan rates of 50 $mVs^{-1}$ and 100 $mVs^{-1}$ in 1M $H_2SO_4$ as electrolytes. As a result, the functionalized MWNTs led to an increase of capacitance as compared with pristine MWNTs. It was found that the increase of capacitance for urea treated MWNTs was attributed to the increase in density of surface functional groups, resulting in improving the wettability between electrode materials and charge species.

• Carbon letters
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• v.19
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• pp.40-46
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• 2016

Nitrogen-atom doped graphene oxide was considered to prevent the dissolution of polysulfide and to guarantee the enhanced redox reaction of sulfur for good cycle performance of lithium sulfur cells. In this study, we used urea as a nitrogen source due to its low cost and easy preparation. To find the optimum urea content, we tested three different ratios of urea to graphene oxide. The morphology of the composites was examined by field emission scanning electron microscope. Functional groups and bonding characterization were measured by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Electrochemical properties were characterized by cyclic voltammetry in an organic electrolyte solution. Compared with thermally reduced graphene/sulfur (S) composite, nitrogen-doped graphene/S composites showed higher electroactivity and more stable capacity retention.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Tobacco Science
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• v.27 no.1 s.53
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• pp.59-67
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• 2005

Activated carbon fiber (ACF) was surface modified by nitric acid to improve the adsorption efficiency of the propylamine. The adsorption amount of propylamine of the modified ACF increased $17\%$ more than that of as-received ACF. Desorption of propylamine from the propylamine saturated ACF was occurred in two steps, the first step started arround $50^{\circ}C$ showing the desorption of physically adsorbed propylamine and the second step started at $200^{\circ}C$ showing the decomposition of chemically adsorbed propylamine. Total desorption amount of propylamine from the modified ACF was larger than that of the as-received ACF because of increased functional groups. The oxygen and nitrogen contents on the modified ACF increased by 1.5 and 3 times compared with the as-received ACF. A part of propylamine adsorbed on ACF formed pyridine-like or pyrrolic structures with 2 carbons exposed on the surface of the ACF. It was found that propylamine reacted with strong or weak acidic functional groups such as -COOH or -OH existed on ACF surface.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.71-77
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• 2022

To increase biomass utilization, rice husk-based activated carbon (RHAC) followed by nitrogen plasma surface treatment was prepared and the electric double-layer capacitor performance was investigated. Through nitrogen plasma surface treatment, up to 2.17% of nitrogen was introduced to the surface of RHAC, and in particular the sample reacted for 5 min with nitrogen plasma showed dominant formation of pyrrolic/pyridine N functional groups. In addition, mesopores were formed on the RHAC material by the removal of silica, and the surface roughness of the carbon material increased by nitrogen plasma surface treatment, resulting in the formation of many micropores. As a result of cyclic voltammetry measurement, at a scan rate of 5 mV/s, the specific capacitance of the RHAC treated with nitrogen plasma increased up to 200 F/g, showing an 80.2% improvement compared to that of using untreated RHAC (111 F/g). This is attributed to the synergetic effect of the introduction of pyrrolic/pyridine-based nitrogen functional groups and the increase of the micropore volume on the surface of the carbon material. This study has a positive effect on the environment in terms of recycling waste resources and using plasma surface treatment.

• ALGAE
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.99-109
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• 2019

Habitat-forming species increase spatial complexity and alter local environmental conditions, often facilitating the assembly of plants and animals. We conducted a trait-based approach to algal assemblages associated with the freshwater bryozoan, Pectinatella magnifica. Association with algae leads to the inner bodies of the bryozoans being colored green; this is frequently observed in the large rivers of South Korea. We collected the green-colored gelatinous matrices and phytoplankton from waterbodies of the two main rivers in South Korea. Algal assemblages within the colonies and in the waterbodies were compared using the three diversity indices (richness, diversity, and dominance), and the composition of functional groups (FGs) and morphologically based functional groups (MBFGs) between the colonies within and outside of P. magnifica colonies. The most dominant and common species within the colonies were Oscillatoria kawamurae and Pseudanabaena catenata, both of which were assigned to the same FG (codon S1). Of the algal assemblages within the colonies, the dominance was higher, while the richness and diversity were lower, than those in the waterbodies. There was variation in the compositions of FGs and MBFGs in the waterbodies outside the colonies. Total nitrogen and orthophosphate led to dominance, and were significant factors for the variation in FGs in the waterbodies, whereas there were no such significant factors within the colonies. This trait-based approach to the community structure of associated algae provides the status and habitat gradient of these communities, which are stable, isolated, and consistent with the overgrowth of shade-adapted tychoplanktonic cyanobacteria.

• Carbon letters
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.131-136
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• 2010

Propellant waste was impregnated on the surface of activated carbon fiber and heat-treated at different temperature to introduce newly developed functional groups on the ACF surface. Functional groups of nitrogen and oxygen such as pyridine, pyridone, pyrrol, lacton and carboxyl were newly introduced on the surface of modified activated carbon fiber. The porosity, specific surface area, and morphology of those modified ACFs were changed as increasing the heat-treated temperature from 200 to $500^{\circ}C$. The optimum heat-treatment temperature was suggested to $500^{\circ}C$, because lower temperature given rise to the decrease of specific surface area and higher temperature resulted in the decrease of weight loss. Propellant waste can be used as an useful surface modifier to porous carbons.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.126-132
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• 2001

Effect of Quartz porphyty(QP) on functional and morphological changes of the liver and kidney was studied in male common finch and white java sparrow fed with the basal diet(Control group) or experimental diet containing 3.0% QP(QP group) for 14 days. There was not significantly different morphological change of the liver upon light microscopic examination in common finch and white java sparrow between control group and QP group. Morphological change of renal tissue upon light microscopic examination in common finch and white java sparrow was not also significantly different between control group and QP group. The concentrations of serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, and nric acid as renal functional parameters of common finch and white java sparrow were not significantly different in the both groups. The activity of glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase(GOT) as hepatic functional parameter in common finch was significantly higher in the QP group($\rho$<0.05), whereas the activity of glutamic pyruvic transaminase(GPT) as hepatic functional parameter in common finch was not significantly different in the both groups. The activities of GOP and GPT in white java sparrow were not significantly different in the both groups. The morphologic findings and functional parameters of the liver and kidney observed in common finch and white java sparrow fed with 3.0% QP diet showed evidence of slightly liver damage accompanied with increased release of enzyme and fatty change of the hepatocytes in common finch, suggested that the tissues in some animals can be damaged by feeding a diet supplemented with 3.0% QP.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.443-448
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• 2011

The propellant has a short shelf-life because of nitrogen oxides that were released from nitrocellulose decomposition. As-received and surface-modified ACFs were applied to remove the nitrogen oxides with intend to extend the shelf-life of propellant. The specific surface area of modified ACFs was slightly decreased but nitrogen function groups such as pyridine, pyridone and pyrrol were created on the surface of ACFs. As a result, the NO removal capacity of the surface-modified ACF by propellant waste increased about twice than that of the as-received ACF. The shelf-life of propellant was extended about 1.25 times by accompanying surface-modified ACF.