• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.27 no.12
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• pp.2129-2140
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• 2017

Silibinin is the major active component of silymarin, extracted from the medicinal plant Silybum marianum. Silibinin has potent antibacterial activity; however, the exact mechanism underlying its activity has not been elucidated. Here, we investigated the novel mechanism of silibinin against Escherichia coli. Time-kill kinetic assay showed that silibinin possess a bactericidal effect at minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and higher concentrations (2-and 4-fold MIC). At the membrane, depolarization and increased intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ levels were observed, considered as characteristics of bacterial apoptosis. Additionally, cells treated with MIC and higher concentrations showed apoptotic features like DNA fragmentation, phosphatidylserine exposure, and caspase-like protein expression. Generally, apoptotic death is closely related with ROS generation; however, silibinin did not induce ROS generation but acted as a scavenger of intracellular ROS. These results indicate that silibinin dose-dependently induces bacterial apoptosis-like death, which was affected by ROS depletion, suggesting that silibinin is a potential candidate for controlling bacteria.

• Transactions on Electrical and Electronic Materials
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.104-108
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• 2016

To research the correlation between oxygen vacancy and the electrical characteristics of ZTO, which is made by using a target mixed ZnO:SnO₂=1:1, the ZnO, SnO₂ and ZTO were analyzed by PL, XPS, XRD patterns and electrical properties. It was compared with the electron orbital spectra of O 1s in accordance with the electrical characteristics of ZnO, SnO₂ and ZTO. The electrical characteristics of ZTO were improved by increasing the annealing temperatures, due to the high degree of crystal structures at a high temperature, and the physical properties of ZTO was similar to that of ZnO. The amorphous structure of SnO₂ was increased with increasing the temperature. The Schottky contact of oxide semiconductors was formed using the depletion region, which is increased by the electron-hole combination due to the annealing processes. ZnO showed the Ohmic contact in spite of a high annealing temperature, but SnO₂ and ZTO had Schottky contact. As such, it was confirmed that the electrical properties of ZTO are affected by the molecules of SnO₂.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.519-528
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• 2019

Mitochondrial dysfunction is closely associated with reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and oxidative stress in cells. On the other hand, modulation of the cellular antioxidant defense system by changes in the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) content is largely unknown. To determine the relationship between the cellular mtDNA content and defense system against oxidative stress, this study examined a set of myoblasts containing a depleted or reverted mtDNA content. A change in the cellular mtDNA content modulated the expression of antioxidant enzymes in myoblasts. In particular, the expression and activity of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and catalase were inversely correlated with the mtDNA content in myoblasts. The depletion of mtDNA decreased both the reduced glutathione (GSH) and oxidized glutathione (GSSG) slightly, whereas the cellular redox status, as assessed by the GSH/GSSG ratio, was similar to that of the control. Interestingly, the steady-state level of the intracellular ROS, which depends on the reciprocal actions between ROS generation and detoxification, was reduced significantly and the lethality induced by $H_2O_2$ was alleviated by mtDNA depletion in myoblasts. Therefore, these results suggest that the ROS homeostasis and antioxidant enzymes are modulated by the cellular mtDNA content and that the increased expression and activity of GPx and catalase through the depletion of mtDNA are closely associated with an alleviation of the oxidative stress in myoblasts.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.18 no.11
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• pp.1175-1179
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• 1997

The adsorption of oxygen on ZnO was monitored by measuring the capacitance of two contacting crystals which have depletion layers originated from the interaction between oxygen and ZnO at 298 K-473 K. An admission of oxygen to the sample induced an irreversible increase in the depth and the amount of adsorbed oxygen was less than 0.001 monolayer in the experimental condition. The relation between pressure of oxygen and variation of the depth was tested from the view point of Langmuir or Freundlich isotherm. Using Hall effect measurement and kinetic experiment, a model equation on the adsorption process was proposed. From the results, it was suggested that oxygen adsorption depended on the rate of electron transfer from ZnO to oxygen while the amount of adsorbed oxygen was kinetically restricted by the height of surface potential barrier.

• Proceedings of the KWS Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.65-69
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• 2002

An Al film deposited on the Kovar alloy substrate was anodically-bonded to the borosilicate glass, and the bond interfaces was closely investigated by transmission electron microscopy. Al oxide was found to form a layer ~l0 nm thick at the bond interface, and fibrous structure of the same oxide was found to grow epitaxially in the glass from the oxide layer. The fibrous structure grew with the bonding time. The mechanism of the formation of this fibrous structure is proposed on the basis of the migration of Al ions under the electric field. Penetration of Al into glass beyond the interfacial Al oxide was not detected. The comparison of the amount of excess oxygen ions generated in the alkali depletion layer with that incorporated in the Al oxide suggests that the growth of the alkali-ion depletion layer is controlled by the consumption of excess oxygen to form the interfacial Al oxide.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2014.02a
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• pp.163.2-163.2
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• 2014

We report catalytic decomposition of few-layer graphene on an $Au/SiO_x/Si$ surface wherein oxygen is supplied by dissociation of the native $SiO_x$ layer at a relatively low temperature of $400^{\circ}C$. The detailed chemical evolution of the graphene covered $SiO_x/Si$ surface with and without gold during the catalytic process is investigated using a spatially resolved photoelectron emission method. The oxygen atoms from the native $SiO_x$ layer activate the gold-mediated catalytic decomposition of the entire graphene layer, resulting in the formation of direct contact between the Au and the Si substrate. The notably low contact resistivity found in this system suggests that the catalytic depletion of a $SiO_x$ layer could realize a new way to micromanufacture high-quality electrical contact.

• Journal of environmental and Sanitary engineering
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.1-8
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• 1998

Chungju reservoir is a multipurpose dam lake located at the upstream of Nm Han river and known as having the biggest watershed and the second water volume in korea. Conclusions are made as follows. 1. Environmental characteristics of the reservoir appear to be as follows. Chungju reservoir has long hydaulic retention time, 60-160 days. Water column has oxygen depletion zone in hypolimnion. Chungju reservoir is found to be in the midst of eutrophication. Chlorophyll-a and other physical parameters are found to be significantly dependent. 2. Nitrogen to phosphorus ratio was 50-350 for the water samples taken from the reservoir in 1996. It is very important clue for water quality management in relation to phytoplankton growing kinetics. Variations in chlorophyll-a contents appear to be related closely to total phosphorus concentration.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.829-836
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• 2006

The reaction rate of denitrification is primarily affected by the utilization of organics that are usually limited in the anoxic period in a sequencing batch reactor. It is necessary to add an extemal carbon source for sufficient denitrification. An adaptive model of state-space based on the extended Kalman filter is applied to manipulate the dosage rate of extemal carbon automatically. Control strategies for denitrification have been studied to improve control performance through simulations. The normal control strategy of the constant set-point results in the overdosage of external carbon and deterioration of water quality. To prevent the overdosage of external carbon, improved control strategies such as the constrained control action, variable set-point, and variable set-point after dissolved oxygen depletion are required. More stable control is obtained through the application of the variable set-point after dissolved oxygen depletion. The converging value of the estimated denitrification coefficient reflects conditions in the reactor.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.92-100
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• 2004

Effect of the depletion or oxidation of GSH on mitomycin c (MMC)-induced mitochondrial damage and cell death was assessed in small cell lung cancer (SCLC) cells. MMC induced cell death and the decrease in the GSH contents in SCLC cells, which were inhibited by z-LEHD.fmk (a cell permeable inhibitor of caspase-9), z-DQMD.fmk (a cell permeable inhibitor of caspase-3) and thiol compound, N-acetylcysteine. MMC caused nuclear damage, release of cytochrome c and activation of caspase-3, which were reduced by N-acetylcysteine. The depletion of GSH due to L-butionine-sulfoximine enhanced the MMC-induced cell death and formation of reactive oxygen species in SCLC cells, whereas the oxidation of GSH due to diamide or $NH_2Cl$ did not affect cytotoxicity of MMC. The results show that MMC may cause cell death in SCLC cells by inducing mitochondrial dysfunction, leading to activation of caspase-9 and -3. The MMC-induced change in the mitochondrial membrane permeability, followed by cell death, in SCLC cells may be significantly enhanced by the depletion of GSH. In contrast, the oxidation of GSH may not affect cytotoxicity of MMC.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.66-73
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• 1998

This paper deals with the combustion characteristics of flue gas in infared mobile heaters. The experimental work has been performed to obtain the concentration levels and combustion characteristics of flue gas with varying chamber size and room temperature. The experimental results showed that oxygen depletion sensor device was operated at the oxygen concentration level of $18.3\%$ for all the chamber size. The combustion characteristics of oxygen and carbon dioxide show a linearity After 10 minutes the combustion property of carbon monoxide occurs at random without a level of oxygen and carbon dioxide in closed space of the heater. In these results, it is very important to prevent incomplete combustion through a sufficient ventilation, and accident prevention with a reduction of the oxygen and diffusion of toxic carbon monoxide.