• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.469-474
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• 2006

Partial nitrification blocking of the oxidation of nitrite ($NO_{2}^{-}$) to nitrate ($NO_{3}^{-}$) has cost-efficient advantages such as lower oxygen and organics demand for nitrification and denitrification, respectively. A nitrifying membrane bioreactor of submerged type was operated for the treatment of synthetic ammonium wastewater with the purpose of nitrite build-up without affecting the efficiency of ammonium oxidation. A high ammonium concentration (1,000 mg/l) was completely converted to nitrate at up to 2 kg $N/m^3$ day under sufficient aeration. The control of pH under sufficient aeration was not a reliable strategy to maintain stable nitrite build-up. When the dissolved oxygen concentration was kept at 0.2-0.4 mg/l by adjusting the aeration rate, about 70% of nitrite content was obtained with ammonium oxidation efficiency higher than 93%. The increase of suction pressure due to membrane fouling was not significant under lowered aerating environment over a 6-month period of operation. The composition of nitrifier community, including relative abundance of nitrite oxidizers in a nitrite-accumulating condition, was quantified by fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.9-18
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• 2004

Opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore has been recognized to be involved in cell death. The present study investigated the effect of ${\beta}$-carbolines (harmaline and harmalol) and deprenyl on the dopamine-induced change in the mitochondrial membrane permeability and cell death in differentiated PC12 cells. Cell death due to 250 4{\mu}$M dopamine was inhibited by caspase inhibitors (z-IETD.fmk, z-LEHD.fmk and z-DQMD.fmk) and antioxidants (N-acetylcysteine, ascorbate, superoxide dismutase, catalase and carboxy-PTIO). ${\beta}$-Carbolines prevented the dopamine-induced cell death in PCl2 cells, while deprenyl did not inhibit cell death. ${\beta}$-Carbolines decreased the condensation and fragmentation of nuclei caused by dopamine in PC12 cells. ${\beta}$-Carbolines inhibited the decrease in mitochondrial transmembrane potential, cytochrome c release, formation of reactive oxygen species and depletion of GSH caused by dopamine in PC12 cells, whereas deprenyl did not decrease dopamine-induced mitochondrial damage. ${\beta}$-Carbolines, deprenyl and antioxidants depressed the formation of nitric oxide and melanin in dopamine-treated PC12 cells. The results suggest that cell death due to dopamine PC12 cells is mediated by caspase-8, -9 and -3. Unlike deprenyl, ${\beta}$-carbolines may attenuate the dopamineinduced cell death in PC12 cells by suppressing change in the mitochondrial membrane permeability through inhibition of the toxic action of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.151-156
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• 2007

Solar cell and nanofiltration membrane were utilized in a system of enzymatic hydrogen production through light-sensitized photoanode, which resembles photoelectrochemical(PEC) configuration. Solar cell uses no additional light energy to increase energy for electrons to reduce protons and for holes to oxidize water to oxygen, and nanofiltration membrane replaces a salt bridge successfully with increased ion transport capability. With this system configuration, optimized amount of enzyme(10.98 unit), and an anodized tubular $TiO_2$ electrode($5^{\circ}C$/1 hr in 0.5 wt% HF-$650^{\circ}C$/5 hr) hydrogen evolved at a rate of ca. $43\;{\mu}mol/(cm^2{\times}hr)$ in a cathodic compartment and oxygen generated at a rate of ca. $20\;{\mu}mol/(cm^2{\times}hr)$ in an anodic compartment. The stoichiometric evolution of gases indicated that water was splitted in the system.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.33-41
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• 2009

Among the toxicants in the environment dioxin-like compounds, including TCDD(2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-Dioxin), are well known as carcinogen and teratogen. TCDD the most toxic of these compounds, may result in a wide variety of adverse health effects in humans and environment, including carconogenesis, hepatotoxicity, teratogenesis, and immunotoxicity. Also TCDD increases superoxide, peroxide radicals and induces oxidative stress that leads to breakage of DNA single-strand and mitochondrial dysfunction. Recently, there have been reports that persistent organic pollutants(POPs) may be causing metabolic disease through mitochondrial toxicity. In order to examine if dioxin brings about toxicity on mitochondria directly, we measured the change of the mitochondrial membrane potential after exposure to TCDD using JC-1 dye. After short time exposure of dioxin, mitochondrial depolarization was observed but it recovered to the control level immediately. This TCDD effect on mitochondrial membrane potential was not correlated either to the production of reactive oxygen species(ROS) or extracellular $Ca^{2+}$ by TCDD. Less than 2 hours exposure of TCDD did not show any change in ROS production but 0.25 nM TCDD for 48 hours or 0.5 nM TCDD for 12 hours exposure did increase in ROS production. Under these conditions of ROS production by TCDD, no changes in the mitochondrial membrane potential by TCDD was observed.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Visualization
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.36-41
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• 2011

It is highly needed to measure the dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration field in water for a variety of purposes such as biological, industrial, environmental monitoring and medical application. Application of PSP (Pressure Sensitive Paint) which is sensitive to oxygen concentration has been carried out to measure DO concentration field using PtOEP/PS film and intensity based method under the UV-LEDs illumination. A micro round water jet having 100% of DO was obliquely impinged on to a PtOEP/PS film coated plate placed in a 0% of DO water container. DO concentration fields on the impinging plate were quantitatively visualized with a $2.94\;{\mu}m$ of spatial resolution. Through pixel-by-pixel calibration, uncertainty of each pixel by different sensitivity, different dye concentration and non-uniformity of illumination was removed. It is demonstrated that the high DO concentration region was coincided with the impingement area. The DO concentration gradient due to DO diffusion was affected by Reynolds number.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.210-215
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• 2013

Ionizing radiation can induce cellular oxidative stress through the generation of reactive oxygen species, resulting in cell damage and cell death. The aim of this study was to determine whether the antioxidant effects of the flavonoid fisetin (3,7,3',4'-tetrahydroxyflavone) included the radioprotection of cells exposed to ${\gamma}$-irradiation. Fisetin reduced the levels of intracellular reactive oxygen species generated by ${\gamma}$-irradiation and thereby protected cells against ${\gamma}$-irradiation-induced membrane lipid peroxidation, DNA damage, and protein carbonylation. In addition, fisetin maintained the viability of irradiated cells by partially inhibiting ${\gamma}$-irradiation-induced apoptosis and restoring mitochondrial membrane potential. These effects suggest that the cellular protective effects of fisetin against ${\gamma}$-irradiation are mainly due to its inhibition of reactive oxygen species generation.

• Proceedings of the Membrane Society of Korea Conference
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• 1999.07a
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• pp.3-7
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• 1999

Government efforts on membrane technology started in early 1980 with Membrane Development Program supported by the Ministry of Science and Technology. Several independent research projects on liquid separation, gas separation, hollow fiber producing program etc. were carried out during the 1980s. The RaCER was commissioned by MOCI for the general management of the project which had its aims in establishing the base for developing membranes, modules and systems for liquid separation in August 1993. More recently, in June 1995, a program for developing membranes for oxygen separation, nitrogen separation and hydrogen separation was initiated. This paper outlines the brief history of membrane technology development in Korea from the introduction of membrane filtration technology during the late 1960s to present.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.161-170
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• 2014

It is essential to decrease energy consumption and excess sludge to economically operate sewage treatment plant. This becomes more important along with a ban on sea dumping and exhaustion of resource. Therefore, many researchers have been study on energy consumption reduction and strategies for minimization of excess sludge production from the activated sludge process. The aeration cost account for a high proportion of maintenance cost because sufficient air is necessary to keep nitrifying bacteria activity of which the oxygen affinity is inferior to that of heterotrophic bacteria. Also, additional costs are incurred to stabilize excess sludge and decrease the volume of sludge. There were anoxic, aerobic, membrane, deairation and concentration zone in this MBR process. Continuous aeration was provided to prevent membrane fouling in membrane zone and intermittent aeration was provided in aerobic zone through ammonia sensor. So, there was the minimum oxygen to remove $NH_4-N$ below limited quantity that could be eliminated in membrane zone. As the result of this control, energy consumption of aeration system declined by between 10.4 % and 19.1 %. Besides, we could maintain high MLSS concentration in concentration zone and this induced the microorganisms to be in starved condition. Consequentially, the amount of excess sludge decrease by about 15 %.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.468-474
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• 1995

The disposable glucose bio-sensor using composite of CTA and PCL membrane was developed for measurement of glucose. The most effective membrane was composed of CTA/PCL(80/20, w/w) and glutaraldehyde one-step immobilization method ($10{\mu}m$ thickness) for glucose sensor gave the best result among various methods, considering oxygen permeability and electronic sensitivity. A scanning electron micrograph of the cross-section of a typical asymmetric CTA/PCL composite membrane showed that the membrane fused with a dense layer covered with a GOD-glutaraldehyde. Glucose oxidase immoblilized on the membrane showed the linearity between difference of absolute amperometric values and glucose concentrations within 7mM when the GOD immobilized electrode was used. About 35% of activity was remained after 8 days when the tyrosinase was immobilized on CTA/PCL (80/20) membrane.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.15-21
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• 1997

Carbon molecular sieve (CMS) membranes were synthesized by the pyrolysis of polymeric precursors. The CMS materials had oxygen-nitrogen selectivities much higher than those observed for the polymeric precursors. Typically molecular sieving materials have diffusion selectivities much higher than polymeric materials. This has been identified as a result of higher entropic selectivity of the molecular sieving materials. A study of the development of molecular sieving properties as the polymeric precursor is pyrolyzed into a CMS material will offer us an insight into polymeric molecular structures needed for enhanced entropic selectivity membrane materials.