• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.51-64
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• 2007

Mucus is an aqueous gel complex with a constitution of about 95% water, high molecular weight glycoprotein (mucin), lipid, salts etc. Mucus appears to represent a significant barrier to the absorption of some compounds. Natural mucoadhesive agent was isolated and purified from the aqueous extract of the seeds of prosopis pallida (PP). Formulated tablet with the isolated material by wet granulation method. Some natural edible substances are in consideration for candidates as mucoadhesive agents to claim more effective controlled drug delivery as an alternative to the currently used synthetic mucoadhesive polymers. Subjected the materials obtained from natural source i.e. PP and standard synthetic substance, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose for evaluation of mucoadhesive property by various in vitro and in vivo methods. Through standard dissolution test and a model developed with rabbit, evaluated in vitro controlled release and bioadhesive property of theophylline formulation. Mucoadhesive agent obtained from PP showed good mucoadhesive potential in the demonstrated in vitro and in viνo models. The results suggest that the mucoadhesive agent showed controlled release properties by their application, substantially. In order to assess the gastrointestinal transit time in vivo, a radio opaque X-ray study performed in healthy rabbit testing the same controlled release formulation with and without bioadhesive polymer. Plasma levels of theophylline determined by the HPLC method and those allowed correlations to the in vitro mucoadhesive study results. Better correlation found between the results in different models. PP may acts as a better natural mucoadhesive agent in the extended drug delivery system.

• Culinary science and hospitality research
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.41-51
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• 2015

The aim of this study was to investigate the applicability of Chinese mung bean as a natural antioxidant agent. This study evaluated the phenolic compounds content and antioxidative activity of methanol extract from Chinese mung bean. Antioxidative activities were measured by in vitro models such as 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity, and 2,2-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid(ABTS) radical scavenging activity. The contents of total phenolics and total flavonoids of Chinese mung bean extract were $174.83{\pm}2.90GAE\;mg/g$ and $68.87{\pm}2.84QE\;mg/g$, respectively. The antioxidative activities of Chinese mung bean extract were significantly increased in a dose dependent manner on DPPH radical scavenging and ABTS radical scavenging(p<0.05). The concentration of Chinese mung bean extract that reduces the free radical ABTS about 50%($IC_{50}$) was 2.85 mg/mL. These results suggest that Chinese mung bean may have great potential as a natural antioxidant source linked with health benefits.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.18-23
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• 2011

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by neuronal loss and extracellular senile plaques containing $\beta$-amyloid peptide (A$\beta$). The deposition of the A$\beta$ peptide following proteolytic processing of amyloid precursor protein (APP) by $\beta$-secretase (BACE1) and $\gamma$-secretase is a critical feature in the progression of AD. Among the plant extracts tested, the ethanol extract of Petasites japonicus leaves showed novel protective effect on B103 neuroblastoma cells against neurotoxicity induced by A$\beta$, as well as a strong suppressive effect on BACE1 activity. Ethanol extracts of P. japonicus leaves were sequentially extracted with methylene chloride, ethyl acetate and butanol and evaluated for potential to inhibit BACE1, as well as to suppress A$\beta$-induced neurotoxicity. Exposure to A$\beta$ significantly reduced cell viability and increased apoptotic cell death. However, pretreatment with ethyl acetate fraction of P. japonicus leaves prior to A$\beta$ (50 ${\mu}M$) significantly increased cell viability (p<0.01). In parallel, cell apoptosis triggered by A$\beta$ was also dramatically inhibited by ethyl acetate fraction of P. japonicus leaves. Moreover, the ethyl acetate fraction suppressed caspase-3 activity to the basal level at 30 ppm. Taken together, these results demonstrated that P. japonicus leaves appear to be a useful source for the inhibition and/or prevention of AD by suppression of BACE1 activity and attenuation of A$\beta$ induced neurocytotoxicity.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Marine Engineers Conference
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• 2005.11a
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• pp.156-157
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• 2005

Gas hydrate is ice-like crystalline lattice, formed at appropriate temperature and pressure, in which gas molecules are trapped. It is worldwide popular interesting subject as a potential energy. In korea, a seismic survey for gas hydrate have performed over the East sea by the KIGAM since 1997. In this paper, we had conducted numerical and physical modeling experiments for seismic properties on gas hydrate with field data which had been acquired over the East sea in 1998. We used a finite difference seismic method with staggered grid for 2-D elastic wave equation to generate synthetic seismograms from multi-channel surface seismic survey, OBC(Ocean Bottom Cable) and VSP(Vertical Seismic Profiling). We developed the seismic physical modeling system which is simulated in the deep sea conditions and acquired the physical model data to the various source-receiver geometry. We carried out seismic complex analysis with the obtained data. In numerical and physical modeling data, we observed the phase reversal phenomenon of reflection wave at interface between the gas hydrate and free gas. In seismic physical modeling, seismic properties of the modeling material agree with the seismic velocity estimated from the travel time of reflection events. We could easily find out AVO(Amplitude Versus Offset) in the reflection strength profile through seismic complex analysis.

• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
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• 2003.04a
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• pp.1678-1683
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• 2003

DBD(Dielectric Barrier Discharge) plasma in air is well established for the production of large quantities of ozone and is more recently being applied to aftertreatment processes for HAPs(Hazardous Air Pollutants). Although DBD high electron density and energy, its potential use as nano and sub-micron sized particle charging are not well known. Aim of this work is to determine design and operating parameters of a two-stage ESP with DBD. DBD and ESP are used as particle charger and precipitator, respectively. We measured particle precipitation efficiency of two-stage ESP and estimated ozone decomposition of both pelletized $MnO_2$ catalyst and pelletized activated carbon. To examine the particle precipitation efficiency, nano and sub-micron sized particles were generated by a tube furnace and an atomizer. AC voltage of $7{\sim}10$ kV(rms) and 60 Hz is used as DBD plasma source. DC -8 kV is applied to the ESP for particle precipitation. The overall particle collection efficiency for the two-stage ESP with DBD is over 85 % under 0.64 m/s face velocity. Ozone decomposition efficiency with pelletized $MnO_2$ catalyst or pelletized activated carbon packed bed is over 90 % when the face velocity is under 0.4 m/s in dry air.

• Atmosphere
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.245-257
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• 2012

The Asian dust (Hwangsa) forecasting model, Asian Dust Aerosol Model (ADAM) has been modified by using satelliate monitoring of surface vegetation, which enables to simulate dusts occuring not only in springtime but also for all-year-round period. Coupled with the Unified Model (UM), the operational weather forecasting model at KMA, UM-ADAM2 was implemented for operational dust forecasting since 2010, with an aid of development of Meteorology-Chemistry Interface Processor (MCIP) for usage UM. The performance analysis of the ADAM2 forecast was conducted with $PM_{10}$ concentrations observed at monitoring sites in the source regions in China and the downstream regions of Korea from March to December in 2010. It was found that the UM-ADAM2 model was able to simulate quite well Hwangsa events observed in spring and wintertime over Korea. In the downstream region of Korea, the starting and ending times of dust events were well-simulated, although the surface $PM_{10}$ concentration was slightly underestimated for some dust events. The general negative bias less than $35{\mu}g\;m^{3}$ in $PM_{10}$ is found and it is likely to be due to other fine aerosol species which is not considered in ADAM2. It is found that the correlation between observed and forecasted $PM_{10}$ concentration increases as forecasting time approaches, showing stably high correlation about 0.7 within 36 hr in forecasting time. This suggests the possibility that there is potential for the UM-ADAM2 model to be used as an operational Asian dust forecast model.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.14 no.10
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• pp.227-236
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• 2014

The purpose of this paper is to explore the possibility for Korean entertainment companies to enter into debt financing. In particular, this study focuses on the possibility of issuing corporate bond and the asset backed securities (ABS) by two leading entertainment companies in Korea: SM Entertainment (SM) and YG Entertainment (YG). Depth interview with specialists such as investment bankers (IB), bond brokers, and financial directors and executives in entertainment companies was done. The results show that IB's opinion on issuing corporate bonds by SM and YG is positive. However, they may need to meet four requirements including maintaining stable cash-flow, diversifying sales source, enhancing accounting and legal transparencies and verifying managerial capabilities. In addition, Psy' s 'Gangnam style', his global hit song, turns out to have high potential as a base asset for ABS.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.121-130
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• 2014

The larval form of Tenebrio molitor (T. molitor) has been eaten in many countries and provides benefits as a new food source of protein for humans. However, no information exists regarding its safety for humans. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the genotoxicity and repeated dose oral toxicity of the freeze-dried powder of T. molitor larvae. The genotoxic potential was evaluated by a standard battery testing: bacterial reverse mutation test, in vitro chromosome aberration test, and in vivo micronucleus test. To assess the repeated dose toxicity, the powder was administered once daily by oral gavage to Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats at dose levels of 0, 300, 1000 and 3000 mg/kg/day for 28 days. The parameters which were applied to the study were mortality, clinical signs, body and organ weights, food consumption, ophthalmology, urinalysis, hematology, serum chemistry, gross findings and histopathologic examination. The freezedried powder of T. molitor larvae was not mutagenic or clastogenic based on results of in vitro and in vivo genotoxicity assays. Furthermore, no treatment-related changes or findings were observed in any parameters in rats after 28 days oral administration. In conclusion, the freeze-dried powder of T. molitor larvae was considered to be non-genotoxic and the NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) was determined to be 3000 mg/kg/day in both sexes of SD rats under our experimental conditions.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.630-637
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• 2016

The chemical components and biological activity of Camellia mistletoe, Korthalsella japonica (Loranthaceae) are relatively unknown compared to other mistletoe species. Therefore, we investigated the phytochemical properties and biological activity of this parasitic plant to provide essential preliminary scientific evidence to support and encourage its further pharmaceutical research and development. The major plant components were chromatographically isolated using high-performance liquid chromatography and their structures were elucidated using tandem mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance anlysis. Furthermore, the anti-inflammatory activity of the 70% ethanol extract of K. japonica (KJ) and its isolated components was evaluated using a nitric oxide (NO) assay and western blot analysis for inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2. Three flavone di-C-glycosides, lucenin-2, vicenin-2, and stellarin-2 were identified as major components of KJ, for the first time. KJ significantly inhibited NO production and reduced iNOS and COX-2 expression in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells at $100{\mu}g/mL$ while similar activity were observed with isolated flavone C-glycosides. In conclusion, KJ has a simple secondary metabolite profiles including flavone di-C-glycosides as major components and has a strong potential for further research and development as a source of therapeutic anti-inflammatory agents.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.52 no.6
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• pp.653-659
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• 2014

Surgery remains the preferred treatment for hydatid cyst (cystic echinococcosis, CE). Various scolicidal agents have been used for inactivation of protoscolices during surgery, but most of them are associated with adverse side effects. The present study aimed to evaluate the in vitro scolicidal effect of Nigella sativa (Ranunculaceae) essential oil and also its active principle, thymoquinone, against protoscolices of hydatid cysts. Protoscolices were aseptically aspirated from sheep livers having hydatid cysts. Various concentrations of the essential oil (0.01-10 mg/ml) and thymoquinone (0.125-1.0 mg/ml) were used for 5 to 60 min. Viability of protoscolices was confirmed by 0.1% eosin staining. Furthermore, the components of the N. sativa essential oil were identified by gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy (GC/MS). Our study revealed that the essential oil of N. sativa at the concentration of 10 mg/ml and its main component, thymoquinone, at the concentration of 1 mg/ml had potent scolicidal activities against protoscolices of Echinococcus granulosus after 10 min exposure. Moreover, thymoquinone (42.4%), p-cymene (14.1%), carvacrol (10.3%), and longifolene (6.1%) were found to be the major components of N. sativa essential oil by GC/MS analysis. The results of this study indicated the potential of N. sativa as a natural source for production of a new scolicidal agent for use in hydatid cyst surgery. However, further studies will be needed to confirm these results by checking the essential oil and its active component in in vivo models.