• Transactions of the Korean Society of Automotive Engineers
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.125-132
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• 2012

Urea-SCR system, which converts nitrogen oxides to nitrogen and water in the presence of a reducing agent, usually AdBlue urea solution, is known as one of the powerful NOx reduction systems for mobile as well as stationary applications. For its consistent and reliable operation in mobile applications, such various problems as transient injection, ammonia slip, and freezing in cold weather have to be resolved. In this work, therefore, numerical study on three-dimensional unsteady heating problems were analyzed to understand the melting and heat transfer characteristics such as urea liquid volume fraction, temperature profiles and generated natural convection behavior in urea solution by using the commercial software Fluent 6.3. After validating by comparing numerical and experimental data with pure gallium melting phenomena, numerical experiment for urea melting is conducted with three different coolant heating models named CH1, 2, and 3, respectively. Finally, it can be found that the CH3 model, in which more coolant is concentrated on the lower part of the urea tank, has relatively better melting capability than others in terms of urea quantity of $1{\ell}$ for start-up schedule.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.11 no.6
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• pp.1018-1023
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• 2001

Oleamide (cis-9-octadecenamide) is endogenous primary amide of fatty acid that is produced in small amounts in animal brains. It is known to induce sleep and to lower temperature by destroying the lipid plasma membrane structure of cells, thereby disclosing gap junction channels. To develop a new biological production method for oleamide, a screening program was conducted to isolate a microorganism producing oleamide. Among 1,500 soil microorganisms tested, KK90378 exhibited a potent positive reaction with Dragendoff`s reagent, used to detect the primary amide of oleamide. KK90378 was identified as a Streptomyces species based on cultural and morpohological characteristics, the presence of diaminopimelic acid in the cell wall, and the sugar patterns for the whole-cell extrat. Streptomyces sp. KK90378 produced oleamide 3 days after culture at $28^{\circ}C$, pH 7.2 A series of purification steps, including hexane extraction, silica gel column, and preparative thin layer chromatographies, were performed for the purification of oleamide. A spectrophotometric analysis using $^1H$, $^13C$-NMR, and GC-MS confirmed that the chemical structure of the purified oleamide was identical to that of authentic oleamide.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.699-706
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• 2013

We have previously reported that N-acetylcysteine (NAC) not only delayed apoptosis but also enhanced the production of recombinant erythropoietin (EPO) in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell culture. To investigate the production enhancement mechanism, the effects of similar thiol-reducing agents were studied. Intriguingly, all mild reducing agents examined including mercaptoethanesulfonic acid (MESNA), thiolactic acid (TLA), and thioglycolate (TG) were shown to block apoptosis and increase EPO production. A pulse-chase study of EPO secretion revealed that all four thiol-reducing agents increased the EPO secretion rate; among them TLA showed the highest rate. In terms of product quality, the sialic acid content of the glycoprotein is one of the most important factors. It was reported that a number of glycoproteins produced by CHO cells often have incomplete sialylation, particularly under high-producing conditions. Human ${\alpha}2,3$-sialyltransferase (${\alpha}2,3$-ST) was introduced into EPO-producing CHO cells in order to compensate for the reduced sialylation during supplementation with NAC. When ${\alpha}2,3$-ST was expressed in the presence of NAC, reduced sialylation was restored and an even more sialylated EPO was produced. Thus, our study is significant in that it offers increased EPO production while still allowing the prevention of decreased sialylation of EPO.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.161-167
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• 1996

An investigation was made of possible ways in which one could control the relative rates of cadmium deposition and hydrogen evolution by binary additive systems. Benzyl alcohol was employed as an additives due to its ability to form a hydrophobic film which inhibit the electroreduction of water to form hydrogen. The second additive was chosen to make the cadmium(II) ion less hydrophilic and increase its ability to cross the hydrophobic benzyl alcohol film and be electrodeposited at the cathode. It was shown by voltammetric and current efficiency studies that ion pairing and complexing additives could be used to accelerate the reduction of cadmium in the presence of the benzyl alcohol film. It was also shown that the benzyl alcohol film lowered the dielectric constant of the solution near the electrode enough to obtain ion pairing between the sodium ion and the negative chloride complex of cadmium and accelerate the reduction of the cadmium. This acceleration did not occur in the sulfate solution in the absence of chloride since cadmium(II) is primarily present as a positive aquo complex and ion pairing, if it occured, would not accelerate but would hinder reduction of cadmium.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.22
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• pp.9905-9908
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• 2014

Background: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is the most common chronic infectious agent in the stomach. Most importantly, it may lead to atrophy, metaplasia and cancer. The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence of H. pylori infection and to detect early mucosal changes that may lead to malignant degeneration in children. Materials and Methods: Children who underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy were included. Familial history of gastric cancer was noted. Endoscopic examinations were performed by a single pediatric gastroenterologist. A minimum of three biopsy samples were collected during endoscopy. The patients were accepted as H. pylori infected if results of biopsies and rapid urease test were both positive. Biopsies were evaluated for the presence and degree of chronic inflammation, the activity and severity of gastritis, glandular atrophy and intestinal metaplasia. Results: A total of 750 children (388 boys, 362 girls) were evaluated in our study, with a mean age of 10.1 years. A total of 390 patients (52%) were found to be infected with H. pylori. Among the H. pylori infected patients, 289 (74%) were diagnosed to have chronic superficial gastritis, 24 (6.2%) had gastric atrophy. Most strikingly, intestinal metaplasia was observed in 11 children, all were in the H. pylori positive group. There was no difference in the mean of age, gender and socioeconomic class between H. pylori infected and non-infected groups. The frequency of gastric cancer in family members (4 in number) was higher in patients with H. pylori infection. No gastric cancer case was reported from the parents of non-infected children. The worst biopsy parameters (atropy and metaplasia) were improved after H. pylori eradication on control endoscopy. Conclusions: The current study shows a higher prevalence of familial history of gastric cancer in H. pylori infected children. Intestinal metaplasia was also higher in the infected children. Eradication of H. pylori infection for this risk group may prevent subsequent development of gastric cancer.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.1299-1306
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• 2014

Background: Nano-biotechnology is recognized as offering revolutionary changes in various fields of medicine. Biologically synthesized silver nanoparticles have a wide range of applications. Materials and Methods: Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were biosynthesized with an aqueous extract of Pterocladiella (Pterocladia) capillacea, used as a reducing and stabilizing agent, and characterized using UV-VIS spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infra red (FT-IR) spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and energy dispersive analysis (EDX). The biosynthesized AgNPs were tested for cytotoxic activity in a human hepatocellular carcinoma ($HepG_2$) cell line cultured in Dulbecco's modified Eagle medium supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum, 1% antibiotic and antimycotic solution and 2 mM glutamine. Bacterial susceptibility to AgNPs was assessed with Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis [Gram+ve] and Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli [Gram-ve]. The agar well diffusion technique was adopted to evaluate the bactericidal activity of the biosynthesized AgNPs using Ampicillin and Gentamicin as gram+ve and gram-ve antibacterial standard drugs, respectively. Results: The biosynthesized AgNPs were $11.4{\pm}3.52$ nm in diameter. FT-IR analysis showed that carbonyl groups from the amino acid residues and proteins could assist in formation and stabilization of AgNPs. The AgNPs showed potent cytotoxic activity against the human hepatocellular carcinoma ($HepG_2$) cell line at higher concentrations. The results also showed that the biosynthesized AgNPs inhibited the entire panel of tested bacteria with a marked specificity towards Bacillus subtillus. Conclusions: Cytotoxic activity of the biosynthesized AgNPs may be due to the presence of alkaloids present in the algal extract. Our AgNPs appear more bactericidal against gram-positive bacteria (B. subtillus).

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.221-227
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• 2012

Background: It has been reported that curcumin, the main active compound of Curcuma longa, also known as turmeric, exhibits antinociceptive properties. The aim of this study was to examine the participation of ATP-sensitive potassium channels ($K_{ATP}$ channels) and, in particular, that of the L-arginine-nitric oxide-cyclic GMP-$K_{ATP}$ channel pathway, in the antinociceptive effect of curcumin. Methods: Pain was induced by the intraplantar injection of 1% formalin in the right hind paw of Wistar rats. Formalin-induced flinching behavior was interpreted as an expression of nociception. The antinociceptive effect of oral curcumin was explored in the presence and absence of local pretreatment with L-NAME, an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase, ODQ, an inhibitor of soluble guanylyl cyclase, and glibenclamide, a blocker of $K_{ATP}$ channels. Results: Oral curcumin produced a dose-dependent antinociceptive effect in the 1% formalin test. Curcumin-induced antinociception was not altered by local L-NAME or ODQ, but was significantly impaired by glibenclamide. Conclusions: Our results confirm that curcumin is an effective antinociceptive agent. Curcumin-induced antinociception appears to involve the participation of $K_{ATP}$ channels at the peripheral level, as local injection of glibenclamide prevented its effect. Activation of $K_{ATP}$ channels, however, does not occur by activation of the L-arginine-nitric oxide-cGMP-$K_{ATP}$ channel pathway.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.547-556
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• 2000

A study have been conducted for the adsorption and desorption characteristics of Cu ion using manganese nodule as adsorbent. For 100 ppm Cu ion solution, the adsorbed amount of Cu ion was more than 90 % at equilibrium state. Adsorption was equilibrated in 42 hours the adsorption reaction was shown to be first order reaction. For the desorption reaction of Cu ion in the region of solution pH 3.5~9.5, the desorption was completed in the acidic region, but it has been decreased as the pH was raised. Also, the desorption rate was higher in the acidic region compared with alkaline region. The desorbed amount was decreased as the reaction temperature increased, therefore, the desorption reaction was thought to be exothermic. Also, several thermodynamic properties were calculated based on experimental results and compared with theoretically driven values. To see the effect of complexing agent on the desorption of Cu ion, EDTA was introduced and the des orbed amount increased in the presence of EDTA.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.123-132
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• 2008

Objective: In this study, the author tried to investigate whether revised Seonbangpaedok-tang (SPT) and Sigyeongcheongpye-tang (SCT) significantly effects both PMA-induced mucin production and MUC5AC gene expression from airway epithelial cells. Objective: In this study, the author tried to investigate whether revised Seonbangpaedok-tang (SPT) and Sigyeongcheongpye-tang (SCT) significantly affects both PMA-induced mucin production and MUC5AC gene expression from airway epithelial cells. Materials and Methods: Confluent NCI-H292 cells were pretreated for 30 min in the presence of SPT and SCT and treated with PMA (10 ng/$m{\ell}$), to assess the effects of the agents on PMA-induced mucin production by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Also, the effects of the agents on PMA-induced MUC5AC gene expression from the same cells were investigated. Possible cytotoxicities of the agent were assessed by measuring the rate of survival and proliferation of NCI-H292 cells after treatment of agents during 48 hrs. Results: (1) SPT and SCT did not show significant cytotoxicity to NCI-H292 cells; (2) SPT significantly inhibitedthe expression levels of PMA-induced MUC5AC gene in NCI-H292 cells. SCT slightly decreased the expression levels of PMA-induced MUC5AC gene; (3) SPT significantly decreased PMA-induced mucin production from NCI-H292 cells. However, SCT did not affect mucin production. Conclusion: Theseresults suggest that SPT can not only affect the production of mucin but also the expression of the mucin gene and this explains the traditional use of SPT in oriental medicine. The effects of SPT and SCT with their components should be further investigated using animal experimental models that reflect pathophysiology of airway diseases via ongoing studies.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.255-267
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• 2015

Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) is the causative agent of Johne's disease, a chronic debilitating disease affecting ruminants worldwide. In the present study, we aimed to determine the major gene networks and pathways underlying the immune response to MAP infection using whole-blood cells, as well as provide the potential transcriptional markers for identifying the status of MAP infection. We analyzed the transcriptional profiles of whole-blood cells of cattle identified and grouped according to the presence of MAP-specific antibodies and the MAP shed by them. The grouping was based on the results obtained by ELISA and PCR analyses as follows: i) Test1 group: MAP-negative results obtained by ELISA and positive results obtained by PCR; ii) Test2 group: MAP-positive results obtained by ELISA and negative results obtained by PCR; iii) Test3 group: MAP-positive results obtained by ELISA and positive results obtained by PCR; iv) uninfected control: MAP-negative results obtained both by ELISA and PCR analysis. The results showed down-regulated production and metabolism of reactive oxygen species in the Test1 group, activation of pathways related to the host-defense response against MAP (LXR/RXR activation and complement system) in the Test2 and Test3 groups, and anti-inflammatory response (activation of IL-10 signaling pathway) only in the Test3 group. Our data indicate a balanced response that serves the immune-limiting mechanism while the host-defense responses are progressing.