• 기호학연구
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• no.56
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• pp.137-158
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• 2018

In 1999, the French semiotician Jacques Fontanille published his work on discourse semiotics as an attempt to overcome the limitations of structuralism. Discourse semiotics has expanded the realm of semiotics by taking a phenomenological approach that examines the structure of consciousness. Phenomenology pays special attention to the operation of human consciousness, which, instead of staying put, moves from one place to another-unbeknownst to its agent. This paper examines "Bulls" through a phenomenological approach as the short story depicts the stream of consciousness that unfolds within the inner world of Pau, the young male protagonist. The rhetorical approach to literary analysis works at the level of the speech act and directly relates to speech act theory. In rhetorics, figures and tropes are dominated by speech acts. Whereas conventional rhetorical analysis lacks a kinetic perspective as it revolves around flat semantic inspections, the discourse semiotics approach applied in this paper allows for an indepth multidimensional analysis where the analyses of ${\acute{e}}nonc{\acute{e}}$ and ${\acute{e}}nonciation$ complement each other. Presenting a peasant movement to the reader through the eyes of the young male protagonist Pau, "Bulls" is considered a significant literary feat in the history of Korea's New Literature as the work is highly regarded for its impressive depiction of a communal movement. This paper reinterprets and reevaluates the story under a new light, mainly through a rhetorical approach and a phenomenological approach that hinges on discourse semiotics.

• Journal of Radiopharmaceuticals and Molecular Probes
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.18-25
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• 2019

2-Nitroimidazole derivatives have been reported to accumulate in hypoxic tissue. We prepared a novel $^{99m}Tc-MAG_3$-2-nitroimidazole and evaluated the feasibility for hypoxia imaging agent. $Bz-MAG_3$-2-nitroimidazole was synthesized by direct coupling of $Bz-MAG_3$ and 2-nitroimidazole using dicyclohexylcarbodiimide. $Bz-MAG_3$-2-nitroimidazole was labeled with $^{99m}Tc$ in the presence of tartaric acid and $SnCl_2-2H_2O$ at $100^{\circ}C$ for 30 min. And the reaction mixture was purified by $C_{18}$ Sep-pak cartridge. The labeling efficiency and the radiochemical purity were checked by ITLC-SG/acetonitrile. The tumor was grown in balb/c mice for 8~13 days after the subcutaneous injection of tumor cells, CT-26 (murine colon adenocarcinoma cell). Biodistribution study and tumor autoradiography were performed in the xenografted mice after i.v injection of 74 kBq/0.1 mL and 19 MBq/0.1 mL of $^{99m}Tc-MAG_3$-2-nitroimidazole, respectively. In vivo images of $^{99m}Tc-MAG_3$-2-nitroimidazole in tumor bearing mice were obtained 1.5 hr post injection. The labeling efficiency was $45{\pm}20%$ and the radiochemical purity after purification was over 95%. Paper electrophoresis confirmed negative charge of $^{99m}Tc-MAG_3$-2-nitroimidazole. $^{99m}Tc-MAG_3$-2-nitroimidazole was very stable at room temperature and its protein binding was 53%. The $^{99m}Tc-MAG_3$-2-nitroimidazole exhibited high uptake in the liver, stomach and intestine. In biodistribution study using tumor bearing mice, the uptakes (% ID/g) of the tumor were $0.5{\pm}0.1$, $0.4{\pm}0.0$, $0.2{\pm}0.1$ and $0.1{\pm}0.1$ at 5, 15, 30 min and 4 hrs. Tumor/muscle ratio were $1.4{\pm}0.1$, $2.2{\pm}0.83$, $3.0{\pm}0.9$, and 3.7 (n=2) for 5, 15, 30 min and 4 hrs. The uptake in hypoxic area was found higher than in non-hypoxic area of tumor tissue by autoradiography. In vivo images showed the relatively faint uptake to the hypoxic tumor region. $^{99m}Tc-MAG_3$-2-nitroimidazole was successfully synthesized and found feasible for imaging hypoxia.

• Journal of Mushroom
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.318-323
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• 2018

This study investigated whether Ganoderma lucidum (Y2)-mediated fermentation of Artemisia capillaris extract (ACE) could synergistically enhance its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and tyrosinase-inhibiting activities. Both G. lucidum extract and fermented ACE exhibited 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging ability, but with poorer efficacy than ACE (even at a low ACE concentration). Viability of RAW264.7 macrophages was significantly reduced in the presence of ACE (150 mg/mL and above). However, this effect was greatly mitigated upon G. lucidum-mediated ACE fermentation. Additionally, relative to the same concentration ($25{\mu}g/mL$) of G. lucidum mycelial extract, ACE exhibited an improved ability to significantly inhibit RAW264.7 macrophage nitric oxide (NO) production. Finally, relative to the same concentration ($200{\mu}g/mL$) of a positive control (arbutin), fermented ACE exhibited an approximately 3.66 times higher capacity for tyrosinase inhibition. These results suggest that G. lucidum-fermented ACE possesses enhanced tyrosinase-inhibiting activity and may be of utility as a skin-lightening agent.

• Clean Technology
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.307-314
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• 2018

In this study, NMO (Natural Manganese Ore), $MnO_2$, and $Mn_2O_3$ catalysts were used in the selective catalytic reduction process to remove nitrogen oxides (NOx) using $NH_3$ as a reducing agent at low temperatures in the presence of oxygen. In the case of the NMO (Natural Manganese Ore), it was confirmed that the conversion of nitrogen oxides in the stability test did not change even after 100 hours at 423 K. The Kinetics experiments were carried out within the range where heat and mass transfer were not factors. From a steady-state Kinetics study, it was found that the low-temperature SCR reaction was zero order with the respect to $NH_3$ and 0.41 ~ 0.57 order with the respect to NO and 0.13 ~ 0.26 order with the respect to $O_2$. As temperature increases, the reaction order decreases as a result of $NH_3$ and oxygen concentration. It was confirmed that the reaction between the $NH_3$ dissociated and adsorbedon the catalyst surface and the gaseous nitrogen monoxide (E-R model) and the reaction with the adsorbed nitrogen monoxide (L-H model) occur.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.102-121
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• 2010

Three bronze bells excavated from the Hoeamsa temple site were investigated for their microstructures and chemical compositions in an effort to understand the technology applied in fabrication, which may represent the related industry established in the early Joseon period. The result shows that the bells were cast from alloys of approximately 85% copper-8% tin-7% lead. The chemical analysis for ten trace elements shows that they were all kept below 0.3 weight %, suggesting that the alloys were made of relatively well-refined copper, tin and lead. The presence of sulfur and iron indicates that chalcopyrite or chalcocite may have been used in the smelting of copper. Evidence has been found that the bells were cast by pouring the liquid metal from the top of the sand molds that were set up in an upright position. No additional treatments, thermal or mechanical, other than a little grinding were applied upon the completion of casting. After the shaping process, a balancing plate was attached to the top of the bell using a steel connection ring. The connection assembly was then fixed to the main body by using molten bronze as a solder. The surface inscription was found carved using different techniques. The differences in the order of strokes and the calligraphic style indicate that the carving was carried out by more than one master. In the absence of documentary evidence on past bronze technology, the present bronze bells with known chronology, provenance and the main agent of production, prove to be a rare and valuable archaeological material for the understanding of the related technology in use in the early Joseon period.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.312-319
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• 2021

Photothermal therapy is a treatment that necrotizes selectively the abnormal cells, in particular cancer cells, which are more vulnerable to heat than normal cells, using the heat generated when irradiating light. In this study, we synthesized a reduced graphene oxide with carboxyl groups (CRGO)-gold nanorod (AuNR) nanocomposite for photothermal treatment. Graphene oxide (GO) was selectively reduced and exfoliated at high temperature to synthesize CRGO, and the length of AuNR was adjusted according to the amount of AgNO₃, to synthesize AuNR with a strong absorption peak at 880 nm, as an ideal photothermal agent. It was determined through FT-IR, thermogravimetric and fluorescence analyses that more carboxyl groups were conjugated with CRGO over RGO. In addition, CRGO exhibited excellent stability in aqueous solutions compared to RGO due to the presence of carboxylic acid. The CRGO-AuNR nanocomposites fabricated by electrostatic interaction have an average size of ~317 nm with a narrow size distribution. It was confirmed that under radiation with a near-infrared 880 nm laser which has an excellent tissue transmittance, the photothermal effect of CRGO-AuNR nanocomposites was greater than that of AuNR due to the synergistic effect of the two photothermal agents, CRGO and AuNR. Furthermore, the results of cancer cell toxicity by photothermal effect revealed that CRGO-AuNR nanocomposites showed superb cytotoxic properties. Therefore, the CRGO-AuNR nanocomposites are expected to be applied to the field of anticancer photothermal therapy based on their stable dispersibility and improved photothermal effect.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.89-94
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• 2022

Triclosan (TCS) is an antimicrobial agent used in various human personal care products against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the presence of TCS-resistant bacteria in sewage water in Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), Pakistan, for the first time. TCS-supplemented Luria Bertani (LB) agar was used to isolate TCS-tolerant bacteria. A total of 17 TCS-resistant isolates were randomly selected from a large pool of bacteria that showed growth on TCS-supplemented LB agar. Based on gram staining and physiochemical characteristics, the isolated strains were identified as Salmonella typhi (n = 6), Escherichia coli (n = 4), Citrobacter freundii (n = 4), Proteus mirabilis (n = 1), Enterobacter cloacae (n = 1), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n = 1). The Triclosan mean minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) for the isolates of Salmonella typhi, Escherichia coli, Citrobacter freundii, Proteus mirabilis, Enterobacter cloacae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were 23.66 ㎍ ml^-1, 18.75 ㎍ ml^-1, 42 ㎍ ml^-1, 32 ㎍ ml^-1, 64 ㎍ ml^-1, and 128 ㎍ ml^-1, respectively. The antibiogram revealed that all isolates were resistant to penicillin G (100%) and linezolid (100%), followed by ampicillin (94%), tetracycline (76%), tazobactam (76%), sulbactam/cefoperazone (64%), polymyxin PB (58%), amikacin (29.41%), aztreonam (29.41%), imipenem (5%), and gentamicin (5%). This is the first known study regarding the isolation of TCS-tolerant bacteria from sewage water in Peshawar, KPK, Pakistan. It was concluded that all the TCS-resistant isolates were multidrug resistant (MDR) gram-negative rod-shaped bacteria, mostly belonging to the Enterobacteriaceae family.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.296-301
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• 2022

Due to the fact that zirconium based metal-organic frameworks (Zr-MOFs), such as UiO-66, have a large specific surface area and excellent selective adsorption capacity, Zr-MOFs are gaining attention as materials that can provide protection from the attack of chemical warfare agents in battleground. However, most of the metal-organic frameworks have an issue of selective adsorption capacity degraded by water molecules when exposed to the atmosphere, because of the weak metal-organic ligand bonds and the presence of voids. Therefore, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), a representative hydrophobic polymer material, was coated on the surface of UiO-66 to enhance the sustainability of the diisopropyl methylphosphonate (DIMP) sorption capacity in the battleground condition. Through the analysis of surface structure and organic functional group distribution of PDMS coated UiO-66, silicon was confirmed to be evenly coated. The contact angle increased by over 30° for the PDMS coated UiO-66, indicating that the hydrophobicity was improved. In addition, both the UiO-66 and PDMS coated UiO-66 were used as adsorbents for DIMP, a similar chemical warfare agent, to investigate the durability of adsorption capacity in a high humidity environment. The PDMS coated UiO-66 showed higher durability of adsorption capacity for 20 days than that of pristine UiO-66.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.97-105
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• 2023

Background: Hyperactivated airway mucosa cells overproduce mucin and cause severe breathing complications. Here, we aimed to identify the effects of saponins derived from Panax ginseng on inflammation and mucin overproduction. Methods: NCI-H292 cells were pre-incubated with 16 saponins derived from P. ginseng, and mucin overproduction was induced by treatment with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA). Mucin protein MUC5AC was quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and mRNA levels were analyzed using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Moreover, we performed a transcriptome analysis of PMA-treated NCI-H292 cells in the absence or presence of Rg5, and differential gene expression was confirmed using qPCR. Phosphorylation levels of signaling molecules, and the abundance of lipid droplets, were measured by western blotting, flow cytometry, and confocal microscopy. Results: Ginsenoside Rg5 effectively reduced MUC5AC secretion and decreased MUC5AC mRNA levels. A systematic functional network analysis revealed that Rg5 upregulated cholesterol and glycerolipid metabolism, resulting in the production of lipid droplets to clear reactive oxygen species (ROS), and modulated the mitogen-activated protein kinase and nuclear factor (NF)-kB signaling pathways to regulate inflammatory responses. Rg5 induced the accumulation of lipid droplets and decreased cellular ROS levels, and N-acetyl-ⳑ-cysteine, a ROS inhibitor, reduced MUC5AC secretion via Rg5. Furthermore, Rg5 hampered the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase and p38 proteins, affecting the NF-kB signaling pathway and pro-inflammatory responses. Conclusion: Rg5 alleviated inflammatory responses by reducing mucin secretion and promoting lipid droplet-mediated ROS clearance. Therefore, Rg5 may have potential as a therapeutic agent to alleviate respiratory disorders caused by hyperactivation of mucosa cells.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.277-291
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• 2023

This study aimed to compare the effects of applying different types of dentin bonding agents (DBAs) on tooth and on the sealing ability of CSC in regenerative endodontic procedures (REPs). Specimens were made from 120 human first premolars and categorized into the following groups based on the presence and the type of DBA: Group I, no bonding; Group II, One-Step; Group III, Clearfil SE Bond; and Group IV, Single Bond Universal. Subsequently, the groups were categorized into Subgroup a and Subgroup b, in which Endocem MTA^® Premixed Regular and Biodentine were used, respectively. The CIE L^*a^*b^* on the photos taken prior to TAP placement (S0), 1 week after TAP placement (S1), 2 weeks after TAP placement (S2), 4 weeks after TAP placement (S3) and 2 weeks after CSC placement (S4) was used to assess discoloration. The samples were submerged in a 2% methylene blue solution and magnified by 30 times under a stereomicroscope to assess microleakage. The application of DBA during REP reduced crown discoloration, while Biodentine showed minimal discoloration with or without DBA and regardless of the DBA type. Additionally, the application of DBA did not increase microleakage.