• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.22 no.12
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• pp.1782-1789
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• 2012

We have developed a novel type of polymer nanogel loaded with anticancer drug based on bio-derived poly(${\gamma}$-glutamic acid) (${\gamma}$-PGA). ${\gamma}$-PGA is a highly anionic polymer that is synthesized naturally by microbial species, most prominently in various bacilli, and has been shown to have excellent biocompatibility. Thiolated ${\gamma}$-PGA was synthesized by covalent coupling between the carboxyl groups of ${\gamma}$-PGA and the primary amine group of cysteamine. Doxorubicin (Dox)-loaded ${\gamma}$-PGA nanogels were fabricated using the following steps: (1) an ionic nanocomplex was formed between thiolated ${\gamma}$-PGA as the negative charge component, and Dox as the positive charge component; (2) addition of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) induced hydrogen-bond interactions between thiol groups of thiolated ${\gamma}$-PGA and hydroxyl groups of PEG, resulting in the nanocomplex; and (3) disulfide crosslinked ${\gamma}$-PGA nanogels were fabricated by ultrasonication. The average size and surface charge of Dox-loaded disulfide cross-linked ${\gamma}$-PGA nanogels in aqueous solution were $136.3{\pm}37.6$ nm and $-32.5{\pm}5.3$ mV, respectively. The loading amount of Dox was approximately 38.7 ${\mu}g$ per mg of ${\gamma}$-PGA nanogel. The Dox-loaded disulfide cross-linked ${\gamma}$-PGA nanogels showed controlled drug release behavior in the presence of reducing agents, glutathione (GSH) (1-10 mM). Through fluorescence microscopy and FACS, the cellular uptake of ${\gamma}$-PGA nanogels into breast cancer cells (MCF-7) was analyzed. The cytotoxic effect was evaluated using the MTT assay and was determined to be dependent on both the concentration and treatment time of ${\gamma}$-PGA nanogels. The bio-derived ${\gamma}$-PGA nanogels are expected to be a well-designed delivery carrier for controlled drug delivery applications.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.83-89
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• 2000

Bentonite has been considered as a liner material to restrict the release of hazardous heavy metals from the landfill. The adsorption of copper onto a domestic bentonite was studied to provide the adsorption isotherm and the effect of solution chemistry and temperature. The copper adsorption was fitted well to a Freundlich isotherm, in which Freundlich constants and correlation coefficient were calculated to be $K_F=1.18$, n=1.65, and $r^2=0.97$, respectively. The distribution coefficients ($K_d$) for the adsorption of copper decreased with increasing initial copper concentration. The $K_d$ increased with increasing the pH of solution, and drastically increased at pH > 5.3 because of precipitation of most copper species. As the ion strength of $Na^+$ in solution increased the $K_d$ decreased, while it increased with increasing the concentration of $SO_4{^{2-}}$ in solution. An increase in the temperature of experimental solution decreased the $K_d$ values.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.47-54
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• 2000

Transition metal ions including $Se^{2+},\;Cd^{2+},\;Hg^{2+}\;or\;Mn^{2+}$ have been thought to disturb the bone metabolism directly. However, the mechanism for the bone lesion is unknown. In this study, we demonstrated that MC3T3E1 osteoblasts, exposed to various transition metal ions; selenium, cadmium, mercury or manganese, generated massive amounts of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The released ROS were completely quenched by free radical scavengers-N-acetyl cysteine (NAC), reduced glutathione (GSH), or superoxide dismutase (SOD). First, we have observed that selenium $(10\;{\mu}M),$ cadmium $(100\;{\mu}M),$ mercury $(100\;{\mu}M)$ or manganese (1 mM) treatment induced apoptotic phenomena like DNA fragmentation, chromatin condensation and caspase-3-like cysteine protease activation in MC3T3E1 osteoblasts. Concomitant treatment of antioxidant; N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC), reduced-form glutathione (GSH), or superoxide dismutase (SOD), prevented apoptosis induced by each of the transition metal ions. Catalase or dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) has less potent inhibitory effect on the apoptosis, compared with NAC, GSH or SOD. In line with the results, nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) stain shows that each of the transition metals is a potent source of free radicals in MC3T3E1 osteoblast. Our data show that oxidative damage is associated with the induction of apoptosis in MC3T3E1 osteoblasts following $Se^{2+},\;Cd^{2+},\;Hg^{2+}\;or\;Mn^{2+}$ treatment.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.25-31
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• 2017

Purpose: Neuroinflammation is mediated by activation of microglia implicated in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. Inhibition of neuroinflammation may be an effective solution to treat these brain disorders. Petalonia binghamiae is known as a traditional food, based on multiple biological activities such as anti-oxidant and anti-obesity. In present study, the anti-neuroinflammatory potential of Petalonia binghamiae was investigated in LPS-stimulated BV2 microglial cells. Methods: Cell viability was measured by MTT assay. Production of nitric oxide (NO) was examined using Griess reagent. Expression of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) was detected by Western blot analysis. Activation of nuclear factor ${\kappa}B$ ($NF-{\kappa}B$) signaling was examined by nuclear translocation of $NF-{\kappa}B$ p65 subunit and phosphorylation of $I{\kappa}B$. Results: Extract of Petalonia binghamiae significantly inhibited LPS-stimulated NO production and iNOS/COX-2 protein expression in a dose-dependent manner without cytotoxicity. Pretreatment with Petalonia binghamiae suppressed LPS-induced $NF-{\kappa}B$ p65 nuclear translocation and phosphorylation of $I{\kappa}B$. Co-treatment with Petalonia binghamiae and pyrrolidine duthiocarbamate (PDTC), an $NF-{\kappa}B$ inhibitor, reduced LPS-stimulated NO release compared to that in PB-treated or PDTC-treated cells. Conclusion: The present results indicate that extract of Petalonia binghamiae exerts anti-neuroinflammation activities, partly through inhibition of $NF-{\kappa}B$ signaling. These findings suggest that Petalonia binghamiae might have therapeutic potential in relation to neuroinflammation and neurodegenerative diseases.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.57 no.2
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• pp.103-111
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• 2014

A1E is an extract from traditional Asian medicinal plants that has therapeutic activities against cancers, metabolic disease, and other intractable conditions. However, its mechanism of action on cervical cancer has not been studied. In order to ascertain if A1E would have pronounced anti-cervical cancer effect, cervical cancer cells were incubated with A1E and apoptosis was detected by nuclear morphological changes, annexin V-FITC/PI staining, cell cycle analysis, western blotting, Reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction, and measurement of mitochondrial membrane potential. Expression of human papiloma virus E6 and E7 oncogenes was down-regulated in A1E-treated cervical cancer cells, while p53 and retinoblastoma protein levels were enhanced. A1E also perturbed cell cycle progression at sub-G1 and altered cell cycle regulatory factors in SiHa cervical cancer cells. A1E activated apoptotic intrinsic pathway markers such as caspase-9, caspase-3 and poly ADP-ribose polymerase, and down-regulated expression of Bcl-2 and Bcl-xl. A1E induced mitochondrial membrane potential collapse and cytochrome c release, and inhibited phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt, key factors involved in cell survival signaling. Taken all these results, A1E induced apoptosis via activation of the intrinsic pathway and inhibition of the PI3K/Akt survival-signaling pathway in SiHa cervical cancer cells. In conclusion, A1E exerts anti-proliferative action growth inhibition on cervical cancer cells through apoptosis which demonstrates its anti-cervical cancer properties.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.16-23
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• 1981

This study has been carried out to make a comparative study for the adhesive control methods specifically developed for application to formaldehyde. The method for formaldehyde determination used in this report is the improved chromo tropic acid determination. The results are summarized as follows: 1. The soaking treatment in aqueous solution of urea wok the most scavenging effect on the formaldehyde release from a plywood sample glued with a urea formaldehyde adhesive, and other removal treatment such as resorcinol, albumine-, and hardener-treatment gave significant reduction too. 2. In glue shear strength of dry test, 2% of resorcinol treatment and soaking treatment showed the highest strength and all the other treatment met the standard, but in hot water soaking test, 2% of resorcinol treatment gave the best results, on the other hand, adding the hardener showed the lowest strength and failed in meeting the standard. 3. Air dried moisture content of all treated plywood met the standard which calls for 13% or bellow. 4. In this comparative study, we can make a strong combination each other or go into the details of one treatment for the best result through the more study.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.8-14
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• 2000

Long term cultivation crops like tomato, capsicum, melon etc. demand much amount of continuous supplying of nutrition during the whole growing periods. It is not easy to cover satisfactorily the nutritional demands for them by splitted top dressings, slow release fertilizer applications and fertigation systems. To overcome these problems, the "CULTAN" (Controlled Uptake Long Term Ammonium Nutrition) Beaker Deposit techniques have been developed and it was put into PVC beaker with the combined nitrogen fertilizer type mixed with the ratio of one-third of ammonium sulfate-N and two-thirds of urea-N, in which nitrogen was loaded on the demanding amount of a tomato plant during the growing period. Gypsum was mixed as a binder, and loamy soil and compost were used as a diffusion regulator. It was placed upside down into root zone of tomato at the transplanting. Tomato roots were spreaded into the Deposit beaker by ammonium ions which attract root growth. The tomato fruit yield and nitrogen uptake by plant were increased by application of $NH_4$-Beaker deposit fertilizer rather than those of common fertilizer treatment. In conclusion, it was able to improve economic and ecological benefits through CULTAN system compared with common fertilization systems. CULTAN system was estimated as a prospective alternative to enhance productivity and minimize nutrient lose. In addition, it shows further developing possibility of CULTAN system by the supplement of micro-nutrients and pesticides in the macro-nutrient beaker deposits.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.296-300
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• 1988

A trial product of monogranular compound fertilizer for sesame under vinyle mulching cultivations was manufactured using the principal sources of urea, diammonium phosphate and muriate of potash in combination with a filler of zeolite and a binder of liquid waste from glutamic acid fermentation. Two field experiments using transparent vinyl mulching for single-crop cultivation and black vinyl mulching for cultivation after wheat and barley cropping were carried out to evalute their effects on sesame and the results obtained were as follows. Plant height and stem diameter of the trial product in sesame plant were higher and better than those of NPK split application and NPK all basic application. As the yield of the trial product was higher and similar to the NPK application plots in transparent and black vinyl mulching treatment respectively, the one time basic application of a developed monogranular compound fertilizer for sesame was possible under vinyl mulching cultivation.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.406-414
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• 2012

This study was designed to investigate the effect of fucoidan on the activation of macrophage and on induction of apoptosis in AGS cell. To measure the activity of macrophages, NO and TNF-${\alpha}$ assays were performed in Raw 264.7 cell. Treatment with fucoidan significantly increased production of NO and TNF-${\alpha}$, indicating activation of macrophages. The result of MTT assay shows that cell viability was significantly decreased in a dose and time-dependent manner. Fucoidan increased to enhance mitochondrial membrane permeability, as well as the cytochrome c release from the mitochondria. Fucoidan decreased Bcl-2 and XIAP expression, whereas the expression of Bax was increased in a time-dependent manner compared to the control. In addition, the active forms of caspase-9 were increased, and the inactivation of Akt was decreased in a time-dependent manner. Caspase inhibitor, z-VAD-FMK, canceled the apoptosis of fucoidan, expression of Bax and caspase-9 were decrease. These results indicate that fucoidan induces activation of macrophage and apoptosis through activation of caspase on AGS cell.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.31-41
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• 2012

This study collected 5,100 cases of gas accident occurred in Korea for 14 years from 1995 to 2008, established Database and based on it, analyzed them by detailed forms and reasons. As the result of analyzing the whole city gas accidents with Poisson analysis, the item of "Careless work-Explosion-Pipeline' showed the highest rate of accidents for the next 5 years. And, "Joint Losening and corrosion-Release-Pipeline" showed the lowest rate of accident. In addition, for the result of analyzing only accidents related to LPG vaporizer, "LPG-Vaporizer-Fire" showed the highest rate of accident and "LPG-Vaporizer-Products Faults" showed the lowest rate of accident. Also, as the result of comparing and analyzing foreign LPG accident accompanied by Jet fire, facility's defect which is liquid outflow cut-off device and heat exchanger's defect were analyzed as the main reason causing jet fire, like the case of Korea, but the number of accidents for the next 5 years was the highest in "LPG-Mechanical-Jet fire" and "LPG-Mechanical-Vapor Cloud" showed the highest rate of accidents. By grafting Poisson distribution theory onto gas accident expecting program of the future, it's expected to suggest consistent standard and be used as the scale which can be used in actual field.