• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.44.1-44.17
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• 2023

Background: Antibiotic resistance is a significant public health concern around the globe. Antimicrobial peptides exhibit broad-spectrum and efficient antibacterial activity with an added advantage of low drug resistance. The higher water content and 3D network structure of the hydrogels are beneficial for maintaining antimicrobial peptide activity and help to prevent degradation. The antimicrobial peptide released from hydrogels also hasten the local wound healing by promoting epithelial tissue regeneration and granulation tissue formation. Objective: This study aimed at developing sodium alginate based hydrogel loaded with a novel antimicrobial peptide Chol-37(F34-R) and to investigate the characteristics in vitro and in vivo as an alternative antibacterial wound dressing to treat infectious wounds. Methods: Hydrogels were developed and optimized by varying the concentrations of crosslinkers and subjected to various characterization tests like cross-sectional morphology, swelling index, percent water contents, water retention ratio, drug release and antibacterial activity in vitro, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa infected wound mice model in vivo. Results: The results indicated that the hydrogel C proved superior in terms of cross-sectional morphology having uniformly sized interconnected pores, a good swelling index, with the capacity to retain a higher quantity of water. Furthermore, the optimized hydrogel has been found to exert a significant antimicrobial activity against bacteria and was also found to prevent bacterial infiltration into the wound site due to forming an impermeable barrier between the wound bed and external environment. The optimized hydrogel was found to significantly hasten skin regeneration in animal models when compared to other treatments in addition to strong inhibitory effect on the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines (interleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α). Conclusions: Our results suggest that sodium alginate -based hydrogels loaded with Chol-37(F34-R) hold the potential to be used as an alternative to conventional antibiotics in treating infectious skin wounds.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.375-386
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• 2022

Work involving standing or walking for a long time can cause swelling, pain, and fatigue in the lower extremities due to the effect of gravity on the circulation of the body. This study aimed to confirm the effects of aromatherapy essential oils, as a complementary and alternative therapy, on lower extremity edema, pain, and fatigue when applied as a foot bath or spray. The study was conducted after daytime work over two consecutive days on nurses who volunteered at the E University Hospital in D Metropolitan city between 15 August 2018 and 11 October 2018. This randomized controlled study. The foot bath group received a foot bath in 9 L of water containing 0.5 ml of essential oil blended with grapefruit and peppermint in a 1:1 ratio. The spray group received the same solution in 3% dilution in the form of a spray. Edema was assessed by measuring calf and ankle circumference, while pain and fatigue were evaluated using a numerical rating scale. Data were analyzed by ANOVA and repeated-measures ANOVA. The calf circumference in the foot bath and spray groups significantly reduced compared to that in the control group (F = 14.053, p <.001) after the interventions. Lower extremity pain (F = 42.497, p < .001) and fatigue (F = 20.641, p < .001) also significantly reduced in the foot bath and spray groups compared to those in the control group after the interventions. Foot bath is recommended to relieve swelling and pain in the lower extremities, and aroma spray is highly recommended considering the ease of application.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.167-172
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• 2004

This study was performed to examine the correlations among dog sperm viabilities evaluated by flow cytometry, by microscopic evaluation (ME), by carbo-xifluorescein diacetate and propidium iodide (CFDA/PI) and by hypoosmotic swelling (HOS) test. Semen were collected from 5 dogs ranging in age from 2 to 4 years. Each ejaculate was divided into 3 aliquots and different proportions of freeze-killed cells were added to each aliquot (1:0, 1:1 and 1:3). In the other experiment, semen was extended with Sweden extender containing 5% glycerol and equex STM paste, and frozen using liquid nitrogen vapor. Fresh and frozen-thawed dog sperm viability were assessed by flow cytometry using PI staining method. The accuracy of flow cytometry was evaluated by comparing with other classic assessments, microscopic evaluation, epifluorescence microscopic analysis using CFDA/PI, and HOS test. High correlations of sperm viabilities were found among flow cytometry, epifluorescence evaluation, HOS test (p<0.01) in fresh semen. Especially, sperm viability assessed by HOS test was highly correlated with viability by flow cytometry in all the ratios of live and dead spermatozoa, 1:0, 1:1 and 1:3 (p<0.01). The viability evaluated by ME were significantly correlated with that by flow cytometry in ratios of 1:0 and 1:3 (p<0.05) however, there was no significance in ratio of 1:1. The viability evaluated by C/p were highly correlated with that by flow cytometry in ratio of 1:0 and 1:1 (p<0.01) and significantly correlated in ratio of 1:3 (p<0.05). In frozen-thawed spermatozoa, the viability determined by HOS test was considerably correlated with that by flow cytometry (p<0.01). There was significant correlation between the viabilities by ME and by flow cytometry (p<0.05). But the viability evaluated by CFDA/PI was not correlated with viability by flow cytometry. The result from this study validate the use of flow cytometry as a precise method for assessing the viability of fresh and frozen-thawed dog spermatozoa.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.39-45
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• 2010

Objectives : This study was undertaken to compare the effect of Foeniculi Fructus and Lonicerae Flos extract on the cerulein-induced acute pancreatitis in rats. Methods : Acute pancreatitis was induced by intraperitoneal injection of cerulein. Foeniculi Fructus extract (FE; 300 mg/kg) and Lonicerae Flos extract (LE; 300 mg/kg) were injected 2hr before induction of acute pancreatitis. Rats were sacrificed 6hr after first injection of cerulein. The severity of pancreatitis was assessed by measuring pancreatic weight/body weight ratio, neutrophil, lymphocyte, serum amylase activity, platelet activating factor (PAF) activity, tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$) activity, interleukin 6 (IL-6) activity and by histological assessments of inflammatory cell infiltration. Results : 1. The pancreatic weight/body weight ratios of FE and LE group compared with the control group were decreased significantly. 2. The neutrophil content ratio of FE and LE group compared with the control group were decreased. 3. The lymphocyte content ratio of FE and LE group compared with the control group were increased significantly. 4. The activities of serum amylase of FE and LE group compared with the control group were decreased significantly. 5. The activities of serum PAF of FE and LE group compared with the control group were decreased significantly. 6. The activities of TNF-${\alpha}$ of FE and LE group compared with the control group were decreased significantly. 7. The activities of IL-6 of FE and LE group compared with the control group were decreased significantly. 8. The pancreas injected with FE and LE showed reduction of swelling of acinar cells, inflammation and vacuolization than the control group on light microscopic observation. Conclusions : These results suggest that Foeniculi Fructus and Lonicerae Flos extract have an effect to suppress inflammation on cerulein-induced acute pancreatitis in rats. But there are no significant differences between Foeniculi Fructus extract and Lonicerae Flos extract.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.77 no.2
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• pp.252-257
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• 1988

This study was carried out to investigate the physical and mechanical properties of sawdust boards combined with sycamore and polypropylene-net flakes. Both the sycamore and polypropylene-net flakes were adjusted to the sizes of $1.0{\times}1.0$, $1.0{\times}2.0$, and $1.5{\times}1.5cm^2$ and these flakes were mixed at 1, 2, 3, and 4% levels based on ovendry weights of sawdusts, respectively. The results obtained in this study were summarized as follows : 1. Thickness swellings of sawdust boards combined with sycamore flakes decreased with the increase of mixture levels and similar effects were also recognized in combination with polypropylene-net flakes. 2. Moduli of rupture both in sawdust boards combined with sycamore and polypropylene-net flakes increased with the increase of their mixture levels, and sawdust boards combined with sycamore flakes of $1.0{\times}2.0cm^2$ size and polypropylene-net flakes of $1.5{\times}1.5cm^2$ size showed higher moduli of rupture than control boards. 3. Moduli of elasticity both in sawdust hoards combined with sycamore and polypropylene-net flakes increased with the increase of their mixture levels as in moduli of rupture. 4. The physical and mechanical properties of sawdust boards combined with sycamore and polypropylene-net flakes were mainly dependent on aspect ratio of sycamore flakes and size of polypropylene-net flakes respectively, and these properties were improved with the respective increase of aspect ratio and size.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.1-16
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• 2003

As is well known that N-nitroso-N-methylurethane (NNNMU) causes acute lung injury (ALI) in experimental animals. And ALI caused by NNNMU is very similar to ARDS in human being in its pathology and progress. In its context, we investigated the pathogenetic mechanism of ARDS associated with oxidative stress by neutrophils in Sprague-Dawley rat model of NNNMU-induced ALI. NNNMU had increased lung weight/body weight ratio (L/B ratio), lung myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, protein content and number of neutrophils in bronchoalveolar fluid (BALF) compared with those of control rat (p<0.001, respectively). In contrast, the amount of pulmonary surfactant in BALF was decreased by NNNMU (p<0.001). Morphologically, light microscopic examination denoted pathological findings such as formation of hyaline membrane, infiltration of neutrophils and perivascular cuffing in the lungs of NNNMU-treated rats. In addition, ultrastructural changes such as the necrosis of endothelial cells, swelling and vacuolization of lamellar bodies of alveolar type II cells, and the degeneration of pulmonary surfactant were identified after treatment of NNNMU. Very interestingly, cerium chloride electron microscopic cytochemistry showed that NNNMU had increased the production of cerrous-peroxide granules in the lung, which signified the increased production of hydrogen peroxide in the lung. Collectively, we conclude that NNNMU causes acute lung leak by the mechanism of neutrophilic oxidative stress of the lung.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.263-278
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• 2005

This study investigated the current oral health conditions of the elderly at home and welfare facilities in their age over 65 years around some rural areas in Gangwon province, which would expect the fewer medical benefits even with lower interest than urban areas, despite of relatively high ratio of elder populations, so that it could prepare a basic document necessary to determine certain planned quantification for the benefit of elder's oral healthcare. As of the end of December 2004 both 50 elders at home and 50 elders at welfare facilities were randomly sampled in their age over 65 years in Samcheok city. As a result of this study, it was found that the elders at welfare facilities scored 15 pts. in DMFT index level typical of oral health conditions, which was higher than the elders at home. In addition, the elders at welfare facilities scored 26.0% in the coexistence of immobile bridge and partial denture higher than the elders at home with regard to the presence of intraoral prosthetic appliance. The results of analyzing the difference in the one-year dental visiting experience of respondents hereof showed that the elders at home were relatively more in ratio(62.0%) than those at welfare facilities, while many of the former group(38.0%) had relatively more handicap in masticatory movement than the latter one with regard to the conditions of dental prosthesis in use. Besides, many of the elders at facilities(30% or more) felt subjective symptoms of periodontal disease including bleeding or swelling, which indicates higher ratio than the elders at home. Finally, the elders at home used to brush their teeth at more frequency on a daily basis than those at facilities, while the latter group suffered general body disease more than the former group. Summing up, it is concluded that a formulated oral healthcare system will become more needed in near future than now for the benefit of the elderly living in welfare facilities, while nationwide policy-level supports would be urgent for them in the aspect of national welfare.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.157-164
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• 2015

In this study, we synthesized poly(vinylimidazole-co-trifluoroethylmethacrylate-co-divinylbenzene) (PVTD) copolymer and introduced functional group through quaternization reaction for removing nitrate from drinking water. Also, optimizing conditions (reaction time, reaction temperature and functionalized agents concentration) for introducing the functional group were confirmed. The basic properties such as water uptake, swelling ratio, electrical resistance, ion exchange capacity and anion permselectivity for removing nitrate from drinking water were measured. The optimal values of water uptake, electrical resistance and ion exchange capacity of synthesized anion exchange membrane were 51.2%, $5.4{\Omega}{\cdot}cm^2$, and 1.04 meq/g, respectively.

• Journal of Adhesion and Interface
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.11-18
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• 2005

The capsules were prepared from a phase change material (PCM) of octadecane as a core material and melamine formaldehyde resin as a shell material. The PCM capsule size was varied in the range of $3{\sim}25{\mu}m$. The core contents and sizes of the PCM capsule, were determined by DSC and SEM, respectively. An acrylic coating material which contains butyl acrylate (BA), methyl metacrylate (MMA) and acrylic acid (AA) were synthesized by emulsion polymerization. The films were prepared from the acrylic emulsion and PCM capsules which have various capsule sizes. From the results of SEM experiment, it was observed that the PCM capsules were well dispersed inside the film and the surface of the film became less rough when the PCM capsule size was small. The swelling ratio of the films were not significantly affected by the PCM capsule size. However, the tensile strength and elongation of the films were greatly decreased with increasing the PCM capsule size.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.48-57
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• 2014

In this study, we have investigated the influence of the nature of solvent on the grafting reaction of maleic anhydride onto polyethylene wax obtained as a by-product in a high density polyethylene plant. The results show that the grafting ratio in xylene as a solvent was higher than toluene. This is because xylene has excellent monomer solubility, swelling property and miscibility. It has been also observed that grafting degree shows an initial jump in percentage of grafting with increasing amount of solvent, from 0% v/w to 200% v/w giving maximum grafting in 200% v/w and then slightly decreases on further increase in the amount of solvent and becomes almost constant. It can be also seen that gel content was not formed under the use of solvent. It means that solvent prevented cross-linking reaction due to chain transfer reactions to solvent molecules. Studies of melt viscosity at $140^{\circ}C$ showed that viscosity increased after grafting of maleic anhydride onto polyethylene wax.