• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.48 no.5
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• pp.413-420
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• 2015

Objective of this study was to investigate adsorption characteristics and kinetic models of $NH_4-N$ to biochar produced from rice hull in respective to mitigation of greenhouse gases. $NH_4-N$ concentration was analyzed by UV Spectrophotometer. For the experiment, the soil texture used in this study was sandy loam soil, and application rates of chemical fertilizer and pig compost were $420-200-370kgha^{-1}$ (N-P-K) and $5,500kgha^{-1}$ as recommended amount after soil test for corn cultivation. Biochar treatments were 0.2-5% to soil weight. Its adsorption characteristic was investigated with application of Langmuir isotherm, and pseudo-first order kinetic model and pseudo-second order kinetic model were used as kinetic models. Adsorption amount and removal rates of $NH_4-N$ were $39.3mg^{-1}$ and 28.0% in 0.2% biochar treatment, respectively. The sorption of $NH_4-N$ to biochar was fitted well by Langmiur model because it was observed that dimensionless constant ($R_L$) was 0.48. The maximum adsorption amount ($q_m$) and binding strength constant (b) were calculated as $4.1mgg^{-1}$ and $0.01Lmg^{-1}$ in Langmuir isotherm, respectively. The pseudo-second order kinetic model was more appropriate than pseudo-first order kinetic model for high correlation coefficient ($r^2$) of pseudo-second order kinetic model. Therefore, biochar produced from rice hull could reduce $N_2O$ by adsorbing $NH_4-N$ to biochar cooperated in sandy loam soil.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.29 no.9
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• pp.1349-1360
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• 2019

Chronic exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation, regarded as a major cause of extrinsic aging or photoaging characterized by wrinkle formation and skin dehydration, exerts adverse effects on skin by causing the overproduction of reactive oxygen species. Agastache rugosa Kuntze, known as Korean mint, possesses a wide spectrum of biological properties including anti-oxidation, anti-inflammation, and anti-atherosclerosis. Previous studies have reported that A. rugosa protected human keratinocytes against UVB irradiation by restoring the anti-oxidant defense system. However, the anti-photoaging effect of A. rugosa extract (ARE) in animal models has not yet been evaluated. ARE was orally administered to hairless mice at doses of 100 or 250 mg/kg/day along with UVB exposure for 12 weeks. ARE histologically improved UVB-induced wrinkle formation, epidermal thickening, erythema, and hyperpigmentation. In addition, ARE recovered skin moisture by improving skin hydration and transepidermal water loss (TEWL). Along with this, ARE increased hyaluronic acid levels by upregulating HA synthase genes. ARE markedly increased the density of collagen and the amounts of hydroxypoline via two pathways. First, ARE significantly downregulated the mRNA expression of matrix metalloproteinases responsible for collagen degradation by inactivating the mitogen-activated protein kinase/activator protein 1 pathway. Second, ARE stimulated the transforming growth factor beta/Smad signaling, consequently raising the mRNA levels of collagen-related genes. In addition, ARE not only increased the mRNA expression of anti-oxidant enzymes but also decreased inflammatory cytokines by blocking the protein expression of nuclear factor kappa B. Collectively, our findings suggest that A. rugosa may be a potential preventive and therapeutic agent for photoaging.

• Journal of Apiculture
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.107-115
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• 2019

Bumblebees have apposition compound eyes (one on either side of the head) of about 6,000 ommatidia and three small single-lens ocelli on the frons of their head capsule. The surface of the eye is smooth and interommatidial hairs, as in the honeybee, are not developed. Each ommatidium (approx. 26 ㎛ in diameter) is capped by a hexagonal facet and contains in its centre a 3 ㎛ wide, columnar light-perceiving structure known as the rhabdom. Rhabdoms consist of thousands of regularly aligned, fingerlike microvilli, which in their membranes contain the photopigment molecules. Axons from each ommatidium transmit the information of their photic environment to the visual centres of the brain, where behavioural reactions may be initiated. Since bumblebee eyes possess three classes of spectrally different sensitivity peaks in a ratio of 1:1:6 (UV= 353 nm, blue= 430 nm and green=548 nm) per ommatidium, they use colour vision to find and select flower types that yield pollen and nectar. Ommatidial acceptance angles of at least 3° are used by the bumblebees to discriminate between different flower shapes and sizes, but their ability to detect polarized light appears to be used only for navigational purposes. A flicker fusion frequency of around 110Hz helps the fast flying bumblebee to avoid obstacles. The small ocelli are strongly sensitive to ultraviolet radiation and green wavelengths and appear to act as sensors for light levels akin to a photometer. Unlike the bumblebee's compound eyes, the ocelli would, however, be incapable of forming a useful image.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.31 no.12
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• pp.1656-1666
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• 2021

Dental pathogens lead to chronic diseases like periodontitis, which causes loss of teeth. Here, we examined the plausible antibacterial efficacy of copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) synthesized using Cupressus macrocarpa extract (CME) against periodontitis-causing bacteria. The antimicrobial properties of CME-CuNPs were then assessed against oral microbes (M. luteus. B. subtilis, P. aerioginosa) that cause periodontal disease and were identified using morphological/ biochemical analysis, and 16S-rRNA techniques. The CME-CuNPs were characterized, and accordingly, the peak found at 577 nm using UV-Vis spectrometer showed the formation of stable CME-CuNPs. Also, the results revealed the formation of spherical and oblong monodispersed CME-CuNPs with sizes ranged from 11.3 to 22.4 nm. The FTIR analysis suggested that the CME contains reducing agents that consequently had a role in Cu reduction and CME-CuNP formation. Furthermore, the CME-CuNPs exhibited potent antimicrobial efficacy against different isolates which was superior to the reported values in literature. The antibacterial efficacy of CME-CuNPs on oral bacteria was compared to the synergistic solution of clindamycin with CME-CuNPs. The solution exhibited a superior capacity to prevent bacterial growth. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC), and fractional inhibitory concentration (FIC) of CME-CuNPs with clindamycin recorded against the selected periodontal disease-causing microorganisms were observed between the range of 2.6-3.6 ㎍/ml, 4-5 ㎍/ml and 0.312-0.5, respectively. Finally, the synergistic antimicrobial efficacy exhibited by CME-CuNPs with clindamycin against the tested strains could be useful for the future development of more effective treatments to control dental diseases.

• Clean Technology
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.147-154
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• 2022

Titanate nanotubes (TNTs) were synthesized via alkaline hydrothermal treatment using commercial TiO₂ nanoparticles (P25). The TNTs were prepared at various TiO₂/NaOH ratios, hydrothermal temperatures, and hydrothermal times. The synthesized catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, N₂ adsorption-desorption isotherms, field-emission transmission electron microscopy, and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy. TNTs were generated upon a decrease in the TiO₂/NaOH ratio due to the dissolution of TiO₂ in the alkaline solution and the generation of new Ti-O-Ti bonds to form titanate nanoplates and nanotubes. The hydrothermal treatment temperature and time were important factors for promoting the nucleation and growth of TNTs. The TNT catalyst with the largest surface area (389.32 m² g^-1) was obtained with a TiO₂/NaOH ratio of 0.25, a hydrothermal treatment temperature of 130 ℃, and a hydrothermal treatment time of 36 h. Additionally, we investigated the photocatalytic activity of methyl violet 2B (MV) over the TNT catalysts under UV irradiation and found that the degradation efficiencies of the TNTs were higher than that of P25. Among the TNT catalysts, the TNT catalyst that was hydrothermally synthesized for 36 h (TNT 36 h) exhibited a 96.9% degradation efficiency and a degradation rate constant that was 4.8 times higher than P25 due to its large surface area, which allowed for more contact between the MV molecules and TNT surfaces and facilitated rapid electron transfer. Finally, these results were correlated with the specific surface area.

• Journal of Surface Science and Engineering
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.503-509
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• 2001

Thin films of hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si : H) and hydrogenated amorphous silicon carbide (a-SiC:H) of different compositions were deposited on Si(100) wafer and glass by RF plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (RF-PECVD). In the present work, we have investigated the effects of the RF power on the properties, such as optical band gap, transmittance and crystallinity. The Raman data show that the a-Si:H material consists of an amorphous and crystalline phase for the co-presence of two peaks centered at 480 and $520 cm^{-1}$ . The UV-VIS data suggested that the optical energy band gap ($E_{g}$ ) is not changed effectively with RF power and the obtained $E_{g}$(1.80eV) of the $\mu$c-Si:H thin film has almost the same value of a-Si:H thin film (1.75eV), indicating that the crystallity of hydrogenated amorphous silicon thin film can mainly not affected to their optical properties. However, the experimental results have shown that$ E_{g}$ of the a-SiC:H thin films changed little on the annealing temperature while $E_{g}$ increased with the RF power. The Raman spectrum of the a-SiC:H thin films annealed at high temperatures showed that graphitization of carbon clusters and microcrystalline silicon occurs.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.25-38
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• 2024

The study aimed to investigate a novel approach by utilizing liquid chromatography (LC) and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) to separate, identify and characterize very nominal quantities of degradation products (DPs) of balsalazide along with its process related impurities without isolation from their reaction mixtures. The impurities along with balsalazide were resolved on spherisorb ODS2 (250×4.6 mm, 5.0 ㎛) column at room temperature using 0.2 M sodium acetate solution at pH 4.5 and methanol in the ratio of 55:45 (v/v) as mobile phase pumped isocratically at 1.0 mL/min as mobile phase and UV detection at 255 nm. The method shows sensitive detection limit of 0.003 ㎍/mL, 0.015 ㎍/mL and 0.009 ㎍/mL respectively for impurity 1, 2 and 3 with calibration curve liner in the range of 50-300 ㎍/mL for balsalazide and 0.05-0.30 for its impurities. The balsalazide pure compound was subjected to stress studies and a total of four degradation products (DPs) were formed during the stress study and all the DPs were characterized with the help of their fragmentation pattern and the masses obtained upon LC-MS/MS. The DPs were identified as 3-({4-[(E)-(4-hydroxyphenyl) diazenyl]benzoyl}amino)propanoic acid (DP 1), 4-[(E)-(4-hydroxyphenyl)diazenyl] benzamide (DP 2), 5-[(E)-(4-carbamoylphenyl)diazenyl]-2-hydroxybenzoic acid (DP 3) and 3-({4-[(E)-phenyldiazenyl]benzoyl}amino)propanoic acid (DP 4). Based on findings, it was concluded that, the proposed method was successfully applicable for routine analysis of balsalazide and its process related impurities in pure drug and formulations and also applicable for identification of known and unknown impurities of balsalazide.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.27 no.9
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• pp.622-633
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• 2024

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of various plant-derived carotenoid extracts on growth parameters and skin coloration of golden trevally (Gnathanodon speciosus). Five groups of fish were fed diets containing carotenoid sources from the petal extracts of the leopard tree (Caesalpinia ferrea), wild sunflower (Tithonia diversifolia), marigold (Tagetes erecta), yellow bells (Tecoma stans), Wedelia chinensis (Wedelia chinensis), along with a control group, each diet had a carotenoid concentration of 0.25 g/kg feed. The diets were based on the same fundamental ingredients and administered for 56 days. Results showed significant differences in growth parameters among the different diets, with wild sunflower and marigold petal extracts proving most effective in enhancing the skin coloration of golden trevally. High yellow (CIE b^*), ranging from 17.2 to 18.8, were observed (Minolta CR-400), compared to only 12.2 ± 0.34 in the control group. Additionally, the carotenoid content in the tissue of the various groups differed significantly (p < 0.05), with the highest level of carotenoids (71.2 ± 2.9 ㎍/g tissue) detected in the fish skin of the dietary marigold flower group (UV-visible spectrophotometry). It is suggested that the petals of wild sunflowers and marigolds can efficiently improve body pigmentation and growth performance in golden trevally, indicating that these plant-derived carotenoids may have potential applications in aquaculture.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.379-391
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• 2024

Tocopherol, carotenoids, and chlorophyll are the primary components of the antioxidative response in microalgae. Conditions of stress, such salt stress, can trigger the processes responsible for the accumulation of tocopherol and carotene. It has been found that the most difficult part of culturing microalgae is keeping it affordable. This study investigated the effects of different salt types and concentrations on the amount of α-tocopherol, carotenoid derivatives, and flocculation efficiency of Euglena sp. Cultures of Euglena sp. was developed under salt stress conditions of NaCl 200 mM and KCl 200 mM. UV-VIS spectrophotometry was used to confirm the presence of α-tocopherol and carotenoid derivatives under thirteen days of salt stress testing. Increasing salinity has a significant effect on Euglena sp., causing spherical cell morphologies with aspect ratio 1.385 ± 0.031 for NaCl 200 mM and 1.414 ± 0.040 for KCl 200 mM. Increasing salinity also slowing down development with specific growth rate value of 0.171 ± 0.006 per day and 0.122 ± 0.029 per day for NaCl and KCl 200 mM, respectively. Nevertheless, the amount of α-tocopherol in Euglena sp. increases with a high salt concentration; algal cells flocculated more successfully when increasing the salt concentrations (NaCl 200 mM and KCl 200 mM) was added. Due to the inhibition of photosynthetic activity in salt-stressed cells, the control group exhibited higher levels of carotenoid derivatives (ranging from 0.5-1 ㎍/mL) and pheophytin a and b (0.0062 ± 0.001 ㎍/mL and 0.0064 ± 0.001 ㎍/mL) than the group treated with salt stress. In conclusion, salt stress was an effective way to raises the concentration of α-tocopherol and significantly reduce the expense of harvesting Euglena sp.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.287-301
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• 2000

In order to investigate the factors and processes affecting the vertical distributions of ozone, we analyzed the ozone profile data measured using ozonesonde from 1995 to 1997 at Pohang city, Korea. In the course of our study, we analyzed temporal and spatial distribution characteristics of ozone at four different heights: surface (100m), troposphere (10km), lower stratosphere (20km), and middle stratosphere (30km). Despite its proximity to a local, but major, industrial complex known as Pohang Iron and Steel Co. (POSCO), the concentrations of surface ozone in the study area were comparable to those typically observed from rural and/or unpolluted area. In addition, the findings of relative enhancement of ozone at this height, especially between spring and summer may be accounted for by the prevalence of photochemical reactions during that period of year. The temporal distribution patterns for both 10 and 20km heights were quite compatible despite large differences in their altitudes with such consistency as spring maxima and summer minima. Explanations for these phenomena may be sought by the mixed effects of various processes including: ozone transport across two heights, photochemical reaction, the formation of inversion layer, and so on. However, the temporal distribution pattern for the middle stratosphere (30km) was rather comparable to that of the surface. We also evaluated total ozone concentration of the study area using Brewer spectrophotometer. The total ozone concentration data were compared with those derived by combining the data representing stratospheric layers via Umkehr method. The results of correlation analysis showed that total ozone is negatively correlated with cloud cover but not with such parameter as UV-B. Based on our study, we conclude that areal characteristics of Pohang which represents a typical coastal area may be quite important in explaining the distribution patterns of ozone not only from surface but also from upper atmosphere.