• Journal of Hydrogen and New Energy
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.26-34
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• 2010

The electrocatalystic prperties of Pt-Co and Pt-Ni with heteropolyacids (HPAs) entrapped in covalently cross-linked sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) (CL-SPEEK)/HPA membranes were investigated for water electrolysis. The HP As, including molybdophosphoric acid (MoPA), and tungstophosphoric acid (TPA) were both used as membrane additives and electrocatalysts. The membrane electrode assembly (MEA) was prepared by a nonequilibrium impregnation-reduction (I-R) method. $Pt(NH_3)_4Cl_2$, $NiCl_2$ and $CoCl_2$ as electrocatalytic materials and $NaBH_4$ as reducing agent were used. I order to enhance electrocatalytic activity, the catalyst layer prepared above was electrodeposited (Dep) with HP A. Surface morphologies and physico-chemical properties of MEA were investigated by means of SEM, EDX and XRD. The electrocatalytic properties of composite membranes such as the cell voltage and coulombic charge in CV were in the order of magnitude: CL-SPEEK/MoPA40 (wt%) > CL-SPEEK/TPA30 > Nafion117. In the optimum cell applications for water electrolysis, the cell voltage of Pt/CL-SPEEK-MoPA40/Pt-Co (Dep-MoPA) and Pt/CL-SPEEK-TPA30/Pt-Co (Dep-TPA) was 1.75 Vat $80^{\circ}C$ and $1\;A/cm^2$ and voltage efficiency was 87.1%. Also, the observed activity of Pt-Co (84:16 atomic ratio by EDX) is a little higher than that of Pt-Ni (86: 14). The current density peak of electrodeposited electrodes were better a little than those of unactivated electrodes based on the same membranes.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.181-187
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• 2014

In order to use the spherical atomizing reduction steel slag (ladle furnace slag, LFS) instead of the fine aggregate of polymer concrete composites, various specimens were prepared with various replacement ratios of atomizing reduction steel slag and the addition ratios of polymer binder. Physical properties of these specimens were investigated through the absorption test, the compressive strength test, the flexural strength test, the hot water resistance test, the pore analysis and the micro-structure using scanning electron microscope. Results showed that the compressive strength and flexural strength of specimens with 7.5% of polymer binders increased with the increase of replacement ratios of atomizing reduction steel slag, but those of the specimens with 8.0% or more of polymer binders showed a maximum strength at a certain replacement ratio due to the material segregation causing the increase of fluidity. By hot water resistance tests, the compressive strength, flexural strength, average pore diameter, and bulk density decreased but the total pore volume and pore diameter increased. It was concluded that the amount of polymer binders could be reduced by maximum 23.8%, because the workability of the polymer concrete was remarkably improved by using the atomizing reduction steel slag instead of fine aggregate. However, since the use of atomizing reduction steel slag decreased the resistance of the polymer concrete to hot water, further studies are required.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.36-44
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• 2023

Core-shell TiO₂/Ag nanoparticles were synthesized by a modified sol-gel process and the reverse micelle method using acetoxime as a reducing agent in water/dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid (DDBA)/cyclohexane. The structure, shape, and size of the TiO₂/Ag nanoparticles were investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV-visible spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The size of TiO₂/Ag nanoparticles could be controlled by changing the [water]/[DDBA] molar ratio values. The size and the polydispersity of TiO₂/Ag nanoparticles increased when the [water]/[DDBA] molar ratio rose. The resultant Ag nanoparticles over the anatase crystal TiO₂ nanoparticles exhibited a strong surface plasmon resonance (SPR) peak at about 430 nm. The SPR peak shifted to the red side with the increase in nanoparticle size. Conductive pastes with 70 wt% TiO₂/Ag nanoparticles were prepared, and the pastes were coated on the PET films using a screen-printing method. The printed paste films of the TiO₂/Ag nanoparticles demonstrated greater surface resistance than conventional Ag paste in the range of 405~630 μΩ/sq.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.9
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• pp.1245-1250
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• 2009

Beimu (Fritillaria thunbergii Miquel), a bulbous plant of Liliaceae found in Korea, Japan and China, has been used as an antitussive and expectorant agent, and is also useful in alleviating stonsillitis and bronchiolitis. Most researches have been focused on micro-propagation and plant regeneration, component analysis, and dormancy relieving of beimu. Reports regarding the biological activity of beimu, such as anti-Helicobacter pyroli or platelet aggregation inhibition activity, are few and not widely available. In this study, methanol extract and its organic solvent fractions were prepared from Fritillaria thunbergii Miquel and their antimicrobial, antithrombin, and antioxidant activities were evaluated, respectively. The methanol extract contained lots of water-soluble materials (58.98%) and hexane-soluble oils (14.85%). The ethylacetate and butanol fraction at $500{\mu}g$/disc concentration showed strong antibacterial activity against tested bacteria, except Escherichia coli. Antifungal activity was not observed in methanol extract and its fractions. The hexane, ethylacetate and butanol fractions showed strong antithrombin activity at 4.8 mg/ml concentration. Especially, the ethylacetate fraction showed 95.4 sec of thrombin time at a concentration of 1.2 mg/ml, which is comparable to aspirin, a widely used antithrombosis agent. For antioxidation activity, the ethylacetate and butanol fraction showed good 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl scavenging activity ($IC_{50}$ of $344{\sim}368{\mu}g$/ml). In superoxide dismutase-like activity and reducing power, the fractions showed $20{\sim}25%$ of vitamin C, and $51{\sim}54%$ of butyl hydroxytoluene, respectively.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Building Construction
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• v.11 no.6
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• pp.530-537
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• 2011

The purpose of this study is to examine material performance of fiber reinforced cement composite for mass production. It is necessary to manufacture SHCC(Strain Hardening Cement Composite) by batch plant for field application and mass production. For the study, a mock-up test of SHCC manufactured in the batch plant was conducted, and the performance was compared with SHCC manufactured in the laboratory. Assessment items were freshness and hardening properties. Specifically, direct tensile test machine was used for performance verification of SHCC. As a result, there was a tendency of less satisfactory fiber dispersion and performance of strain hardening compared with the performance of SHCC manufactured in the laboratory. To address this, dry mixing and mortar mixing time should be increased compared to laboratory mixing, and injection time of an agent such as a water reducing agent should be properly controlled according to mixing combination, or the capacity to secure dispersion and homogeneity of material.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.584-589
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• 2001

Isopropryl 2-(1-3-dithiethane-2-ylidene)-2 [N-(4-methyl-thiazole-2-yl) carbamoyl] acetate (YH439) is currently under phase ll clinical trials by the Yuhan Research Center for use as a hepatoprotective agent. Unfortunately, the oral bioavailbility of YH439, which is sparingly soluble in water (i.e., $0.3{\;}\mu\textrm{g}/ml{\;}or{\;}0.91{$\mu}M$ at room temperature), reportedly, is negligibleregardless of the dose administered to rats in the 10-300 mg/kg range. The bioavailability of the compound increased up to 24%, when administered in the form of a micellar solution ($700{\;}\mu\textrm{g}/ml$or 2.1 mM for YH439) at a dose of 10 mg/kg, suggesting that its limited solubility is associated with its negligible bioavailability. In order to obtain additional informmation concerning the bioavailability of YH439, the mechanism(s) involved in gastrointestinal (Gl) absorption were investigated in the present study. For this purpose, the transport of YH430 across a Caco-2 cell monolayer was measured in a $Transwell^{\circledR}$. A permeability of $4.07{\times}10^{-5}{\;}cm/s$ was obtained for the absorptive (i.e., apical to basolateral direction) transport of $0.42{\mu}M$ YH439, implicating that the in vivo Cl absorption is nearly complete. The absorptive transport exhibited a slight concentration-dependency with an intrinsic clearance ($CL_{i}$) of $0.38{\mu}L/{\textrm{cm}^2}/sec$, which accounted for 28.1% of the total intrinsic clearance (i.e., $CL_i$ plus the intrinsic clearance for the linear component) of the transport. Thus, saturation of the absorption process appears to be a minor factor in limiting the bioavailability of the compound. The apparent permeability of YH439 from the basolateral to the apical direction (i.e., efflux, $6.67{\times}10^{-5}{\;}cm/s$) was comparable to that for absorptive transport, but, interestingly, a more distinct concentration-dependency was observed for this transport. However, the efflux does not appear to influence the bioavailability of the compound, as evidenced by the sufficiently high permeability in the absorption direction. Rather, a reportedly extensive first-pass hepatic metabolism appears to be a principal factor in limiting the bioavailability. In this respect, reducing the first-pass metabolism by some means would lead to a higher bioavailability of the compound. Thus, elevation of the absorption rate of YH439 becomes a necessity. From a practical point of view, increasing the concentration of YH439 in the Cl fluid appears to be a feasible way to increase the absorption rate, because the compound is primarily absorbed via a linear mechanism. In summary, the solubilization of YH439, as previously demonstrated for a micellar solution of the compound, appears to be a practical way to increase the oral bioavailability of YH439.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.509-514
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• 2008

Tremendous natural product extracts were used as a herb medicine remedy or therapy for centuries. Because these extracts have various biological activities, we examined the effects of Gryllotalpa orientalis extract for anti-oxidant and anti-inflammation activity by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP), hydroxy radical scarvenging and cyclooxygenase-2 promoter assays. Gryllotalpa orientalis extracts were prepared from solvents such as distilled water (DW), dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), ethanol and methanol. The results showed that Gryllotalpa orientalis extracts have potent DPPH (methanol extract), FRAP (DW extract) and hydroxy radical scavenging (DW and methanol extracts) activity than any other extracts used. A significant inhibition of cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2) promoter activity was detected in the presence of DMSO extract or ethanol extract. Collectively, the present results suggested that Gryllotalpa orientalis extract could be used for anti-oxidant and/or anti-inflammation agent for human or agricultural purposes.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.45-53
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• 2009

This study concerned remediation of heavy metal contaminated farmland soils near abandoned mine, using stabilization method, with particular emphasis on the remediating the soils contaminated with multi-elements. In this study, stabilizing heavy metals based on 'In-situ chemical fixation' has been applied to the soil collected from an abandoned mine in Korea, using column test, with various stabilizing agents, including $FeSO_4$, $KMnO_4$, sludge (collected from coal mine drainage treatment pond), zero-valent iron (ZVI), zeolite and $CaCO_3$. Sixty five-days operation of the flow-through columns yield $FeSO_4\;+\;KMnO_4$ and zeolite are efficient on reducing As leaching from the soil. ZVI and sludge are reducing the leaching of Cu. Although $FeSO_4\;+\;KMnO_4$ seem to be efficient for most heavy metals, high pH in the initial stage of test enabled high leaching of the heavy metals, whereas fixation of the heavy metals maintain throughout the rest of the test period, with increasing pH up to around 6. Addition of some alkaline agent may inhibit the low pH during the application. The column test was also run as two set: one set incubated with deionized water for 72 hours prior to starting the test, and the other without incubation. The incubated set demonstrated better stabilizing efficiency, indicating the potential optimized operation method.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.52-59
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• 2019

The leave of Polygonum tinctorium (LPT) have been used for centuries as a traditional medicine and as a food ingredient and natural dye. The aim of the current study was to develop high-value added products using LPT. Hot water extract (HWE) and ethanol extract (EE) of LPT were prepared, respectively, and their bioactivity was evaluated. The extraction ratio for the HWE was 27.6%, which was two-fold higher than that of the EE. The contents of total polyphenol in the HWE and total sugar in the EE were 51.2 mg/g and 297.8 mg/g, respectively. The total flavonoid and reducing sugar contents were similar in the extracts, irrespective of the extraction solvent. The HWE did not show antimicrobial activity in a disc-diffusion assay, but the EE showed strong growth inhibition against gram-positive bacteria. The EE exhibited stronger DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities and reducing power than those of the HWE. The HWE was particularly effective as a scavenger of nitrite ($RC_{50}$ of $6.0{\mu}g/ml$). In an antithrombosis activity assay, the EE showed significant anticoagulation activity as determined by an extended blood coagulation time (thrombin time, prothrombin time, and activated partial thromboplastin time), in addition to platelet aggregation activity. The HWE also showed platelet aggregation inhibitory activity. This report provides the first evidence of antithrombosis activities of LPT. Our results suggest that LPT has potential as a new antioxidant and antithrombosis agent.

• Journal of agriculture & life science
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.21-28
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• 2011

Hibiscus cannabinus L is a plant in the Malvaceae family. Kenaf was seeded at June 1st in 2010 and harvested at November 18th and dried and evaluated worth as a bulking agent for livestock composting. Harvested and dried Kenaf was divided into the bast, core and leaf. All materials were grinded by hammer mill and the moisture absorption, moisture evaporation, pH, volume weight and C/N ratio were measured. Kenaf was higher water absorption and evaporation ability than those of sawdust and chaff. The pH values of Kenaf were pH $2.8{\pm}0.01$ - $4.34{\pm}0.02$, which is lower pH value than those of sawdust (pH $5.28{\pm}0.01$) and chaff (pH $6.3{\pm}0.02$). The C/N ratio of Kenaf showed 649 of core, 204 of bast and 70 of leaf, which were lower than sawdust (789.1) but higher than chaff (132). In volume weight test, the materials were divided by particle size of Kenaf, named as group A(${\geq}4cm$), B(${\leq}4cm$, ${\geq}0.25cm$) and C(${\leq}0.25cm$). The volume of weight of group A and B for core, bast and leaf showed similar, but group C showed higher than those of sawdust and chaff. Especially, the volume weight of group C for leaf was 5 times higher than those of sawdust and chaff. This study suggested the possibility of using Kenaf as a bulk agent for composting of livestock manure. This is considered that strengthen the competitiveness of farmers through reducing the cost, prevention of environmental pollution caused by livestock manure and environmentally friendly processing of livestock manure.