• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.30 no.4 s.48
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• pp.479-483
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• 2004

An attempt was made to develop a proteinchip for screening of MITF (microphthalmia transcription factor) inhibitor. Binding of MITF to E-box causes transcription of several pigmenting genes including tyrosinase gene. We investigated binding of MITF and its DNA binding site (E-box) using a protein-DNA chip with various detection methods including flurorescence (Cyt3). SPR (surface plasmon resonance) and SPRi (surface plasmon resonance imaging). A fusion protein (MITF-Maltose Binding Protein) was attached on the glass plate by chemical modification. An inhibitory synthetic DNA oligomer, artificially designed based on the E-box sequence, inhibited the binding of MITF and E-box. These results showed the potentials of flurorescence-based MITF protein chip as a microarray for high throughput screening (HTS) system of depigmenting agents.

• Journal of Dairy Science and Biotechnology
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.115-123
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• 2005

Microcapsules consisting of natural, biodegradable polymers for controlled and/or sustained core release applications are needed. Physicochemical properties of whey proteins suggest that they may be suitable wall materials in developing such microcapsules. The objectives of the research were to develop water-insoluble, whey protein-based microcapsules containing a model water-soluble drug using a chemical cross-linking agent, glutaraldehyde, and to investigate core release from these capsules at simulated physiological conditions. A model water soluble drug, theophylline, was suspended in whey protein isolate (WPI) solution. The suspension was dispersed in a mixture of dichloromethane and hexane containing 1% biomedical polyurethane. Protein matrices were cross-linked with 7.5-30 ml of glutaraldehyde-saturated toluene (GAST) for 1-3 hr. Microcapsules were harvested, washed, dried and analyzed for core retention, microstructure, and core release in enzyme-free simulated gastric fluid (SGF) and simulated intestinal fluid(SIF) at $37^{\circ}C$. A method consisting of double emulsification and heat gelation was also developed to prepare water-insoluble, whey protein-based microcapsules containing anhydrous milkfat (AMF) as a model apolar core. AMF was emulsified into WPI solution (15${\sim}$30%, pH 4.5-7.2) at a proportion of 25${\sim}$50%(w/w, on dry basis). The oil-in-water emulsion was then added and dispersed into corn oil ($50^{\circ}C$) to form an O/W/O double emulsion and then heated at $85^{\circ}C$ for 20 min for gelation of whey protein wall matrix. Effects of emulsion composition and pH on core retention, microstructure, and water-solubility of microcapsules were determined. Overall results suggest that whey proteins can be used in developing microcapsules for controlled and sustained core release applications.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.14-19
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• 2014

Nanocomposites based on poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)/poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) and poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET)/(PVDF) blended with carbon fibers (CF) and carbon nanotube (CNT) were prepared by melt mixing in the twin screw extruder. Morphologies of the PMMA/PVDF/CF/CNT and PET/PVDF/CF/CNT nanocomposites were investigated using SEM. The aggregation of CNT was observed in PMMA/PVDF/CF/CNT nanocomposites while the good dispersion of CNT was shown in PET/PVDF/CF/CNT nanocomposites. In SEM image of PET/PVDF/CF/CNT nanocomposite, the CNT were mainly located at the PET domain of phase-separated PET/PVDF blend due to the ${\pi}-{\pi}$ interaction between the phenyl ring of PET and graphite sheet of the CNT's surface. In addition, a fairly good compatibility between PET/PVDF matrix and CF was shown in the SEM image. In the case of PET/PVDF nanocomposites blended with the co-addition of CF and CNT, the volume electrical resistivity decreased while no change was observed in PMMA/PVDF/CF/CNT composites. The degree of CNT dispersion in morphology results was consistent with the electrical conductivity results. From the DSC results, the crystallization temperature (Tc) of PET/PVDF/CF/CNT nanocomposites increased due to the co-addition of CF and CNTs acting as a nucleating agent. Flexural modulus of PET/PVDF/CF/CNT were sharply enhanced due to increasing the interaction between PET and CF.

• 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.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.761-767
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• 2012

The polycarbonate (PC)-based optical diffusers for direct-lit LED backlight unit were prepared by using extrusion compounding followed by compression molding process. The application of inorganic porous silica particles as a diffusing agent in addition to conventional poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) beads was attempted, and the optical, thermal, and mechanical properties of the prepared diffusers were investigated. The morphological observations revealed that the diffusing agents could be uniformly dispersed in the PC matrix without agglomeration by high shear stress generated during extrusion process. The incorporation of the porous silica particles mixed with PMMA beads remarkably enhanced the luminance uniformity with respect to both location and view angle for the diffuser, while minimizing the reduction in the absolute luminance, as compared with the diffuser containing only PMMA beads. In addition, thermal and mechanical properties of the diffusers were shown to be improved upon addition of the porous silica particles.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.48 no.5
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• pp.451-456
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• 2015

Purpose: Neuronal apoptotic events induced by aging and hypoxic/ischemic conditions is an important risk factor in neurodegenerative diseases such as ischemia stroke and Alzheimer's disease. The peel of Citrus sunki Hort. ex Tanaka has long been used as a traditional medicine, based on multiple biological activities including anti-oxidant, anti-inflammation, and anti-obesity. In the current study, we examined the actions of fermented C. sunki peel extract against cobalt chloride ($CoCl_2$)-mediated hypoxic death in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. Methods: Cell viability was measured by trypan blue exclusion. Expression of apoptosis related proteins and release of cytochrome c were detected by western blot. Production of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and apoptotic morphology were examined using 2',7'-dichlorofluorescin diacetate (DCF-DA) and 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining. Results: Exposure to $CoCl_2$, a well-known mimetic agent of hypoxic/ischemic condition, resulted in neuronal cell death via caspase-3 dependent pathway. Extract of fermented C. sunki peel significantly rescued the $CoCl_2$-induced neuronal toxicity with the cell viability and appearance of apoptotic morphology. Cytoprotection with fermented C. sunki peel extract was associated with a decrease in activities of caspase-3 and cleavage of poly (ADP ribose) polymerase (PARP). In addition, increase in the intracellular ROS and release of cytochrome c from mitochondria to the cytosol were inhibited by treatment with extract of fermented C. sunki peel. Conclusion: Based on these data, fermented C. sunki peel extract might have a protective effect against $CoCl_2$-induced neuronal injury partly through generation of ROS and effectors involved in mitochondrial mediated apoptosis.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Manufacturing Technology Engineers
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.575-581
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• 2012

The electrochemical oxygen demand (ECOD) is an additional sum parameter, which has not yet found the attention it deserves. It is defined as the oxygen equivalent of the charge consumed during an electrochemical oxidation of the solution. Only one company has yet developed an instrument to determine the ECOD. This instrument uses $PbO_2$-electrodes for the oxidation and has been successfully implemented in an automatic on-line monitor. A general problem of the ECOD determination is the high overpotential of electrochemical oxidations of most organic compounds at conventional electrodes. Here we present a new approach for the ECOD determination, which is based on the use of a solid composite electrodes with highly efficient electro-catalysts for the oxidation of a broad spectrum of different organic compounds. Lead dioxide as an anode material has found commercial application in processes such as the manufacture of sodium per chlorate and chromium regeneration where adsorbed hydroxyl radicals from the electro-oxidation of water are believed to serve as the oxidizing agent. The ECOD sensors based on the Au/$PbO_2$ electrode were operated at an optimized applied potential, +1.6 V vs. Ag/AgCl/sat. KCl, in 0.01 M $Na_2SO_4$ solution, and reduced the effect of interference ($Cl^-$ and $Fe^{2-}$) and an expended lifetime (more than 6 months). The ECOD sensors were installed in on-line auto-analyzers, and used to analyze real samples.

• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.285-294
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• 1998

When Cochlodinium polykrikoides came into the culture tanks through influent cultivated water during the red tides, hundred thousands of commercial flounders were concomitantly killed and many culturists suffered from a great deal of financial loss in the east coast of Korea. It is charactrized by high sinking rate after sunset and the formatino of clump which results in oxygen deficiency by its respiration at tank bottom under condition. We investigated the efficacy of hydrogen peroxide and chlorine dioxide, known to form radicals, for extermination of red tide organism C. polykrikoides. When C. polykrikoides seawater with a density of 6,000 cells/$m\ell$ was treated with 14, 28 and $42mg/\ell$ of hydrogen peroxide, its survival rate was markedly decreased to 9.8, 0.8 and 0.3% respectively immediately after 6 hours of treatments whereas when it was treated with 1.5, 2.1 and $3.0mg/\ell$ chlorine dioxide, its survival rate showed 87.7, 81.3 and 80.1 and 80.1% respectively at the same treatment time. Hydrogen peroxide was the effective agent since it has scarcely injured the cultured olive flounder when exposed to the tested concentration range of $14~28mg/\ell$ with the extermination of almost3 C. polykrikoides during the experimental period of 5 days and has shown the oxygen increase of approximately $1.23mg/\ell$ 2 hours immediately after the flounder by C. polykrikoides in the land-based culture tank is assumed to be not by the toxicity of itself but by oxygen dificiency from the rapid respiration of dinoflagellate clump sunken to the tank bottom.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 2008.04a
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• pp.801-804
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• 2008

Performance for the resistant to chlorides penetration is required in order to increase durability of seaside construction. For this reason, it is important to acquire simultaneously watertightness, resistance for crack of concrete and chemical fixation effect of chloride in it. In this study, High durability promoting agents(HD) consist of inorganic salt and active components were applied to enhancing resistance for chloride ion penetration against concrete based on mix(composition of binder : OPC+SLG) of seaside construction. Tang's experimental method was utilized to investigate the resistances of chloride ion penetration of concrete such as chloride ion diffusion coefficient and penetration depth. It was confirmed that resistance of chloride ion penetration of concrete by 0.6% addition of HD was improved to $11.3^{\sim}20.5$% than non-added concrete.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.53-61
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• 2016

Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular Apicomplexan parasite and a causative agent of toxoplasmosis in human. It causes encephalitis, uveitis, chorioretinitis, and congenital infection. T. gondii invades the host cell by forming a moving junction (MJ) complex. This complex formation is initiated by intermolecular interactions between the two secretory parasitic proteins-namely, apical membrane antigen 1 (AMA1) and rhoptry neck protein 2 (RON2) and is critically essential for the host invasion process. By this study, we propose two potential leads, NSC95522 and NSC179676 that can efficiently target the AMA1 hydrophobic cleft, which is a hotspot for targeting MJ complex formation. The proposed leads are the result of an exhaustive conformational search-based virtual screen with multilevel precision scoring of the docking affinities. These two compounds surpassed all the precision levels of docking and also the stringent post docking and cumulative molecular dynamics evaluations. Moreover, the backbone flexibility of hotspot residues in the hydrophobic cleft, which has been previously reported to be essential for accommodative binding of RON2 to AMA1, was also highly perturbed by these compounds. Furthermore, binding free energy calculations of these two compounds also revealed a significant affinity to AMA1. Machine learning approaches also predicted these two compounds to possess more relevant activities. Hence, these two leads, NSC95522 and NSC179676, may prove to be potential inhibitors targeting AMA1-RON2 complex formation towards combating toxoplasmosis.