• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.101-111
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• 1999

Sedimentary organic matter, exposed to continental surficial environment, reacts with oxygen supplied from the atmosphee and forms carbon-containing oxidation products. Knowledge of the rate and mechanisms of sedimentary organic matter weathering is important because it is one of the major controls on atmospheric oxygen level through geologic time. Under the abiological conditions, the oxidation rate of coal organic matter by molecular oxygen is enhanced by the increase of oxygen concentration and temperature. At ambient temperature and pressure, aqueous coal oxidation results in the formation of dissolved $CO_2$ dissolved organic carbon and solid oxidation products which are all quantitatively significant reaction products. The effects of pH, ultraviolet light, and microbial activity on the weathering of sedimentary organic matter are poorly contrained. Based on the results of geochmical and environmental studies, it is believed that the photochemical reaction should play an important role in the decomposition and oxidation of sedimentary organic matter removed from the weathering profile. At higher pH conditions, the production rate of DOC can be accelerated due to base catalysis. These high molecular weight oranic matter can react with man-made pollutants such as heavy metal ions via adsorption/desorption or ion exchange reactions. The effect of microbial activity on the oxidative weathering of sedimentary organic matter is poorly understood and remains to be studied.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.25 no.10
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• pp.1567-1570
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• 2004

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.31
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• pp.16.1-16.9
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• 2016

Objectives Banha-sasim-tang (BST), which consists of seven different herbs, is one of the most popular herbal formulae for treating gastrointestinal disorders in Eastern Asia. The commonly used herbal medicine is often co-administered with other therapeutic drugs, which raises the possibility of herb-drug interactions and may modify the clinical safety profile of therapeutic drugs. Methods We investigated the potential herb-drug interactions between BST extract and midazolam (MDZ) in mice. The area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) of MDZ and 1'-hydroxymidazolam (1'-OH-MDZ) was evaluated for both oral and intraperitoneal administration of MDZ, following oral administration of BST (0.5 and 1 g/kg). Results It was found that the AUC of MDZ and 1'-OH-MDZ was lower in case of oral administration of MDZ. Administration of BST extract was not associated with hepatic cytochrome P450 activity. BST extract induced a strong reduction in pH and it has been reported that oral mucosal absorption of MDZ is lower at low pH. The decreased absorption rate of MDZ might be caused by the ingredients of BST and may not be related to other factors such as increased excretion of MDZ by P-glycoprotein. Conclusions The altered pharmacokinetics of midazolam caused by co-administration with BST in vivo could be attributed to a decrease in pH and subsequent reduction of MDZ absorption rate.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.70-77
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• 2013

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of chestnut powder on antioxidant activity and quality characteristics of cookies. Cookies were prepared using different amounts of chestnut powder (0, 5, 10, 15 and 20% to the flour quantity). The antioxidant activity was estimated by measuring DPPH free radical scavenging activity and the total phenolic content in chestnut powder and cookies. In addition, the quality characteristics of the chestnut cookies were estimated based on: the bulk density and pH of the dough, spread factor, loss rate, leavening rate, color, texture profile analysis, and sensory evaluations. The spread ratio, a values, total polyphenol contents, and DPPH free radical scavenging activity of cookies significantly increased with increasing chestnut powder (p<0.001), while the leavening rate, L values, b values and hardness of the cookies significantly decreased with increasing chestnut powder (p<0.05). The sensory evaluation scores for the 15% chestnut powder cookie groups ranked significantly higher (p<0.05) than the other groups in overall preference, appearance, taste, color, chestnut taste, oily flavor, and aftertaste. Taken together, the results of this study suggest that chestnut powder is a good ingredient for increasing the consumer acceptability and functionality of cookies.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.7 no.5
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• pp.403-416
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• 2016

The possibility of using carica papaya leaf powder for removal of copper from wastewater as a low cost adsorbent was explored. Different parameters that affect the adsorption process like initial concentration of metal ion, time of contact, adsorbent quantity and pH were evaluated and the outcome of the study was tested using adsorption isotherm models. A maximum of 90%-94.1% copper removal was possible from wastewater having low concentration of the metal using papaya leaf powder under optimum conditions by conducting experimental studies. The biosorption of copper ion was influenced by pH and outcome of experimental results indicate the optimum pH as 7.0 for maximum copper removal. Copper distribution between the solid and liquid phases in batch studies was described by isotherms like Langmuir adsorption and Freundlich models. The adsorption process was better represented by the Freundlich isotherm model. The maximum adsorption capacity of copper was measured to be 24.51 mg/g through the Langmuir model. Pseudo-second order rate equation was better suited for the adsorption process. A dynamic mode study was also conducted to analyse the ability of papaya leaf powder to remove copper (II) ions from aqueous solution and the breakthrough curve was described by an S profile. Present study revealed that papaya leaf powder can be used for the removal of copper from the wastewater and low cost water treatment techniques can be developed using this adsorbent.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.86-89
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• 2006

The novel tetranuclear nickel (II) complex is a high rate accelerator in promoting hydrolysis of phosphate diesters. Nickel-bound bis-nitrophenyl phosphate (BNPP) can be $10^4$ times more reactive than the unbound BNPP. The large rate of enhancements by the complex slightly under basic condition has shown high catalytic activity in phosphate diester cleavage. The bell-shaped pH-rate profile indicated that the nickel-oxide form of the tetranuclear complex or its kinetic equivalent was the active species for cleaving BNPP. The catalytic hydrolysis between tetranuclear nickel (II) complex and phosphate diester proceeds via the formation of bidentate coordination of the anionic phosphate to the Ni (II) atom. This reveals that the complex has the possibility as artificial nuclease.

• ETRI Journal
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.721-731
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• 2006

A fast intra skip detection algorithm based on the ratedistortion (RD) cost for an inter frame (P-slices) is proposed for H.264/AVC video encoding. In the H.264/AVC coding standard, a robust rate-distortion optimization technique is used to select the best coding mode and reference frame for each macroblock (MB). There are three types of intra predictions according to profiles. These are $16{\times}16$ and $4{\times}4$ intra predictions for luminance and an $8{\times}8$ intra prediction for chroma. For the high profile, an $8{\times}8$ intra prediction has been added for luminance. The $4{\times}4$ prediction mode has 9 prediction directions with 4 directions for $16{\times}16$ and $8{\times}8$ luma, and $8{\times}8$ chrominance. In addition to the inter mode search procedure, an intra mode search causes a significant increase in the complexity and computational load for an inter frame. To reduce the computational load of the intra mode search at the inter frame, the RD costs of the neighborhood MBs for the current MB are used and we propose an adaptive thresholding scheme for the intra skip extraction. We verified the performance of the proposed scheme through comparative analysis of experimental results using joint model reference software. The overall encoding time was reduced up to 32% for the IPPP sequence type and 35% for the IBBPBBP sequence type.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.357-367
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• 2022

Background: Low-dose dexmedetomidine may be a suitable alternative to opioids for pediatric ambulatory procedures under general anesthesia (GA). However, the recovery profile remains unclear. Herein, we aimed to evaluate the effects of low-dose dexmedetomidine on the recovery profile of children. Methods: Seventy-two children undergoing ambulatory oral rehabilitation under GA were randomly and equally distributed into two groups (D and F). Group D received an infusion of dexmedetomidine 0.25 ㎍/kg for 4 min for induction, followed by maintenance of 0.4 ㎍/kg/h. Group F received an infusion of fentanyl 1 ㎍/kg over 4 min for induction, followed by maintenance at 1 ㎍/kg/h. The primary outcome was the extubation time. The secondary outcomes were awakening time, end-tidal sevoflurane (ET-Sevo) requirement, change in hemodynamic parameters, Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale (RASS), Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario pain scale (CHEOPS) score, length of PACU stay, and incidence of adverse events. Results: Statistically significant differences were observed in the recovery profile between the groups: the median time for extubation was 3.65 (3.44-6.2) vs. 6.25 (4.21-7) minutes in groups D vs. F (P=0.001), respectively, while the corresponding awakening times were 19 (18.75-21) and 22.5 (22-24) minutes, respectively (P < 0.001). The mean ET-Sevo was low in group D (1.1 vs. 1.2; P < 0.001). The heart rate was significantly low across all time points in group D, without resulting in bradycardia. The median RASS and CHEOPS scores were also significantly lower in group D. No significant differences were observed in the mean arterial pressure, incidence of adverse events, or length of PACU stay. Conclusion: Low-dose dexmedetomidine was more effective than fentanyl as an opioid substitute at providing a better recovery profile in pediatric ambulatory oral rehabilitation under GA. Dexmedetomidine also significantly reduced sevoflurane consumption without causing adverse events or prolonging hospital stay.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.27 no.11
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• pp.1177-1182
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• 2004

The effect of poly[2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine] (pMPC) on the skin permeation property was investigated by performing in vitro skin permeation study of a model drug, nicotinic acid (NA). Effect of pMPC polymer in donor solution on skin permeation rates was evaluated using side-by-side diffusion cells. Also, the structural alterations in the stratum corneum (SC), inter-lamellar bilayer (ILB) and dermis layers in pMPC-treated and -untreated skin sections were investigated with transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The permeation profile of NA without pMPC in donor solution showed biphasic mode: initial $1^{st} phase and 2^{nd}$ hydration phase. The sudden, more than 10-fold increase in flux from the initial steady state (43.5 $\mu g/cm^2$/hr) to the $2^{nd}$ hydration phase (457.3 $\mu g/cm^2$/hr) suggests the disruption of skin barrier function due to extensive hydration. The permeation profile of NA with 3% pMPC in the donor solution showed monophasic pattern: the steady state flux (10.9 $\mu g/cm^2$/hr) without abrupt increase of the flux. The degree of NA permeation rate decreased in a concentration-dependent manner of pMPC. TEM of skin equilibrated with water or 2% pMPC for 12 h showed that corneocytes are still cohesive and epidermis is tightly bound to dermis in 2% pMPC-treated skin, while wider separation between corneocytes and focal dilations in inter-cellular spaces were observed in water-treated skin. This result suggests that pMPC could protect the barrier property of the stratum corneum by preventing the disruption of ILB structure caused by extensive skin hydration during skin permeation study.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.245-250
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• 2004

The SBR(Sequencing Batch Reactor) process is ideally suited to treat high loading wastewater due to its high dilution rate. SBR operates by a cycle of periods consisting of filling, reacting, settling, decanting and idling. The react phases such as aeration or non-aeration, organic oxidation, nitrification, denitrification and other bio-logical reactions can be achieved in a reactor. Although the whole reactions can be achieved in a SBR with time distributing, it is hard to manage the SBR as a normal condition without recognizing a present state. The present state can be observed with nutrient sensors such as ${NH_{4}}^{+}-N$, ${NO_{2}}^{-}-N$, ${NO_{3}}^{-}-N} and ${PO_{4}}^{ 3-}-P.$ However, there is still a disadvantage to use the nutrient sensors because of their high expense and inconvenience to manage. Therefore, it is very useful to use common on-line sensors such as DO, ORP and pH, which are less expensive and more convient. Moreover, the present states and unexpected changes of SBR might be predicted by using of them. This study was conducted to get basic materials for making an inference of SBR process from ORP(oxidation reduction potential) of synthetic wastewater. The profiles of ORP, DO, and pH were under normal nitrification and denitrification were obtained to compare abnormal condition. And also, nitrite and nitrate accumulation were investigated during reaction of SBR. The bending point on ORP profile was not entirely in the low COD/NOx ratio condition. In this case, NOx was not entirely removed, and minimum ORP value was presented over -300mV. Under suitable COD/NOx ratio which complete denitrification was achieved, ORP bending point was observed and minimum ORP value was under -300m V. Under high COD/NOx ratio, ORP bending point was not detected at the first subcycle because of the fast denitrification and minimum ORP value was under -300mV at the time.