• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.29-34
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• 2018

Objectives : It is necessary to manage herbal medicines based on effectiveness by comparing the efficacy of herbal medicines by region. In this study, we compared anti-oxidative activity and marker compounds of Eucommiae Cortex by regional groups. Methods : Eucommiae Cortex grown and harvested in Gangjin, Sancheong, Yeongwol, Jangsu, and Jecheon were used. Eucommiae Cortex was extracted in distilled water at $100^{\circ}C$ for 3 hours, and filtered. filtered. Extract samples were freeze-dried at $-80^{\circ}C$. Comparison of anti-oxidant activity in Eucommiae Cortex samples from regional groups was measured in 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging, 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) free radical scavenging, and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) between regional groups of Eucommiae Cortex. In addition, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis was conducted to compare pinoresinol diglucoside concentration by regional groups. Results : HPLC analysis found that pinoresinol diglucoside concentration, widely known as the marker compound of Eucommiae Cortex, was the highest in Gangwon Yeongwol. There was a significant difference in anti-oxidative activity of Eucommiae Cortex between regional groups as discovered in DPPH, ABTS and FRAP assays. DPPH free radical scavenging was the highest in Jeonbuk Jangsu. ABTS free radical scavenging was the highest in Jeonbuk Jangsu and Chungbuck Jecheon. FRAP was the highest in Jeonbuk Jangsu. Conclusions : Although pinoresinol diglucoside concentration was high, anti-oxidative activity was not proportionately high. Pinoresinol diglucoside concentration was the highest in Gangwon Yeongwol. Anti-oxidative activity was the highest in Jeonbuk Jangsu.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.55 no.6
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• pp.791-801
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• 2022

Boil-dried concentrates (BDC) and steam-dried concentrates (SDC) were prepared from highly nutritious olive flounder Paralichthys olivaceus roes (OFR) as seafood processing by-products and their nutritional characteristics were investigated. Although SDS-PAGE profiles of the BDC and SDC proteins were similar to each other, it was observed that three of the five OFR protein bands in the 50-100 kDa range had disappeared. We also detected significant differences in the Hunter's color of the two concentrates in terms of color difference (𝚫E) and whiteness. The recovery amounts of BDC and SDC prepared from 100 g of OFR were 18.6 and 21.4 g, respectively, with respective protein contents of 67.7% and 68.9%. The main amino acids of OFR and concentrate proteins were valine, leucine, lysine, arginine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid and alanine, whereas major minerals were sulfur, potassium, sodium and phosphorus, the amounts of which in concentrates had been significantly reduced. We established that by sterilizing, inactivating endogenous enzymes, and inhibiting microbial growth, the cook-dried process contributes to enhancing the concentration and storage stability of nutrients by reducing water activity, volume, and weight. Accordingly, we suggest that concentrates (BDC and SDC) prepared from OFR have considerable potential as nutritionally fortified materials.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.25-39
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• 2021

Objectives: Ssanghwa-tang (SHT) is a traditional herbal formula comprising nine medicinal herbs, and it is used for reducing fatigue in Korea. SHT exerts various effects such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-aging activities, and protection against acute hepatotoxicity. However, the genotoxicity of SHT has not yet been established. Methods: Ten components were identified in SHT water extract by using high-performance liquid chromatography analysis. We assessed the genotoxicity of SHT by using bacterial reverse mutation (Ames test), chromosome aberration, and in vivo micronucleus tests. Results: The contents of paeoniflorin, glycyrrhizin, and liquiritin apioside in SHT were 15.57, 6.94, and 3.48 mg/g extract, respectively. SHT did not increase the revertant colonies of Salmonella typhimurium and Escherichia coli strains in the presence or absence of metabolic activity. Although SHT did not induce structurally abnormal chromosomes in Chinese hamster lung (CHL) cells in the presence of metabolic activity, the number of structurally aberrated chromosomes increased dose-dependently in the absence of metabolic activity. In the in vivo micronucleus test, SHT did not affect the formation of micronuclei compared with the vehicle control. Conclusions: Genotoxicity of SHT was not observed in the Ames test and in vivo micronucleus test. However, based on the results of chromosome aberration test, it can be presumed that SHT has the potential to induce genotoxicity because it induced structurally abnormal chromosomes in the absence of metabolic activity.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.9-17
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• 2022

Objective : In modern society, liver diseases such as liver fibrosis are on the rise as inflammation and wound healing processes of the liver are repeated due to factors such as drinking, smoking, and stress. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of Saenggangeonbi-tang (SGGBT) on thioacetamide (TAA)-induced liver fibrosis. Methods : The mice were divided into 4 groups for examination (n=6): Normal group (Nor), distilled water-treated liver fibrosis mice (Con), silymarin 50 mg/kg-treated liver fibrosis mice (Sily), SGGBT 200 mg/kg-treated liver fibrosis mice (S200). Liver fibrosis was established in the mice via TAA for 8 weeks (1 week 100 mg/kg, 2,3 weeks 200 mg/kg, 4-8 weeks 400 mg/kg, three times a week, intraperitoneal injection) and they were administered silymarin and SGGBT (every day, oral administration) with the TAA. Results : SGGBT significantly decreased the levels of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferanse, ammonia, and myeloperoxidase in serum increased by liver fibrosis. As a result of confirming H&E and MT staining, it was confirmed that SGGBT reduced damage and inflammatory cell infiltration in liver tissue, and alleviated changes in collagen fiber deposition and histological fibrosis. Also, it was confirmed through PAS staining that it reduced glycogen deposition in liver tissue. In addition, SGGBT significantly decreased the NADPH oxidases as well as significantly modulated the expression of MMP-2 and TIMP-2. Conclusions : These results suggest that SGGBT regulates the expression of MMP/TIMP protein through inhibition of oxidative stress and alleviates liver fibrosis by reducing collagen and glycogen deposition in liver tissue.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.489-502
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• 2023

Urban floods pose significant challenges to cities worldwide, driven by the interplay between urbanization and climate change. This review examines recent studies of urban floods to understand their causes, impacts, and potential mitigation strategies. Urbanization, with its increase in impermeable surfaces and altered drainage patterns, disrupts natural water flow, exacerbating surface runoff during intense rainfall events. The impacts of urban floods are far-reaching, affecting lives, infrastructure, the economy, and the environment. Loss of life, property damage, disruptions to critical services, and environmental consequences underscore the urgency of effective urban flood management. To mitigate urban floods, integrated flood management strategies are crucial. Sustainable urban planning, green infrastructure, and improved drainage systems play pivotal roles in reducing flood vulnerabilities. Early warning systems, emergency response planning, and community engagement are essential components of flood preparedness and resilience. Looking to the future, climate change projections indicate increased flood risks, necessitating resilience and adaptation measures. Advances in research, data collection, and modeling techniques will enable more accurate flood predictions, thus guiding decision-making. In conclusion, urban flooding demands urgent attention and comprehensive strategies to protect lives, infrastructure, and the economy.

• International conference on construction engineering and project management
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• 2009.05a
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• pp.272-275
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• 2009

Carbon finance is the investment in Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emission reduction projects in developing countries and countries with economies in transition within the framework of the Kyoto Protocol's Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) or Joint Implementation (JI) and with creation of financial instruments, i.e., carbon credits, which are tradable in carbon market. The additional revenue generated from carbon credits will increase the bankability of projects by reducing the risks of commercial lending or grant finance. Meantime, it has also demonstrated numerous opportunities for collaborating across sectors, and has served as a catalyst in bringing climate issues to bear in projects relating to rural electrification, renewable energy, energy efficiency, urban infrastructure, waste management, pollution abatement, forestry, and water resource management. Establishing additionality is essential for successful CDM project development. One of the key steps is the investment analysis. As guided by UNFCCC, financial indicators such as IRR, NPV, DSCR etc are most commonly used in both Option II & Option III. However, economic indicator such as Economic Internal Rate of Return(EIRR) are often overlooked in Option III even it might be more suitable for the project. This could be due to the difficulties in economic analysis. Although Asian Development Bank(ADB) has given guidelines in evaluating EIRR, there are still large amount of works have to be carried out in estimating the economic, financial, social and environmental benefits in the host country. This paper will present a case study of a CDM development of a 18 MW hydro power plant with carbon finance option in central Vietnam. The estimation of respective factors in EIRR, such as Willingness to Pay(WTP), shadow price etc, will be addressed with the adjustment to Vietnam local provincial factors. The significance of carbon finance to Vietnam renewable energy development will also be addressed.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.297-304
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• 2023

Iron oxide (Fe₂O₃) nanoclusters exhibit significant potential in the biomedical and pharmaceutical fields due to their strong magnetic properties, stability in solutions, and compatibility with living systems. They excel in magnetic separation processes, displaying high responsiveness to external magnetic fields. In contrast to conventional Fe2O3 nanoparticles that can aggregate in aqueous solutions due to their ferrimagnetic properties, these nanoclusters, composed of multiple nanoparticles, maintain their magnetic traits even when scaled to hundreds of nanometers. In this study, we develop a simple method using solvothermal synthesis to precisely control the size of nanoclusters. By adjusting precursor materials and reducing agents, we successfully control the particle sizes within the range of 90 to 420 nm. Our study not only enhances the understanding of nanocluster creation but also offers ways to improve their properties for applications such as magnetic separation. This is supported by our experimental results highlighting their size-dependent magnetic response in water. This study has the potential to advance both the knowledge and practical utilization of Fe₂O₃ nanoclusters in various applications.

• Journal of Medicine and Life Science
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.83-88
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• 2023

Metal artifacts cause inaccuracies in target delineation, radiation treatment planning, and delivery when computed tomography images of a radiotherapy patient implanted with a high-density material in the body are acquired. In this study, we investigated the possibility of obtaining improved images in clinical trials through metal artifact reduction using silicon impression materials without the need for a specific metal artifact reduction algorithm. A silicon impression material exhibiting a constant Hounsfield unit (HU) value according to the mixing ratio of the catalysts and bases was selected. The material did not exhibit any change in weight or shape over time. For both the instances of inserting the metal material and applying the silicon impression material, the HU value and dose were compared with homogeneous cases filled with water-equivalent materials. When the silicon impression material was applied to the region where the high-density material was located, the HU value was within 5% and the dose was within 3% compared with those of the homogeneous cases. In this study, the silicon impression materials reduced metal artifacts. However, because the composition, shape, size, and location of high-density materials differ, further studies are required to consider these factors in clinical applications.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.356-362
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• 2023

The 2'-fucosyllactose (2'-FL) is the richest components in a human milk oligosaccharide. Several studies have reported that 2'-FL has beneficial effects in infants. However, there are few studies on its immune-enhancing effects. This research aimed to examine the immune-enhancing effect of 2'-FL on immunosuppression by cyclophosphamide (CCP) in ICR mice. Mice were orally administered distilled water or 0.5 mg/kg B.W. 2'-FL for 14 days. An immunocompromised mouse model was induced using CCP 80 mg/kg B.W. at 12-14 days. Using the CCP had effects on reducing their body weight, organ weight, spleen index, natural killer (NK) cell activity, and cytokines concentration and expression. This study also used concanavalin A-mediated T-cell proliferation to verify the immune-enhancing effects in the sample. Body weight, spleen index, organ weight, and cytokine levels were measured to estimate the immune-enhancing effects. The body weight at 14 days tended to increase, and the spleen weight and index significantly increased in the 2'-FL group compared to the CCP group. The NK cell activity increased in the 2'-FL group compared to the CCP group, but there was no significant difference. The concentration of interleukin (IL)-2 tended to recover in the 2'-FL group compared to the CCP group. The 2'-FL group showed a significant increase of IL-10 and IFN-gamma concentration compared to the CCP group. In addition, there was a trend of increased IL-10 mRNA expression compared to the CCP group. These results revealed that 2'-FL improved CCP-induced immunosuppression, suggesting that 2'-FL may have the potential to enhance the immune system.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.61 no.1
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• pp.97-108
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• 2023

Two carbonaceous adsorbents CAT and CARBOPAL were tested for reducing the concentration of the three herbicides in water: 2,4-D (2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid), TCP (2,4,6-trichlorophenol) and metolachlor. Textural and chemical characterization of the adsorbents include nitrogen isotherms, FTIR, titration and thermogravimetric analyses. Adsorption was studied in discontinuous adsorption experiments at different pH values. The experimental adsorption isotherms data were fitted to four theoretical models. Adsorbent characterization reveals that CAT has higher micropore area, lower pore diameter and lower acidity than CARBOPAL. The adsorption is a second-order process and the isotherms best fitted to Sips model. The efficiency of the process depends mainly on the charge of the adsorbate for TCP and 2,4-D, but it depends on the charge of the surface for metolachlor. Adsorption capacity is higher on CAT for 2,4-D and TCP (small molecules), and it is higher on CARBOPAL for metolachlor (large molecules). Theoretical calculations clearly support this assumption.