Studies on niobium anodization in the mixture of 1 M H3PO4 and 1 wt % HF at galvanostatic anodization are described here in detail. Interestingly, duplex niobium oxide consisting of thick barrier oxide and correspondingly thick porous oxide was prepared at a constant current density of higher than 0.3 mAcm −2, whereas simple porous type oxide was formed at a current density of lower than 0.3 mAcm −2. In addition, simple barrier or porous type oxide was obtained by galvanostatic anodization at a single electrolyte of either 1 M H3PO4 or 1 wt % HF, respectively. The formation mechanism of duplex type structures was ascribed to different forming voltages required for moving anions.

-In this study, we evaluated the protective effects of the hot water extract from red bean (Phaseolus angularis) against oxidative DNA and cell damage induced by hydroxyl radical. The antioxidant activities were evaluated by hydroxyl radical and hydrogen peroxide scavenging assay, and Fe 2+ -chelating assay. Although the extract with hot water didn't scavenge the hydroxyl radical, it removed and chelated hydrogen peroxide and ferrous iron necessary for the induction of hydroxyl radical by 71% and 64% at 200 μg/ml, respectively. Its protective effect on oxidative DNA damage was carried using ψX-174 RF I plasmid DNA comparing the conversion level of supercoiled form of the plasmid DNA into open-circular form and linear form and the expression level of phospho-H2AX in NIH 3T3 cells. In ψX-174 RF I plasmid DNA cleavage assay, it inhibited oxidative DNA damage by 96% at 200 μg/ml. Also, it decreased the expression of phospho-H2AX by 50.1% at 200 μg/ml. Its protective effect against oxidative cell damage was measured by MTT assay and the expression level of p21 protein in NIH 3T3 cells. In MTT assay for the protective effect against the oxidative cell damage, it inhibited the oxidative cell death and the abnormal cell growth induced by hydroxyl radical. Also, it inhibited p21 protein expression by 98% at 200 μg/ml. In conclusion, the results of the present studies indicate that hot water extract from red bean exhibits antioxidant properties and inhibit oxidative DNA damage and the cell death caused by hydroxyl radical.

The present study is aimed at examining the effects of the physico-chemical environmental factors of water systems on water bloom at Homin and Gagok reservoirs in Pungcheon-Myeon, Andong, Gyeongsangbuk-do. The mean water temperature and the contents of chlorophyll-a, total-nitrogen, total-phosphorus and phosphate-phosphorus were higher at the Gagok reservoir. On the other hand, the pH mean value was higher at the Homin reservoir. The mean value of microelements (Na, K, Mg, Fe, Si) was higher at the Gagok reservoir. The cyanobacteria which was considered to be the cause of water bloom at the two reservoirs was Microcystis aeruginosa.

Obesity is generally caused by quantitative changes in adipocyte differentiation and fat metabolism. Only a few studies have been determined the effect of red beans extract on obesity and plasma cholesterol concentration. We have been studied the functional activities of red-bean extracts including anti-oxidative effect against DNA and cell damages. Histological study including micro CT analysis showed that the accumulation of fat in hepatocytes and intestines was significantly decreased in red bean extract treated group. In addition, plasma cholesterol and triglyceride levels were decreased in blood samples. In addition, it was confirmed that the red bean extract inhibited the expression of PPARc, Fabp4 and RETN genes, which regulate total adipocyte differentiation and lipid metabolism. Red bean extract inhibits the expressions of transcription factors associated with adipocyte differentiation in a dose-dependent manner, thereby inhibiting fat accumulation and decreasing blood lipid levels in obese mice induced by high fat diet.

We investigated the effect of the turbid water on the phytoplankton community in the 4 sites of Imha reservoir. The turbidity of water was proportional to the concentrations of SiO2-Si. Therefore, as the turbidity of water grow, the concentration of SiO2-Si increased. And the both the turbidity of water and the concentrations of SiO2-Si were increased as the water run deep. The concentration of chlorophyll-a decreased as the depth of water increased. Seventy phytoplankton taxa were identified and the most abundant group was Chlorophyceae consisting of 32 taxa (46%), and Cyanophyceae and Bacillariophyceae consisted of 12 taxa (17%). And Euglenophyceae, Synulophyceae, Cryptophyceae and Dinophyceae consisted of 6 taxa (9%), 4 taxa (6%), 3 taxa (4%) and 1 taxon (1%), respectively in Imha reservoir. The concentrations of phytoplankton were increased according to the turbidity of water because of the high amount of organic nutrition which is presented with turbid water. And especially, the concentrations of nitrogen increased easily because of the weak binding to the soil particle. In conclusion, total nitrogen and SiO2-Si flowed into the Imha reservoir with soil particle, and these inorganic nutritions affect the growth of algae.

-The epidermal recovering-effects of the Cnidium officinale extract after inducing contact-dermatitis by 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) showed by measuring thickness of skin, identifying IgE amounts in plasma, and activities of anti-oxidant enzymes using histochemical and biochemical methods. By three-time applications of the extract, morphological changes of dermatitis in impaired region were recovered dramatically and shape of skin surface and thickness of epidermis were restored to be normal. Also, lipid content was recovered to the level of normal state. We suggested that extract treatment lowered a hypersensitive reaction by decreasing of IgE level in blood and restored activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase. In conclusion, we proposed that C. officinale extract might be used as natural resources for treating effectively allergic contact-dermatitis.

In this study, we evaluated whether Lunasin Enriched Soybean (LES) suppressed 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) induced allergic contact dermatitis in vivo. In the group treated with DNCB alone, erythema and hemorrhage in the skin were observed, while the application of LES after DNCB treatment modulated erythema and hemorrhage similar to the untreated group. In histopathological analysis of the skin, DNCB-treated groups showed increased skin thickness compared to the untreated groups, while the treatment of LES dose-dependently modulated skin thickness. Also, hypertrophy and hyperkeratosis of the epidermis, intracellular edema and infiltration of inflammatory cells were observed in the group treated with DNCB alone, while treatment of LES inhibited these inflammatory changes. DNCB also induced a significant up-regulation of iNOS and COX-2 expression, as compared to the untreated groups. However, the treatment of LES significantly decreased the down-regulation of iNOS and COX-2 expression, as compared to DNCB-treated groups. Also, LES reduced the IgE level in DNCB-stimulated groups. And lunasin from LES translocated the nucleus of the cells in the skin of Sprague-Dawley rats. Taken together, it is thought that LES has the potential to be used as an alternative treatment for allergic contact dermatitis.

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