Structural and Thermal Characterization of Milled Wood Lignin from Bamboo () Grown in Korea.

The structural and thermal characterization of milled wood lignin (MWL) prepared from bamboo () grown in Korea was investigated, and the results were compared with bamboo MWLs from other studies. The C formula of the bamboo MWL was CHON (OCH). The Mw and Mn of MWL were 13,000 and 4400 Da, respectively, which resulted in a polydispersity index (PDI) of 3.

Hydroxypropylation of Polyphenol-Rich Alkaline Extracts from Bark and Their Physicochemical Properties.

bark is a rich source of polyphenols, which are mainly composed of proanthocyanidins. This study aimed to utilize bark as a polyol source for bio-foam production in the future. Polyphenol-rich alkaline extracts (AEs) from bark were prepared by mild alkaline treatment and then derivatized with propylene oxide (PO).

Fe-Doped TiO-Carbonized Medium-Density Fiberboard for Photodegradation of Methylene Blue under Visible Light.

Fe-doped titanium dioxide-carbonized medium-density fiberboard (Fe/TiO-cMDF) was evaluated for the photodegradation of methylene blue (MB) under a Blue (450 nm) light emitting diode (LED) module (6 W) and commercial LED (450 nm + 570 nm) bulbs (8 W, 12 W). Adsorption under daylight/dark conditions (three cycles each) and photodegradation (five cycles) were separately conducted. Photodegradation under Blue LED followed pseudo-second-order kinetics while photodegradation under commercial LED bulbs followed pseudo-first-order kinetics.

Chemical Characterization of Kraft Lignin Prepared from Mixed Hardwoods.

Chemical characterization of kraft lignin (KL) from mixed hardwoods ( spp. from Vietnam and mixed hardwoods (mainly spp.) from Korea) was conducted for its future applications.

Essential oil from Korean Chamaecyparis obtusa leaf ameliorates respiratory activity in Sprague‑Dawley rats and exhibits protection from NF-κB-induced inflammation in WI38 fibroblast cells.

To date, Korean hinoki cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa), has been widely used for household and commercial purposes. Although the medicinal efficacy of hinoki cypress essential oil has been observed, that of the essential oil‑derived terpenes, which exhibit a mechanism that acts against lung inflammation, remains to be fully elucidated. The present study investigated the anti‑inflammatory effect of hinoki cypress leaf extracted essential oil on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‑stimulated WI38 fibroblast cells by inhibiting the nuclear factor κ‑light‑chain‑enhancer of activated B cells (NF‑κB) pathway, which exhibited lung tissue protection through the olfactory administration of essential oil in Sprague‑Dawley rats.

Proanthocyanidin-rich Pinus radiata bark extract inhibits mast cell-mediated anaphylaxis-like reactions.

Mast cells play a critical role in the effector phase of immediate hypersensitivity and allergic reactions. Pinus radiata bark extract exerts multiple biological effects and exhibits immunomodulatory and antioxidant properties. However, its role in mast cell-mediated anaphylactic reactions has not been thoroughly investigated.

The role of immobilized rennet on carbon cloth in flavor development during ripening of Gouda cheese.

Rennet-free Gouda (RFG) cheese was prepared to investigate the influence of rennet on the non-volatile and volatile profiles of cheese and was characterized by HPLC and GC/MS analyses. Chymosin, a major protease in rennet, was immobilized onto oxidized and chemically modified carbon cloth. The chymosin immobilization efficiency was 60.

Pinus radiata bark extract induces caspase-independent apoptosis-like cell death in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells.

In the present study, we investigated the anticancer activity of Pinus radiata bark extract (PRE) against MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. First, we observed that PRE induces potent cytotoxic effects in MCF-7 cells. The cell death had features of cytoplasmic vacuolation, plasma membrane permeabilization, chromatin condensation, phosphatidylserine externalization, absence of executioner caspase activation, insensitivity to z-VAD-fmk (caspase inhibitor), increased accumulation of autophagic markers, and lysosomal membrane permeabilization (LMP).

Immobilization of a mediator onto carbon cloth electrode and employment of the modified electrode to an electroenzymatic bioreactor.

5,5'-Dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB) was selected as an electron transfer mediator and was covalently immobilized onto high porosity carbon cloth to employ as a working electrode in an electrochemical NAD(+)-regeneration process, which was coupled to an enzymatic reaction. The voltammetric behavior of DTNB attached to carbon cloth resembled that of DTNB in buffered aqueous solution, and the electrocatalytic anodic current grew continuously upon addition of NADH at different concentrations, indicating that DTNB is immobilized to carbon cloth effectively and the immobilized DTNB is active as a soluble one. The bioelectrocatalytic NAD+ regeneration was coupled to the conversion of L-glutamate into alpha-ketoglutarate by L-glutamate dehydrogenase within the same microreactor.

Antioxidant activities of ethanol extracts from seeds in fresh Bokbunja (Rubus coreanus Miq.) and wine processing waste.

The antioxidant potential of ethanol extracts from defatted Bokbunja seed wastes generated during wine processing were estimated by radical scavenging abilities (DPPH(*), H(2)O(2), and O(2)(*-)), retardation of lipid oxidation, and iron ion-chelating characteristics. For comparison, ethanol extracts from seeds of fresh ripe Bokbunja fruits were also used. The ethanol extracts from the wine seed waste always showed higher scavenging activities against DPPH(*), H(2)O(2), and O(2)(*-) than those from the fresh seeds.

Wood-polyethylene composites using ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer as adhesion promoter.

Saw dust-reinforced linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) (1:1) composites were prepared by using ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVAL) as adhesion promoter to improve mechanical strength. To evaluate the optimum vinylalcohol (VA) content in EVAL, various EVAL samples containing different contents of VA were used. The tensile properties of saw dust-LLDPE composites were improved by using EVAL as adhesion promoter in place of ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVAc).