Intergenerational Transmission of Trauma in The Sound of One Hand Clapping

( Bingjie Liu ),( Bok-ki Lee ) 대한영어영문학회 2023 영어영문학연구 Vol.49 No.2

Trauma is widely believed to be intergenerational, while Van Alphen believes that trauma is essentially different between survivors of traumatic events and their children. The second generation of trauma groups has been surrounded by traumatic culture since they entered the world, so they have lost the possibility of understanding and reconciling with traumatic events. That is why the second generation suffers more. In order to recover from the trauma, they need to restore their identity to their parents. Taking the novel The Sound of One Hand Clapping as an example, this paper makes a case study to follow the process of Sonja, representative of the second generation. Sonja has been fragmented by trauma and finally reconciles with her parents. I will argue from Sonja’s case that the hidden history must be re-exposed and fully understood to repair the wound, which is necessary and achievable. (Chonbuk National University)

Identity and Trauma in Minjin Lee’s Pachinko

( Bingjie Liu ),( Bok-ki Lee ) 21세기영어영문학회 2023 영어영문학21 Vol.36 No.4

Minjin Lee’s Pachinko unravels the characters’ life trajectories, mirroring the evolution, impact, dissemination, healing, and reconciliation of a national trauma. This paper meticulously explores the origins and development of Noa’s second-generation trauma, meticulously tracing the journey that led to his eventual collapse and tragic suicide. Noa confronted both an anxiety crisis and a mourning crisis, plunging him into the abyss of an identity crisis. Concurrently, his adoption of Japanese mannerisms embodies a hybrid strategy, actively dismantling the theoretical foundations of discrimination against Zainichi Koreans in Japanese society. This process of deconstruction serves as a pivotal catalyst in the ultimate reconciliation of the national trauma

A Novel Method to Improve the Dispersibility of Silicon Nitride Powders in Aqueous Media

Bingjie Xu,Mengxing Li,Qi Chen,Pengfei Liu,Baosong Xu,Ben Qiu,Liang Xu,Zhao Han 성균관대학교(자연과학캠퍼스) 성균나노과학기술원 2019 NANO Vol.14 No.9

The present study describes a novel method to improve the dispersibility of silicon nitride powders in aqueous media. Specifically, a new Si3N4@g-C3N4 core–shell composite material was synthesized via annealing the mixture of silicon nitride and melamine under a nitrogen atmosphere using heating method. The effects of various initial mass ratios of Si3N4 and melamine on the structure and dispersibility of the composite were systematically investigated. The results of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and transmission electron microscope demonstrated that as-obtained Si3N4@g-C3N4 composite powders possess the core–shell structure, whereas the zeta potential and sedimentation analysis showed that they exhibit good dispersion in aqueous media. Furthermore, the colloidal dispersion of the composite powders is most stable when the initial mass ratio of Si3N4 and melamine is 100 : 3. The coated g-C3N4 could be completely removed in a cryogenic nitrogen atmosphere. The proposed process is expected to provide novel avenues for the study of dispersion of other inorganic powders.

Ginseng improves cognitive deficit via the RAGE/NF-kB pathway in advanced glycation end product-induced rats

Xiaobin Tan,Junfei Gu,Bingjie Zhao,Shuyuan Wang,Jiarui Yuan,Chunfei Wang,Juan Chen,Jiping Liu,Liang Feng,Xiaobin Jia 고려인삼학회 2015 Journal of Ginseng Research Vol.39 No.2

Background: Ginseng, the root of Panax ginseng (PG), is used widely as a herbal medicine to prevent andtreat various diseases. Panax ginseng has pharmacological effects on neurodegenerative diseases such asAlzheimer’s disease (AD). The present study evaluated the neuroprotective effects of PG and its possibleneuroprotective mechanisms in advanced glycation end product (AGE)-induced AD in a rat model. Methods: Advanced glycation end products were injected bilaterally into the CA3 region of the rats’brains. The Morris water maze test and step-down type passive avoidance test were performed toevaluate their memory and cognitive abilities. The oxidation indexes in the hippocampus were detected. Immunohistochemistry was conducted to visualize the receptors for advanced glycation end products(RAGEs) and nuclear factor-kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cell (NF-kB). Results: Behavioral results showed that PG (1 g/kg, 0.5 g/kg, and 0.25 g/kg) significantly shortened theescape latency, remarkably increased the number of crossing times, significantly decreased the numberof errors, and prolonged the latency in rats with AGE-induced AD. Panax ginseng also significantlyreduced the malondialdehyde level, increased the glutathione content, and increased superoxide dismutaseactivity in the hippocampus. Panax ginseng significantly decreased the expression of RAGE andNF-kB. The blockade of anti-RAGE antibody could significantly reduce AGE-induced impairments andregulate these expressions. Conclusion: Our results demonstrated that PG significantly inhibits AGE-induced memory impairmentand attenuates Alzheimer-like pathophysiological changes. These neuroprotective effects of PG may beassociated with the RAGE/NF-kB pathway. Our results provided the experimental basis for applying PG inpreventing and treating AD.

Anaerobic membrane bioreactors for antibiotic wastewater treatment: Performance and membrane fouling issues

Cheng, Dongle,Ngo, Huu Hao,Guo, Wenshan,Liu, Yiwen,Chang, Soon Woong,Nguyen, Dinh Duc,Nghiem, Long Duc,Zhou, Junliang,Ni, Bingjie Elsevier 2018 Bioresource technology Vol.267 No.-

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>Antibiotic wastewater has become a major concern due to the toxicity and recalcitrance of antibiotics. Anaerobic membrane bioreactors (AnMBRs) are considered alternative technology for treating antibiotic wastewater because of their advantages over the conventional anaerobic processes and aerobic MBRs. However, membrane fouling remains the most challenging issue in the AnMBRs’ operation and this limits their application. This review critically discusses: (i) antibiotics removal and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in different types of AnMBRs and the impact of antibiotics on membrane fouling and (ii) the integrated AnMBRs systems for fouling control and removal of antibiotics. The presence of antibiotics in AnMBRs could aggravate membrane fouling by influencing fouling-related factors (i.e., sludge particle size, extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), soluble microbial products (SMP), and fouling-related microbial communities). Conclusively, integrated AnMBR systems can be a practical technology for antibiotic wastewater treatment.</P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> Removal of antibiotics and their effects on membrane fouling in AnMBRs are reviewed. </LI> <LI> AnMBRs are efficient for treating antibiotic wastewater mainly by biodegradation. </LI> <LI> The presence of antibiotics in AnMBRs will aggravate membrane fouling. </LI> <LI> Integrating AnMBRs with biofilm carriers and BES is efficient in fouling control. </LI> </UL> </P> <P><B>Graphical abstract</B></P> <P>[DISPLAY OMISSION]</P>

Ginseng improves cognitive deficit via the RAGE/NF-κB pathway in advanced glycation end product-induced rats

Tan, Xiaobin,Gu, Junfei,Zhao, Bingjie,Wang, Shuyuan,Yuan, Jiarui,Wang, Chunfei,Chen, Juan,Liu, Jiping,Feng, Liang,Jia, Xiaobin The Korean Society of Ginseng 2015 Journal of Ginseng Research Vol.39 No.2

Background: Ginseng, the root of Panax ginseng (PG), is used widely as a herbal medicine to prevent and treat various diseases. Panax ginseng has pharmacological effects on neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). The present study evaluated the neuroprotective effects of PG and its possible neuroprotective mechanisms in advanced glycation end product (AGE)-induced AD in a rat model. Methods: Advanced glycation end products were injected bilaterally into the CA3 region of the rats' brains. The Morris water maze test and step-down type passive avoidance test were performed to evaluate their memory and cognitive abilities. The oxidation indexes in the hippocampus were detected. Immunohistochemistry was conducted to visualize the receptors for advanced glycation end products (RAGEs) and nuclear factor-kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cell (NF-${\kappa}B$). Results: Behavioral results showed that PG (1 g/kg, 0.5 g/kg, and 0.25 g/kg) significantly shortened the escape latency, remarkably increased the number of crossing times, significantly decreased the number of errors, and prolonged the latency in rats with AGE-induced AD. Panax ginseng also significantly reduced the malondialdehyde level, increased the glutathione content, and increased superoxide dismutase activity in the hippocampus. Panax ginseng significantly decreased the expression of RAGE and NF-${\kappa}B$. The blockade of anti-RAGE antibody could significantly reduce AGE-induced impairments and regulate these expressions. Conclusion: Our results demonstrated that PG significantly inhibits AGE-induced memory impairment and attenuates Alzheimer-like pathophysiological changes. These neuroprotective effects of PG may be associated with the RAGE/NF-${\kappa}B$ pathway. Our results provided the experimental basis for applying PG in preventing and treating AD.

Self‑assembled graphene quantum dots‑Co3O4 nanocomposite for highly efficient oxygen evolution reaction electrocatalyst

Ruibin Guo,Mengqi Fang,Qianglong Chen,Nan Wang,Bingjie Wang,Nijuan Liu,Zunli Mo 한국탄소학회 2023 Carbon Letters Vol.33 No.6

A novel kind of self-assembled graphene quantum dots-Co3O4 (GQDs-Co3O4) nanocomposite was successfully manufactured through a hydrothermal approach and used as an extremely effectual oxygen evolution reaction (OER) electrocatalyst. The characterization of morphology with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed that Co3O4 nanosheets combined with graphene quantum dots (GQDs) had a new type of hexagonal lamellar selfassembly structure. The GQDs-Co3O4 electrocatalyst showed enhanced electrochemical catalytic properties in an alkaline solution. The start potential of the OER was 0.543 V (vs SCE) in 1 M KOH solution, and 0.577 V (vs SCE) in 0.1 M KOH solution correspondingly. The current density of 10 mA cm? 2 had been attained at the overpotential of 321 mV in 1 M KOH solution and 450 mV in 0.1 M KOH solution. Furthermore, the current density can reach 171 mA cm? 2 in 1 M KOH solution and 21.4 mA cm? 2 in 0.1 M KOH solution at 0.8 V. Moreover, the GQDs-Co3O4 nanocomposite also maintained an ideal constancy in an alkaline solution with only a small deterioration of the activity (7%) compared with the original value after repeating potential cycling for 1000 cycles.