• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.431-438
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• 2002

Background : In order to investigate the usefulness and safety of Natural Stent, we performed this study in a canine model of tracheal stenosis induced using Nd-YAG laser. Materials and Methods : After tracheal stenosis was induced in 12 Mongrel dogs using Nd-YAG laser, either Dumon (n=6) or Natural (n=6) stent was inserted into the trachea. To assess the degree of stent migration and mucostasis, bronchoscopy was performed every week for 4 weeks, after which all stents were removed. One week after stent removal, tracheal stenosis was evaluated by bronchoscopy. Results : The degree of stent migration was not different between the dogs with Dumon stent ($3.0{\pm}0.8$) and those with Natural ($2.0{\pm}1.0$), nor was the degree of mucostasis, at Dumon ($1.7{\pm}0.5$) and Natural Stent ($1.5{\pm}0.6$), respectively. One week after stent removal, the degree of tracheal stenosis was not different between the Dumon ($1.5{\pm}0.5$) and the Natural group ($1.0{\pm}0.4$). In addition, there was no death and the degree of tracheal stenosis remained always within the safe limit (less than 2.0) in all animals. Conclusion : In a canine model of tracheal stenosis induced using Nd-YAG laser, the usefulness and safety of Natural Stent were similar to those of Dumon Stent. A clinical trial is necessary to document the usefulness and safety of Natural Stent in patients with tracheal stenosis.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.822-832
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• 2023

This study investigates the effectiveness of CA (controlled atmosphere) containers in maintaining the freshness of exported melons. The melons were harvested on June 5, 2023, in the Yeongam area of Jeollanam-do, Korea. The CA container was loaded with melon samples packed in an export box. The temperature inside the container was set at 4℃, while the gas composition was set at 5% oxygen, 12% carbon dioxide, and 83% nintrogen. Following two weeks of simulated transportation, quality analysis was conducted at 10℃. The melons were inoculated with spore suspensions, and the decay rate was determined to investigate the effect of the gas composition inside the CA container on suppressing the occurrence of Penicillium oxalicum in melons. The results were compared with a Reefer container set at the same temperature. The samples transported in the CA container exhibited lower weight loss. The melon pulp softening, respiration rate, and ethylene production were slower using the CA container. Moreover, the decay rate during the distribution period in the CA container was lower than in the Reefer container. In contrast, the firmness of melons transported in the Reefer container decreased significantly (from 9.03N to 5.18N) immediately after transportation. The soluble solid content (SSC) of melons transported in the Reefer container also decreased rapidly. The results suggested that the CA container is the optimal export container for maintaining the freshness of melons.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.8-15
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• 2003

If contaminated river water is sprayed over a floodplain, the microbial processes can simultaneously remove organic matter and nitrogen during the infiltration through the sediment profile. The effect of rhizosphere on the removal of organic matter and nitrogen from contaminated river water was investigated using floodplain lysimeters. River water was sprayed at a rate of $68.0L\;m^{-2}\;d^{-1}$ on the top of the lysimeters with or without weed vegetation on the surface, Concentrations of $NO_3$, $NH_4$ and dissolved oxygen (DO), and chemical oxygen demand (COD) and Eh in water were measured as functions of depth for 4 weeks after the system reached a steady state water flow and biological reactions. A significant reductive-condition for denitrification developed in the 30-cm surface profile of lysimeters with weeds. At a depth of 30 cm, COD and $NO_3$-N concentration decreased to 5.2 and $0.9mg\;L^{-1}$ from the respective influent concentrations of 18.2 and $9.8mg\;L^{-1}$. The removal of $NO_3$ in lysimeters with weeds was significantly higher than in those without weeds. Vegetation on the top was assumed to remove $NO_3$ directly by absorption and to create more favorable conditions for denitrification by supply of organic matter and rapid $O_2$ consumption, In the lysimeters without weeds, further removal of $NO_3$ was limited by the lack of an electron donor, i.e. organic matter. These results suggest that the filtration through native floodplains, which include rhizospheres of vegetation on the surface, can be effective for the treatment of contaminated river water.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.352-366
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• 2015

The purpose of this study is to offer the basic data to the habitat conservation and management by surveying and analysing the ecological characteristics such as the flora, vegetation structure and soil of Rhodotypos scandens habitat. The flora were summarized as 131 taxa including 57 families, 99 genera, 107 species, 1 subspecies, 17 varieties and 6 forms. The life forms grouped as in the follows; the megaphanerophytes(MM) were 21 taxa, 24 taxa of the microphanerophytes(M), 30 taxa of nanophanerophytes(N), 6 taxa of chamaiphytes(Ch), 20 taxa of hemicryptophytes(H), 17 taxa of geophytes(G), 12 taxa of therophytes(Th) and 1 taxa of hydrophytes(HH). The present conditions of communities were 8 types including Zelkova serrata, Quercus aliena, Ulmus parvifolia, Rhamnella frangulioides, Castanea crenata, Albizia julibrissin, Celtis sinensis and Robinia pseudoacacia. In case of the dominant species by layers, the tree layer species were Zelkova serrata, Quercus aliena, Ulmus parvifolia, Castanea crenata, Albizia julibrissin, Celtis sinensis and Robinia pseudoacacia, and the subtree layer species were Rhamnella frangulioides, Q. aliena, Z. serrata, A. julibrissin, U. parvifolia and Broussonetia kazinoki. The shrub layer species was Rhodotypos scandens. In the results of analyzing the diversity index, $H^{\prime}{_{max}}$ from 1.691 to 2.610, from 2.197 to 3.466 in H'max, from 0.646 to 0.903 in J' and from 0.097 to 0.354 in D. In the results of analysing the soil, there showed that acidity was 5.6, 0.5dS/m of electrical conductivity(EC), 59.1mg/kg of available $P_2O_5$, 49.7% of organic matter content, $0.4cmol^+/kg$ of exchangeable $K^+$, $13.5cmol^+/kg$ of exchangeable $Ca^{2+}$, $3.3cmol^+/kg$ of exchangeable $Mg^{2+}$.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.124-134
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• 2005

To investigate the exposure effect of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), we measured airborne total PAHs as an external dose, urinary 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP) as an internal dose of PAHs exposure, and analyzed the relationship between urinary 1-OHP concentration and PAHs exposure. The study population contained 44 workers in steel-pipe coating and paint manufacture industries. The airborne PAHs was obtained during survey day, and urine were sampled at the end of shift. Personal information on age, body weight, height, eniployment duration, smoking habit, and alcohol consumption was obtained by a structured questionnaire. Airborne PAHs were analyzed by the gas chromatograph with mass selective detector. Urinary 1-OHP levels were analyzed by the high performance liquid chromatograph with ultraviolet wavelength detector. For statistical estimation, t-test, ${\chi}^2$-test, analysis of variance, correlation analysis, arid regression analysis were executed by SPSS/PC (Windows version 10). The mean of environmental total PAHs was $87.8{\pm}7.81{\mu}g/m^3$. The mean concentration ($526.5{\pm}2.85{\mu}g/m^3$) of workers in steel-pipe coating industries using coal tar enamel was the higher than that ($17.5{\pm}3.36{\mu}g/m^3$) of workers in paint manufacture industries using coal tar paint. The mean of urinary 1-OHP concentration ($51.63{\pm}3.144{\mu}\;mol/mol$ creatinine) of workers in steel-pipe coating industries was the higher than that ($2.33{\pm}4.709{\mu}\;mol/mol$ creatinine) of workers in paint manufacture industries. The mean of urinary 1-OHP concentration of smokers was the higher than that of non-smokers. There was significant correlation between the urinary concentration of 1-OHP and the environmental concentration of PAHs (r=O.S48, p<0.001), pyrene(r=0.859, p<0.001), and urinary cotinine (r=0.324, p<0.05). The regression equation between the urinary concentration of 1-OHP in ${\mu}g/g$ creatinine($C_{1-OHP}$) and airborne concentration of PAHs (or pyrene) in ${\mu}g/m^3$ ($C_{PAHs}$ or Cpyrene) is: Log ($C_{1-OHP}$)=-0.650+0.889×Log($C_{PAHs}$), where $R^2=0.694$ and n=38 for p<0.001.Log ($C_{1-OHP}$)=1.087+0.707${\times}$Log(Cpyrene), where $R^2=0.713$ and n=38 for p<0.001. From the results of stepwise multiple regression analysis about 1-OHP, significant independents were total PAHs and urinary cotinine (adjusted $R^2=0.743$, p<0.001). In this study, there were significant correlation between the urinary concentration of 1-OHP and the airborne concentration of PAHs. The urinary 1-OHP was effective index as a biomarker of airborne PAHs in workplace. But it was influenced by non-occupational PAHs source, smoking.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.87-98
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• 2016

During the period between July 3 and 27 of 2009, water samples were collected from the Russian coast at a depth of 30m from 26 stations (including Ulleung and Japan basins) onboard the Russian survey vessel R/V Lavrentyev following 4 lines (D, R, E, and A). The samples were analyzed for nutrients and chlorophyll a contents. All parameters exhibited higher values in warm waters than in cold waters ($NH_4:1.8-fold$, $PO_4:1.8-fold$, $SiO_2:1.2-fold$, and chlorophyll-${\alpha}$:1.9-fold), except nitrates, which was 1.4-fold higher in cold waters than in warm waters. The horizontal distribution of ammonia, phosphate, and chlorophyll-${\alpha}$ was very similar to each other and showed the highest values in the waters near Russia, where a upwelling influence of cold current and bottom water prevails, while relatively low distribution was observed at the Ulleung Basin. On the other hand, nitrates showed the highest concentration at the Ulleung Basin, which is under the direct influence of the Tsushima warm water, and showed a gradual decrease northward. The N/P ratio showed the highest value in the Tsushima middle water, rather than in the North Korean Cold Water, the Tsushima Warm Water was the primary source of nitrate flow into the East Sea. However, the average concentration of phosphate in the warm waters was < $0.2{\mu}M$, thereby limiting phytoplankton growth, while a high concentration of phosphate in cold waters showed a direct correlation with chlorophyll-${\alpha}$. The results of principal component analysis for the identification of primary factors that influence the marine environment showed that principal component I was water temperature and principal component II was influenced chlorophyll-${\alpha}$ and nutrients. Therefore, Study area has greatest influenced by water temperature, and clearly distinct cold and warm water regions were observed in the East Sea.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 1973

In order to obtain the basic informations on the production of single cell protein from ethanol, 145 yeast strains utilizing ethanol as a sole carbon source were isolated from 32 soil samples in Korea. A yeast strain showing the highest cell yield among the isolated strains was selected and identified. The optimum culture condition, utilization of other carbon sources and the cultural characteristics for the selected yeast, and the chemical analysis of the yeast cell composition, and utilization of ethanol by the selected yeast were investigated. All the culture was carried out in the shaking flasks. The results obtained were as follows: 1. The selected yeast strain was identified as Debaryomyces nicotianae-SNU 72. 2. The optimum composition of the medium for the selected yeast is : Ethanol 40 ml, Urea 0.5 g, Potassium phosphate (dibasic) 0.5 g, Ammoium phosphate (monobasic) 0.15 g, Magnesium sulfate 0.05 g, Calcium chloride 0.01g, Yeast extract 0.005 g, Tap water 1000 ml. 3. The optimum pH was 5.0-5.5, the optimum temperature $30-33^{\circ}C$ and the aerobic state was unimportant. 4. Utilization of methanol, n-propanol, iso-propanol, n-butanol, iso-butanol, tert-amyl alcohol and acetic acid by the selected yeast was very weak. So substitution of the subtrate was thought to be impossible. 5. Studies on the propagation of the yeast cells showed that the lag phase of the yeast cells lasted 16 hours, and the logarithmic growth phase extended 16 to 28 hours. The specific growth rate was about $0.19\;hr^{-1}$ and the doubling time was 3.6 hours during the logarithmic growth phase. 6. As the result of the chemical analysis of the dry yeast cells, the content rate of the crude protein was 55.19 %, the content of others was similar to the average content of the yeast component. 7. After 34 hours cultivation, under the optimum culture condition investigated, the dry cell yield against the amount of the added ethanol was 53.4 % (W/V%), the dry cell yield against the amount of the utilized ethanol was 73.6 % (W/V%), the evaporation rate of ethanol was about 19.1 %.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.11
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• pp.6721-6726
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• 2013

Background: Changes in DNA methylation patterns are believed to be early events in hepatocarcinogenesis. A better understanding of methylation states and how they correlate with disease progression will aid in finding potential strategies for early detection of HCC. The aim of our study was to analyze the methylation frequency of tumor suppressor genes, P14, P15, and P73, and a mismatch repair gene (O6MGMT) in HCV related chronic liver disease and HCC to identify candidate epigenetic biomarkers for HCC prediction. Materials and Methods: 516 Egyptian patients with HCV-related liver disease were recruited from Kasr Alaini multidisciplinary HCC clinic from April 2010 to January 2012. Subjects were divided into 4 different clinically defined groups - HCC group (n=208), liver cirrhosis group (n=108), chronic hepatitis C group (n=100), and control group (n=100) - to analyze the methylation status of the target genes in patient plasma using EpiTect Methyl qPCR Array technology. Methylation was considered to be hypermethylated if >10% and/or intermediately methylated if >60%. Results: In our series, a significant difference in the hypermethylation status of all studied genes was noted within the different stages of chronic liver disease and ultimately HCC. Hypermethylation of the P14 gene was detected in 100/208 (48.1%), 52/108 (48.1%), 16/100 (16%) and 8/100 (8%) among HCC, liver cirrhosis, chronic hepatitis and control groups, respectively, with a statistically significant difference between the studied groups (p-value 0.008). We also detected P15 hypermethylation in 92/208 (44.2%), 36/108 (33.3%), 20/100 (20%) and 4/100 (4%), respectively (p-value 0.006). In addition, hypermethylation of P73 was detected in 136/208 (65.4%), 72/108 (66.7%), 32/100 (32%) and 4/100 (4%) (p-value <0.001). Also, we detected O6MGMT hypermethylation in 84/208 (40.4%), 60/108 (55.3%), 20/100 (20%) and 4/100 (4%), respectively (p value <0.001. Conclusions: The epigenetic changes observed in this study indicate that HCC tumors exhibit specific DNA methylation signatures with potential clinical applications in diagnosis and prognosis. In addition, methylation frequency could be used to monitor whether a patient with chronic hepatitis C is likely to progress to liver cirrhosis or even HCC. We can conclude that methylation processes are not just early events in hepatocarcinogenesis but accumulate with progression to cancer.

• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.112-122
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• 1993

Since more than 50${\%}$ of annual precipitation in Korea falls during Changma, the rainy season of early summer, and Late Changma, the rainy season of late summer, forcasting the onset days Changmas, and the amount related rainfalls would be necessary not only for agriculture but also for flood-control. In this study the authors attempted to build a prediction model for the forecast of the onset date of Changmas. The onset data of each Changma was derived out of daily rainfall data of 47 stations for 30 years(1961~1990) and weather maps over East Asia. Each station represent any of the 47 districts of local forecast under the Korea Meteorological Administration. The average onset dates of Changma during the period was from 21 through 26 June. The dates show a tendency to be delayed in El Ni${\~{n}}o years while they come earlier than the average in La Nina years. In 1982, the year of El Ni${\~{n}}o, the date was 9 Julu, two weeks late compared with the average. The relation of sea surface temperature(SST) over Pacific and Northern hemispheric 500mb height to the Changma onset dates was analyzed for the prediction model by polynomial regression. The onset date of Changma over Korea was correlated with SST in May(SST${_(5)}{^\circ}$C) of the district (8${^\circ}$~12${^\circ}S, 136${^\circ}~148${^\circ}W)of equatirial middle Pacific and the 500mb height in March (MB${_(3)}$"\;"m)over the district of the notrhern Hudson Bay. The relation between this two elements can be expressed by the regression: Onset=5.888SST${_5}"\;"+"\;"0.047MB${_(3)}$"\;"-251.241. This equation explains 77${\%}$ of variances at the 0.01${\%}$ singificance level. The onset dates of Late Changma come in accordance with the degeneration of the Subtro-pical High over northern Pacific. They were 18 August in average for the period showing positive correlation(r=0.71) with SST in May(SST)${_(i5)}{^\circ}$C) over district of IndiaN Ocean near west coast of Australia (24${^\circ}$~32${^\circ}$S, 104${^\circ}$~112${^\circ}$E), but negativ e with SST in May(SST${_(p5)}{^\circ}$ over district (12${^\circ}$~20${^\circ}$S,"\;"136${^\circ}$~148${^\circ}$W)of equatorial mid Pacific (r=-0.70) and with the 500mb height over district of northwestern Siberia (r=-0.62). The prediction model for Late Changma can be expressed by the regression: Onset=706.314-0.080 MB-3.972SST${_(p5)}+3.896 SST${_(i5)}, which explains 64${\%}$ of variances at the 0.01${\%}$ singificance level.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.72-77
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• 1985

This study was performed to obtain some basic informations about the effects of irrigation water on the growth of rice plant. The water quality was surveyed at six pumping stations from the Nam river tributary to the downstream of Nakdong river, and sampling sites of soil and plant were five paddy fields near-by each station during rice growing periods in 1983. 1. Average value of COD was 5.1-7.1 ppm at 2 sites of the Nam river tributary, 11.4 ppm at 1 site of the midstream and 9.1-13.4 ppm at 3 sites of the downstream of Nakdong river. 2. The relationships between irrigation water and soil were $r=0.98^{**}$ for EC and $r=0.91^*$ for SAR, but the rest components did not. 3. Root activity of rice plant was low tendency as go by go the downstream of Nakdong river, and it was related to dry matter of rice plant ($r=0.62^{**}$), SAR ($r=-0.67^{**}$), and EC ($r=-0.62^{**}$) of soils.