• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 1998.06a
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• pp.43-49
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• 1998

Retardation effect of heavy metals in soils caused by adsorption onto the surfaces of solids particles is well known phenomena. The adsorption of metal ions has been recognized more strong in clay mineral and organic matter contents rather than sands and gravels. In this study, we investigated the retardation effect in two sandy soils by conducting batch and column tests. The column tests were conducted to obtain the relationship between concentration and time known as breakthrough curve (BTC). We applied pulse type injection of ZnCl$_2$solution on the inlet boundary and monitored the effluent concentration at the exit boundary under steady state condition using EC-meter and ICP-AES. Batch test consisted of an equilibrium procedure for fine fractions collected from two sandy soils for various initial ZnCl$_2$concentrations, and analysis of Zn ions in equilibrated solution using ICP-AES. The results of column test showed that i) the peak concentration of Zn analyzed by ICP was far less than that detected by EC-meter for both soils and ii) travel times for peak concentration were more less identical for two different monitoring techniques. The first result can be explained by ion exchange between Zn and other cations initially present in the soil particles since ICP analysis showed a significant amount of Ca, Mg ions in the effluent. From the second result, we found that retardation effect was not present in these soils due to strong cation exchange capacity of Zn ion over other cations since we did not apply a solution containing more adsorptive cations such as Al. The result of batch test also showed high distribution coefficients (K$_{d}$) for two soils supporting the dominant ion exchange phenomena. Based on the retardation factor obtained from the Kd, we predicted the BTC using CDE model and compared with the BTC of Zn concentration obtained from ICP The predicted BTC, however, disagreed with the monitored in terms of travel time and magnitude of the peak concentrations. The only way to describe the prominent decrease of Zn ion was to introduce decay or sink coefficient in the CDE model to account for irreversible decrease of Zn ions in liquid phase.e.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.15-23
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• 2004

Deicer operations provide traffic safety during winter driving conditions in urban areas. Using large quantities of de-icing chemicals (i.e., $CaCl_2$ and NaCl) can cause serious environmental problems and may change behaviors of heavy metals in roadside sediments, resulting in an increase in mobilization of heavy metals due to complexation of heavy metals with chloride ions. To examine effect of de-icing salt concentration on the leaching behaviors and mobility of heavy metals (cadmium, zinc, copper, lead, arsenic, nickel, chromium, cobalt, manganese, and iron), leaching experiments were conducted on roadside sediments collected from Seoul city using de-icing salt solutions having various concentrations (0.01-5.0M). Results indicate that zinc, copper, and manganese in roadside sediments were easily mobilized, whereas chromium and cobalt remain strongly fixed. The zinc, copper and manganese concentrations measured in the leaching experiments were relatively high. De-icing salts can cause a decrease in partitioning between adsorbed (or precipitated) and dissolved metals, resulting in an increase in concentrations of dissolved metals in salt laden snowmelt. As a result, run-off water quality can be degraded. The de-icing salt applied on the road surface also lead to infiltration and contamination of heavy metal to groundwater.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.1080-1084
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• 2011

Predictive model for estimating total contents of cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) was developed by stepwise multiple-regression analysis using chemical properties and extractable contents of metal in paddy soil adjacent to abandoned mines in 2009 and 2010. Soil properties, e.g. pH, electrical conductivity (EC), organic matter (OM), available phosphorus ($P_2O_5$), and exchangeable cations (i.e. Ca, Na, K, Mg) were measured. Total contents of Cd and Pb as well as extractable contents of metals were analyzed by ICP-OES. Results showed that the total and extractable contents were estimated to be 3.55 and $0.27mg\;kg^{-1}$ in Cd and 83.38 and $24.32mg\;kg^{-1}$ in Pb on the average. From stepwise analysis, it was found that the contents of extractable Cd, Zn, Cu, as well as exchangeable Na were significantly influenced on estimation of the total contents of Cd in soil. Moreover, it also showed that the contents of extractable Pb, Zn, and Cu significantly affected estimation of the total contents of Pb in soil. More significant relationship between estimated and measured value in total contents of Pb was observed than those of Cd ($R^2$=0.87, p<0.0001). This demonstrates that extractable contents of metal are influenced more on estimation of total contents of Cd and Pb in soil than soil properties.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.583-590
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• 2021

Background: Gintonin, isolated from ginseng, acts as a ginseng-derived lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) receptor ligand and elicits the [Ca²⁺]_i transient through six LPA receptor subtypes (LPARSs). However, the long-term effects of gintonin-enriched fraction (GEF) on the gene expression of six LPARSs remain unknown. We examined changes in the gene expression of six LPA receptors in the mouse whole brain, heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, spleen, small intestine, colon, and testis after long-term oral GEF administration. Methods: C57BL/6 mice were divided into two groups: control vehicle and GEF (100 mg/kg, p.o.). After 21-day saline or GEF treatment, total RNA was extracted from nine mouse organs. Quantitative-real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and western blot were performed to quantify changes in the gene and protein expression of the six LPARSs, respectively. Results: qRT-PCR analysis before GEF treatment revealed that the LPA6 RS was predominant in all organs except the small intestine. The LPA2 RS was most abundant in the small intestine. Long-term GEF administration differentially regulated the six LPARSs. Upon GEF treatment, the LPA6 RS significantly increased in the liver, small intestine, colon, and testis but decreased in the whole brain, heart, lungs, and kidneys. Western blot analysis of the LPA6 RS confirmed the differential effects of GEF on LPA6 receptor protein levels in the whole brain, liver, small intestine, and testis. Conclusion: The LPA6 receptor was predominantly expressed in all nine organs examined; long-term oral GEF administration differentially regulated LPA3, LPA4, and LPA6 receptors in the whole brain, heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, small intestine, and testis.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.366-375
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• 2023

Background: Ginseng contains three active components: ginsenosides, gintonin, and polysaccharides. After the separation of 1 of the 3 ingredient fractions, other fractions are usually discarded as waste. In this study, we developed a simple and effective method, called the ginpolin protocol, to separate gintonin-enriched fraction (GEF), ginseng polysaccharide fraction (GPF), and crude ginseng saponin fraction (cGSF). Methods: Dried ginseng (1 kg) was extracted using 70% ethanol (EtOH). The extract was water fractionated to obtain a water-insoluble precipitate (GEF). The upper layer after GEF separation was precipitated with 80% EtOH for GPF preparation, and the remaining upper layer was vacuum dried to obtain cGSF. Results: The yields of GEF, GPF, and cGSF were 14.8, 54.2, and 185.3 g, respectively, from 333 g EtOH extract. We quantified the active ingredients of 3 fractions: L-arginine, galacturonic acid, ginsenosides, glucuronic acid, lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), phosphatidic acid (PA), and polyphenols. The order of the LPA, PA, and polyphenol content was GEF > cGSF > GPF. The order of L-arginine and galacturonic acid was GPF >> GEF = cGSF. Interestingly, GEF contained a high amount of ginsenoside Rb1, whereas cGSF contained more ginsenoside Rg1. GEF and cGSF, but not GPF, induced intracellular [Ca²⁺]_i transient with antiplatelet activity. The order of antioxidant activity was GPF > GEF = cGSF. Immunological activities (related to nitric oxide production, phagocytosis, and IL-6 and TNF-α release) were, in order, GPF > GEF = cGSF. The neuroprotective ability (against reactive oxygen species) order was GEF > cGSP > GPF. Conclusion: We developed a novel ginpolin protocol to isolate 3 fractions in batches and determined that each fraction has distinct biological effects.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.27 no.10
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• pp.1065-1072
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• 2004

Depression is associated with a dysfunctional serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine; 5-HT) system. More recently, several lines of evidence suggest that an important factor in the development of depression may be a deficit in the function and expression of $5-HT_{1A}$ receptors. The present study assessed if Nelumbinis Semen (N. s.) had an anti-depression effect through reversing a decrease in $5-HT_{1A}$receptor binding in rats with depression-like symptoms induced by chronic mild stress. Using a $5-HT_{1A}$ receptor binding assay, with a specific $5-HT_{1A}$receptor agonist, 8- OH-DPAT (8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino) tetralin), the mechanism of the anti-depression effect of N. s. on rats was investigated, and the effects compared with two well-known antidepressants, Hyperium Perforatum (St. Johns Wort) and fluoxetine (Prozac). Animals were divided into five groups: the normal (N) group without chronic mild stress (CMS), the control (C) group under CMS for 8 weeks, the Nelumbinis Semen (N. s.) treatment group under CMS for 8 weeks, the Hyperium Perforatum (H. p.) treatment group under CMS for 8 weeks and finally, the fluoxetine (F) treatment group under CMS for 8 weeks. Each treatment was administered to rats during the last 4 weeks of the 8-week CMS. A sucrose intake test was performed to test the anti-depression effect of N. s. The N. s. treatment significantly reversed the decreased sucrose intake under CMS (P<0.05 compared to control group under CMS). In the CA2 and CA3 regions of the hippocampus, both N. s. and H. p. reversed the CMS-induced decrease in $5-HT_{1A}$receptor binding. In the I to II regions of the frontal cortex, N. s. and H. p. also reversed the CMS-induced decrease in$5-HT_{1A}$receptor binding, and even showed a significant increase in $5-HT_{1A}$receptor binding compared to the F treatment group (N. s. vs. P, p<0.05, H. p. vs. P, p<0.05). However, in the hypothalamus, all treatments reversed the CMSinduced decrease in $5-HT_{1A}$receptor binding. This reversal effect of N. s. on the decrease in $5-HT_{1A}$receptor binding in the frontal cortex, hippocampus and hypothalamus of rat brains was very similar to that of H. p, but different from that of F. It is concluded that N. s. presents an anti-depression effect through enhancing $5-HT_{1A}$receptor binding.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.469-483
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• 2020

The results of long-term groundwater level and quality monitoring can be used not only as the basic data for evaluating the impact of various disasters including climate change and establishing responses, but also as key data for predicting and managing geological disasters such as earthquakes. Some countries use groundwater level and quality monitoring for researches to predict earthquakes and to assess the impacts of the earthquake disaster. However, a few cases in Korea report on individual groundwater quality factors (i.e., dissolved ions) observed before and after the earthquakes, being different from other countries. To establish the abnormality criteria for groundwater quality in Pohang, groundwater samples were collected and analyzed five times from 14 agricultural or private wells existing in Shingwang-myeon and Heunghae-eup. As a result of the analysis, it was found that Ca2+ was the dominant cation in Shingwang-myeon, while Na+ was the dominant cation in Heunghae-eup. The elevated NO3- concentration in Shingwang-myeon is contributed to the agricultural activity in the area. A high concentration of Fe was detected in a well on Heunghae-eup; the concentration exceeded the drinking water standard by nearly 100 times. Relatively higher dissolved ions were observed in the groundwater of Heunghae-eup, and it is considered as the result of the flow velocity difference and water-rock reaction accompanying the difference in bedrock and sediment characteristics. The groundwater of Shingwang-myeon appeared to be most affected by the weathering of granite and silicates, while that of Heunghae-eup was mainly affected by the weathering of silicates and carbonate. The background concentrations (baselines) of groundwater Shingwang-myeon and Heunghae-eup was identified through the survey; however, the continuous monitoring is required to monitor the possible changes and the repeatability of seasonal variation.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.112-114
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• 2015

Purpose Vitamin D to Anti- Rickets both steroid compounds showing activity, By acting on bone tissue secretary and the key to maintain serum Ca homeostasis. The blood level of vitamin D is the largest in D3 that the concentration of the metabolite is reflected in the holding state of vitamin D in vivo. Sunlight to change the 7-dehydrocholesterol in the skin and through the skin to D3, In the liver in combination with the D2 and D3 D4 changes. The Radioimmunoassay(RIA) method is measuring the D 3, the sensitivity can be measured also difficult trace substance to measure the normal test because it is very sensitive, but recently, a check is possible, for the Total D3 in Chemimicroparticle immunoassay(CMIA) or Chemiluminescent immunoassay(CLIA) measuring using microparticle RIA and CMIA(Architect i2000SR) / use the CLIA(DXI-800) method to compare and evaluate the correlation between the tests in the same test items. Materials and Methods Commissioned from January 2014 to March 2015 patients were enrolled in a total of 273 people. 29 out of 273 people conducted by RIA were compared with CMIA, 244 patients were compared with CLIA. Using reagents and equipment were used RIA(Diasource), CMIA(Architect i2000SR, Abbott Diagnostics) / CLIA( Unicel DXi-800, Beckman coulter). Results Correlation of the RIA and CLIA was a R2 = 0.1844 (y = 0.7303x + 3.9005), and the correlation of RIA CMIA is R2 = 0.2762 (y = 0.8862x + 4.56) respectively. (According to statistics, during the same period RIA is Deficiency 4.31%, Insufficiency 90.53%, Sufficiency 5.16%, was Excess 0%, CLIA / CMIA is Deficiency 17.02%, Insufficiency 75.91%, Sufficiency 7.03%, indicating the distribution of 0.03 % Excess) Conclusion Serum vitamin D and parathyroid hormone that show an inverse relationship, the level above which are not parathyroid hormone and vitamin D reduced the increase. The density is different for each study, at most 20 is reported to be the maximum between 30 ng / ml. In Korea it requires a proposed standard of vitamin D deficiency, reference to the WHO lack the case more than 10ng/ml, 20ng/ml and defined by the lack of, if not more than, the IOM, but looking at 12ng/ml or less to the normal to lack, at least 20ng/ml, the reference do not match the deficit under 20ng/ml, 21-29ng/ml relative lack between, was also defined as a sufficient condition for more than 30ng/ml. Although not statistically is between RIA and CLIA two ways to vitamin D levels change according to season match, when seasonally seen in summer as commonly known (April to September), winter (October to March) relative to the increase measured than it was found. Finally, the study on the correlation between the two methods have been expected to result in a consistent and apply the same view high reference value on the graph is difficult. However, there may be differences between the test equipment and methods, and could be especially the case of RIA method using an organic solvent is difficult to compare different methods and correlated view similar trend in vitamin D deficiency and quarterly aspect ratio.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.205-212
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• 2009

To suggest possible to bioremediation by benthic microalgae Nitzschia sp. isolated from the Jinhae Bay, the studies investigated the effects o flight quality and quantity on the growth of Nitzschia sp. and its growth kinetics for phosphate investigated. The Nitzschia sp. was cultured under blue (450 nm), yellow (590 nm) and red wavelength (650 nm) using light emitting diode (LED) and mixed wavelengths using a fluorescent lamp. The maximum specific growth rate showed the Nitzschia sp. under blue wavelength, although photoinhibition was observed above $100\;{\mu}mol\;m^{-2}\;s^{-1}$. Mixed wavelengths were also observed by decreasing the maximum cell density from high irradiances (>$100\;{\mu}mol$ photons $m^{-2}\;s^{-1}$). The compensation photon flux density ($I_0$) calculated from the mixed wavelengths equated to a depth of 4-10 m in Jinhae Bay, and was lower in the summer season than the depth due to suspended matter (ca. 4 m). Thus, the suitable depth for maximum growth of Nitzschia sp. might be extremely limited. In the growth kinetics for phosphate, half-saturation constant ($K_s$) was similar among different wavelengths, although the maximum growth rate was varied among different wavelengths. Because the $K_s$ was high than that of the phytoplankton, Nitzschia sp. might have adapted to the high nutrient concentrations, and have effective nutrient storage in the cell quota. Thus, Nitzschia sp. may be a useful species for bioremediation of the benthic layer in polluted inner bays by means of irradiated specific wavelength as blue.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.257-264
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• 2009

A neurotoxin, 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) has been widely used to create animal model for Parkinson's disease (PD) due to its specific toxicity against dopaminergic (DA) neurons. Since DA signals modulate a broad spectrum of CNS physiology, one can expect profound alterations in neuroendocrine activities of both PD patients and 6-OHDA treated animals. Limited applications of 6-OHDA injection model, however, have been made on the studies of hypothalamuspituitary neuroendocrine circuits. The present study was performed to examine whether blockade of brain catecholamine (CA) biosynthesis with 6-OHDA can make any alteration in the transcriptional activities of hypothalamus-pituitary hormone genes in adult male rats. Three-month-old male rats (SD strain) were received 6-OHDA ($200{\mu}g$ in $10{\mu}\ell$ of saline/animal) by intracerebroventricular (icv) injection, and sacrificed after two weeks. To determine the mRNA levels of hypothalamuspituitary hormone genes, total RNAs were extracted and applied to the semi-quantitative RT-PCRs. The mRNA levels of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), the rate-limiting enzyme for the catecholamine biosynthesis, were significantly lower than those from the control group (control:6-OHDA=1:0.72${\pm}$0.02AU, p<0.001), confirming the efficacy of 6-OHDA injection. The mRNA levels of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH) in the hypothalami from 6-OHDA group were significantly lower than those from the control group (GnRH, control:6-OHDA=1:0.39${\pm}$0.03AU, p<0.001; CRH, control:6-OHDA=1:0.76${\pm}$0.07AU, p<0.01). There were significant decreases in the mRNA levels of common alpha subunit of glycoprotein homones (Cg$\alpha$), LH beta subunit (LH-$\beta$), and FSH beta subunit (FSH-$\beta$) in pituitaries from 6-OHDA group compared to control values (Cg$\alpha$, control:6-OHDA=1:0.81${\pm}$0.02AU, p<0.001; LH-$\beta$, control:6-OHDA=1:0.68${\pm}$0.04AU, p<0.001; FSH-$\beta$, control:6-OHDA=1:0.84${\pm}$0.05AU, p<0.001). Similarly, the level of adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) transcripts from 6-OHDA group was significantly lower than that from the control group (control: 6-OHDA=1:0.86${\pm}$0.04AU, p<0.01). The present study demonstrated that centrally injected DA neurotoxin could downregulate the transcriptional activities of the two hypothalamus-pituitary neuroendocrine circuits, i.e., GnRH-gonadotropins and CRH-ACTH systems. These results suggested that hypothalamic CA input might affect on the activities of gonad and adrenal through modulation of hypothalamus-pituitary function, providing plausible explanation for frequent occurrence of sexual dysfunction and poor stress-response in PD patients.