• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
• /
• v.19 no.3 s.49
• /
• pp.171-187
• /
• 2006

The status of heavy metal contamination was investigated using chemical analyses of stream waters and sediments obtained from Samsanjeil and Sambong Cu mining area in Goseong-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do. In addition, the degree and the environmental risk of heavy metal contamination in stream sediments was assessed through pollution index (Pl) and danger index (DI) based on total digestion by aqua regia and fractionation of heavy metal contaminants by sequential extraction, respectively. Not only the degree of heavy metal contamination was significantly higher in Samsanjeil area than in Sambong area, but its environmental risk was also revealed much more serious in Samsanjeil area than in Sambong area. The differences in status and level of contamination and environmental risk between both two mining areas may be attributed to existence of contamination source and geology. Acid mine drainage is continuously discharged and flows into the stream in Samsanjeil mining area, and it makes the heavy metal contamination in the stream more deteriorated than in Sambong mining area in which acid mine drainage is not produced. In addition, the geology of Samsanjeil mining area is mainly comprised of andesitic rocks including a small amount of calcite and having lower pH buffering capacity fer acid mine drainage, and it is likely that the heavy metal contamination cannot be naturally attenuated in streams. On the contrary, the main geology of Sambong mining area consists of pyroclastic sedimentary Goseong formation containing a high content of carbonates, particularly calcite, and it seems that these carbonates of high pH buffering capacity prevent the heavy metal contamination from proceeding downstream in stream within that area.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
• /
• v.47 no.5
• /
• pp.703-710
• /
• 2005

Data from Hanwoo steers and bull calves were analyzed to see the phenotypic and genetic relationships between carcass traits from four different covariance models. Four models fit test station and test period as fixed effect of contemporary group and sire as random effect assuming paternal half-sib relationships among animals. Each model fits one of linear covariate (s) of different slaughter end points-age at slaughter in the first order, age at slaughter in the first and second order, slaughter weight or back fat thickness at 12-13th rib of cold carcass. Age at slaughter in its second order was not significant. Age at slaughter accounted for signifi- cant amount of genetic variances and covariances of carcass traits. Heritability estimates of back fat thickness, rib eye area, carcass weight, marbling score and dressing percentage were 0.34, 0.22, 0.24, 0.42 and 0.18, respectively at constant age basis. The genetic correlation between carcass weight and the other variables were all positive and low to high in magnitude. Genetic correlations between back fat thickness and rib eye area and between marbling score and dressing percentage were low but negative. Variance and covariance structure between these traits were shifted to a great extent when these variables were regressed on slaughter weight or on back fat thickness. These two covariates counteracted to each other but they adjusted each carcass variable or their interrelationship according to differential growth of body components, bone, muscle and fat. Slaughter weight tended to decrease genetic variances and covariances of carcass weight and between component traits and back fat thickness tended to increase those of rib eye area and between rib eye area and carcass weight.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
• /
• v.46 no.4
• /
• pp.585-592
• /
• 2004

Our previous studies demonstrated that relaxin in concert with estrogen promotes development of the mammary parenchyma during the last third of gestation in gilts, and the specific relaxin-binding sites were present in the mammary gland. This study was conducted to determine if relaxin-binding sites in the mammary gland were functional relaxin receptors. Three cycling cross-bred gilts were bilaterally ovariectomized on day 0 of the experiment. Beginning on day 15 and continuing through day 29 post-surgery, the gilt received an im. injection of estradiol benzoate at 12-hr intervals. Beginning on day 22 post-surgery, highly purified porcine relaxin was administered(lug/hr) into the left fourth mammary gland from the anterior end via miniature osmotic pump. Physiological saline was administered to the right fourth mammary gland. The gilt was sacrificed on day 29 post-surgery and histological characteristics of the mammary parenchyma were examined. The mammary glands treated locally with saline showed little, if any, lobulo-alveolar development, whereas the mammary glands treated with relaxin showed not only marked lobulo-alveolar development but also prominent secretions in the alveoli. The saline-treated glands were characterized by relatively dense and highly organized collagen fiber bundles. Whereas, in the relaxin-treated mammary glands, collagen fiber bundles were dispersed and loosely organized. In conclusion, relaxin-binding sites in the mammary gland are functional relaxin receptors and relaxin acts directly on the pig mammary gland to promote development of the alveoli and remodeling of the extracellular matrix.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
• /
• v.45 no.1
• /
• pp.113-122
• /
• 2003

Net and metabolizable energy requirements for maintenance of Hanwoo (Korean native cattle) bulls were estimated in twenty-eight fasting metabolism trials using seven different feeds at four stages of body weight(100, 200, 300 and 400kg). Three cattle for each of twenty-eight trials fed at a level of maintenance energy requirement were housed in metabolic stalls during the 5 days of collection period. Thereafter, during the 2 days of respiration period the heat production was measured by indirect calorimetry using respiratory chamber. After finishing the respiratory metabolism trials under the maintenance level, experimental animals were fasted for 5 days and were measured heat production by indirect calorimetry using respiratory chamber. Seven different feeds were: 1) mixed ration of concentrate and rice straw, 2) mixed ration of concentrate and mixed grass hay, 3) mixed ration of concentrate and corn silage, 4) rice straw alone, 5) mixed grass hay alone, 6) corn silage alone, 7) concentrate alone. Fasting heat production were 66.05/$W^{0.75}$ at 100kg of body weight and 60~63kcal/$W^{0.75}$ at 200~400kg of body weight. When subtracting heat loss by muscular work from the fasting heat production, basal metabolic rate was 55.92kcal/$W^{0.75}$. The average values of NEm requirements were obtained by adding urinary energy excretion to the basal metabolic rates were 69.1, 62.1, 65.8 and 64.4kcal/$W^{0.75}$ for the four stages of body weight, respectively. The ME requirement for maintenance could be calculated using retained energy and the efficiency of utilization of ME for net energy. The ME requirement for maintenance thus obtained was 102.69kcal/$W^{0.75}$.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
• /
• v.51 no.2
• /
• pp.135-142
• /
• 2009

The present study was undertaken to investigate the effects of slaughter weight (SW) of finishing pigs fed a low-energy diet on growth efficiency and carcass quality and thereby to assess the optimal SW. (Yorkshire $\times$ Landrace) $\times$ Duroc-crossbred gilts and barrows were fed a diet containing 3,060 kcal DE/kg from 80-kg BW and slaughtered at 110, 125, or 135 kg, after which the belly, the most preferred cut in Korea, as well as the least preferred cuts ham and loin were subjected to physicochemical and sensory analyses. Both ADG and ADFI were greater (P<0.05) in the group slaughtered at 125 or 135 kg than in the 110-kg-SW group, whereas the opposite was true for gain:feed (P<0.01). Backfat thickness (BFT), which increased with increasing SW (P<0.01 and P<0.05), was greater in barrows than in gilts (P<0.01); BFT of barrows at 125 kg (24.6 mm) was comparable to that of gilts at 135 kg (24.2 mm). Physicochemical characteristics of the belly, ham and loin were minimally affected, if not affected, by SW; of note, however, the redness of the ham increased between 110- and 125-kg SW (P<0.05). In sensory evaluation of the belly, the fat:lean balance, which is a most important quality trait in this cut, was best (P<0.05) at 125 kg of SW, but the overall acceptability of this cut was not changed by SW. In the ham and loin, the marbling score increased (P<0.01) between 110- and 125-kg SW, whereas color, aroma, off-flavor, and drip were unaffected by SW. In addition, the acceptability of the loin increased (P<0.05) between 110- and 125-kg SW. In cooked meats, none of color, aroma, off-flavor, juiciness, tenderness, taste, and acceptability was changed by SW, except for an increase (P<0.05) in darkness of loin color between 110- and 125-kg SW. In conclusion, the optimal SW for the present subpopulation on the present low-energy diet lie in between 125 and 135 kg for gilts and at 125 kg for barrows.

• Development and Reproduction
• /
• v.11 no.3
• /
• pp.167-177
• /
• 2007

In the present study, we isolated three human adult stem cells including adipose tissue-derived stem cells(HAD), umbilical cord-derived stem cells(HUC), and amnion-derived stem cells(HAM) and analysed their characteristics. And we examined whether HAD could be used as therapeutical cells for the heart diseases. Both HAM and HUC appeared very similar morphology but HAD was different. Doubling time of HUC was most fast, but total doubling numbers of HUC was same with HAM. Total doubling numbers of HAD was much more than others. Expression patterns of genes and proteins of three human adult stem cells were very similar. Also they were differentiated into adipocytes, osteocytes, and chondrocytes. In addition, they expressed many cardiomyocyte-related genes. But expression pattern of genes is a little different. When HAD were cultivated in the presence or absence of various combinations of BMP and FGF after 5-azacytidine expose for 24 h, expression of Cmlc-1, and ${\alpha}1c$ genes was significantly increased. However, expression of troponin T, troponin I and Kv4.3 genes was not changed. Based on these observations, it is suggested that HAD, HUC, and HAM might be used as potentially therapeutical cells for clinical application.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.41 no.2
• /
• pp.188-197
• /
• 2008

This research was a preliminary case study to determine the levels of total mercury in the tissues of sentinel species (Zacco platypus) and ecological health in relation to habitat characteristics and chemical conditions. We collected fishes in Gap Stream during June$\sim$October 2007 and analyzed the total mercury from five types of tissues such as liver, kidney, gill, vertebrae and muscle of Zaceo platypus using Direct Mercury Analyzer (DMA-80, US EPA Method 7473). Mean concentrations of total [Hg], based on all tissues, was 67.2 and $20.7\;{\mu}g\;kg^{-1}$, in the upstream and downstream site, respectively, indicating 3 times greater level in the upstream. In other words, the levels were higher in the pristine upstream than the downstream influenced by the wastewater disposal plant. Chemical water quality, based on BOD, COD and nutrients (TN, TP) showed that severe degradation occurred in the downstreams than the upstreams. Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) using fish multi-metric model averaged 32, indicating a "good$\sim$fair" condition and varied from 42 (excellent$\sim$good) at S2 to 22 (fair$\sim$poor) at S5 depending on the sites sampled. Qualitative Habitat Evaluation Index (QHEI) in the all sites averaged 142, which was judged as "good" habitat health, but showed a high variation (181 in Site 2 vs. 67 in Site 5). Overall data suggest that health conditions, based on IBI and QHEI, was better in the upstream sites but the mercury bioaccumulation levels in the fish tissues were opposite. We believe that measurements of various parameters are required for a diagnosis of integrative ecosystem health.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.43 no.2
• /
• pp.152-160
• /
• 2010

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of aging process on the immunity in human subjects. In this investigation, nineteen families of three generations (daughters on college age, their mothers, and grandmothers) participated to avoid genetic variation among individuals. Dietary food records, anthropometric measurements and biochemical assessments of serum nutrients were used to evaluate the nutritional status of subjects. The immune parameters of subjects were assessed by the total and differential WBC count. Total B and T lymphocytes, and T cell subsets were quantified by flowcytometer. Serum immunoglobulin G, A, M concentrations were also measured as an index of humoral immunity. The result of this study can be summarized as follows: 1. Along with the aging process, body fat was found to be increased whereas lean body mass and total body water were diminished. Since there were no significant difference in serum vitamin E levels in all age groups, serum retinal concentrations tended to decrease as one gets old. 2. Although total number of T lymphocytes seemed to be unchanged, B lymphocytes and NK cell numbers were increased by aging. The Percentage of CD8 + lymphocytes was lower in the elderly subjects compared with the younger, resulting in higher ratio of CD4 +/CD8 + lymphocytes in the elderly. Serum Ig G and Ig A levels remained unchanged, but IgM levels were significantly decreased as the age processes continue. Taking all together, it could be suggested that the alteration of immune cell population by aging is selective and possibly nonage factors such as nutrition may be attributable to the change of immunity in the elderly. The nutritional status and aging process may selectively affect both the cell-mediated (CD8 +, CD4 + CD8 + ratio, NK cell) and humoral (B lymphocyte, Immunoglobulin M, G) immune parameters in human subjects.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.41 no.8
• /
• pp.818-831
• /
• 2008

The purpose of this study was to investigate the dietary behavior, health-related lifestyles and nutrient intake status of college students according to physical activity levels. The physical activity levels were measured using the Korean version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) short form. The subjects of this study were 438 college students (243 males and 195 females) in Incheon area and were divided by gender and by physical activity levels, which included low, moderate and high physical activity groups. The average age of male and female students were 23.7 and 21.0 years old, respectively. The prevalence of the low physical activity group was 11.5% for males and 30.8% for females and that of the high physical activity group was 38.7% for males and 22.6% for females. According to the criteria for obesity in Asia-Pacific region, 39.1% of the males and 64.1% of the female students investigated were in the normal range of BMI and 30.9% of the males and 4.6% of the female students were in the obesity category. However, percent of body fat in the female students was significantly higher than that of the male students. The soft lean mass of the high physical activity group was higher compared to the other groups. In the low physical activity group, frequency of “eating out” was lower compared to the other groups. The average consumption of energy was 74.4% for males and 80.1% for females of the estimated energy requirement (EER). The mean intakes of vitamin C, vitamin B2, folic acid and Ca were 67.3%, 84%, 52.7% and 36.7% for males and 64.8%, 99.9%, 51.1% and 40.1% for females of recommended intake (RI), respectively. Therefore, it was necessary for obesity prevention as well as health promotion to increase physical activity and to eat an adequate, balanced diet in female college students.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
• /
• v.45 no.5
• /
• pp.835-840
• /
• 2003

Two hundreds and twenty three pork carcasses of commercial breeds were studied for comparing to technical quality characteristics of pork identified by National Pork Producers Council(NPPC) scale. pH and conductance(C) were taken in 1(pH$_1$, C$_1$), 3(pH$_3$, C$_3$), 6(pH$_6$, C$_6$) and 24hr(pHu, Cu) postmortem on 4~5th thoracic vertebrae. Visual color and CIE value were estimated in longissimus dorsi(LD) muscle in 24hr postmortem on the two sites(4~5th thoracic vertebrae and last vertebrae) using National Pork Producers Council(NPPC) scale and color difference meter. Significant differences were observed in pH$_1$, pHu, Cu, CIE L$^{*}$ value, water holding capacity(WHC) and juiciness at all scales(p〈0.05). But, pH and CIE L$^{*}$value were considerably affected by postmortem time and measuring site. NPPC scale was highly related with CIE L$^{*}$(R$^2$=0.77) and WHC(R$^2$=0.66), and moderately related with C$_{u}$(R$^2$=0.59) and pH$_{u}$(R$^2$=0.54), and poorly related with pH$_3$(R$^2$=0.32), pH$_6$(R$^2$=0.28) and C$_1$～C$_6$(R$^2$=0.03~0.18).