• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.56 no.3
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• pp.268-279
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• 2023

Nowadays, artificial intelligence model approaches such as machine and deep learning have been widely used to predict variations of water quality in various freshwater bodies. In particular, many researchers have tried to predict the occurrence of cyanobacterial blooms in inland water, which pose a threat to human health and aquatic ecosystems. Therefore, the objective of this study were to: 1) review studies on the application of machine learning models for predicting the occurrence of cyanobacterial blooms and its metabolites and 2) prospect for future study on the prediction of cyanobacteria by machine learning models including deep learning. In this study, a systematic literature search and review were conducted using SCOPUS, which is Elsevier's abstract and citation database. The key results showed that deep learning models were usually used to predict cyanobacterial cells, while machine learning models focused on predicting cyanobacterial metabolites such as concentrations of microcystin, geosmin, and 2-methylisoborneol (2-MIB) in reservoirs. There was a distinct difference in the use of input variables to predict cyanobacterial cells and metabolites. The application of deep learning models through the construction of big data may be encouraged to build accurate models to predict cyanobacterial metabolites.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.57 no.2
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• pp.271-280
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• 2024

This study examines the European Union (EU)'s policies on managing nitrate contamination in groundwater and provides implications for the future groundwater management in South Korea. Initiated by the 1991 Nitrate Directive, the EU has pursued a multifaceted approach to reduce agricultural nitrate pollution through sustainable ('good') farming practices, regular nitrate level monitoring, and designating Nitrate Vulnerable Zones. Further policy integrations, like the Water Framework Directive and Groundwater Directive, have established comprehensive protection strategies, including the use of pollutant threshold values. Recently, the 2019 Green Deal escalated efforts against nitrates, aligning with broader environmental and climate objectives. This review aims to explore these developments, highlighting key mitigation strategies against nitrate pollution, and providing valuable insights for the future sustainable groundwater nitrate management in South Korea, emphasizing the importance of preventive measures and collaborative efforts to restore and improve groundwater quality.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.178-188
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• 2024

The dynamics of suspended sediment (SS) in forested catchments vary depending upon human or natural disturbances, including land use change, forestry activity, forest fires, and landslides. Understanding the dynamics of SS originating from the potential sources within a forested catchment is crucial for establishing an effective water quality management strategy. Therefore, to suggest a systematic method for interpreting SS dynamics, we evaluated the performance and applicability of ten methods for calculating the hysteresis index based on observed hydrological data and two calculation models (Lawler's method and Lloyd's method) with five sampling intervals (50th, 25th, 10th, 5th, and 1st percentiles). Our results showed that Lloyd's method, which used a sampling interval at the 1st percentile, had the largest number of analyzable runoff events and exhibited the best performance. The results of this study can contribute to quantifying the hysteresis in the relationship between discharge and SS and provide useful information for interpreting SS dynamics.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.85 no.1
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• pp.3-23
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• 2024

Intervertebral disc herniation is frequently encountered in radiological practice. Sequestered disc herniation occurs when the disc material undergoes degeneration and completely loses continuity with the parent nucleus pulposus. Sequestered discs can reside within and outside the spinal canal, exerting a mass effect on adjacent structures, compressing nerve pathways, and eliciting a range of clinical symptoms. In particular, sequestered discs within the dura cannot be identified without durotomy. Therefore, precise preoperative localization is crucial for surgical planning. On MRI, the signal intensity of the sequestered disc may vary due to independent degeneration processes. Additionally, most sequestered disc fragments show varying degrees of peripheral enhancement depending on the degree of angiogenesis and granulation around the isolated tissue. In this article, we review various imaging findings and the location of the sequestered disc to provide patients with an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment direction.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.683-696
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• 2023

The conservation of wetland ecosystems has a significant role in climate change. Notably, the Han River Protected Area, including the Siam-ri wetland and Janghang wetland, provides high biodiversity value. Thus, it is necessary to comprehensively evaluate the function and value of wetland ecosystems. This study evaluated the ecosystem services of Siam-ri and Janghang Wetlands located in the Han River Protected Area using the Rapid Assessment Wetland Ecosystem Services approach, a function-oriented ecosystem analysis. The results were calculated using the Ecosystem Services Index formula to analyze wetland ecosystem services. We also assessed the key ecosystem services based on a focus group interview. We identified that the supporting and cultural services index scores were relatively high in the study area. The results can provide helpful information for sustainable wetland conservation, conservation planning as primary data, and raising awareness for the Han River Protected Area.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.55-70
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• 2009

The long-term effects and the soil environmental changes were examined to ensure the safety of food waste compost in agricultural use. Based on conventional nitrogen application rate of chemical fertilizer, Pig manure compost with $24g\;N\;kg^{-1}$, $8g\;P_2O_5\;kg^{-1}$, and $10.4g\;K_2O\;kg^{-1}$ and food waste compost with $20g\;N\;kg^{-1}$, $20.1g\;P_2O_5\;kg^{-1}$, and $6.5g\;K_2O\;kg^{-1}$ were applied to the paddy soil in $2{\times}2{\times}2m$ lysimeter in which paddy rice (Oryza sativa L. var Chucheong) were grown. The rice grown where food waste compost applied showed better growth responses than control, whereas less yield rate than chemical fertilizer applied. The contents of organic matter, nitrogen, and phosphorus after experiment were increased with compost applied. In addition, it improved soil aeration by the application of food waste compost, while little difference was observed in the quality of surface, infiltrated, and ground water compared to chemical fertilizer applied or control.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.34-44
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• 1990

The study was carried out to elucidate the effects of ovarian function on the thyroid gland, adrenal gland and uterus in female rats. One hundred and forty-four mature female rats were allotted into the three groups ; ovariectomized group, estradiol treated group and intact control group. The ovaries of 48 heads of rats were completely removed. Forty eight heads of rats were administered with $200{\mu}g$ of estradiol benzoate every 48 hours. Serum estradiol-$17{\beta}$ and progesterone levels were determined with radioimmunoassay method at 3, 6, 12, 24 hours and 5, 10, 15 days after treatment. The rats were necropsied to measure weights of thyroid gland, adrenal gland and uterus and to examine the histological changes in the organs. The results obtained were as follows ; 1. Serum estradiol-$17{\beta}$ levels were rapidly decreased below 27.20pg/ml 18 hours after ovariectomy. In estradiol treated rats the levels were rapidly increased 18 hours after treatment, but thereafter slowly decreased. The significant differences in the estradiol level were found between the group at every observation time. 2. Serum progesterone levels were significantly decreased after ovariectomy and estradiol injection. The lowest level was found in the group of ovariectomized rats. 3. The weights of thyroid glands decreased in ovariectomized rats rather than in intact rats 5 days after treatment. The weights tended to increase after estradiol injection but significant differences between the groups were seen on 10th and 15th days. 4. In the histological findings of thyroid glands, follicular epithelial cells were changed to be squamous 5 days after ovariectomy and accompanied pyknosis 10 days and karyorrhexis 15 days after ovariectomy. On the contrary follicular epithelial cells were changed to be columnar with hypertrophy 10 days after estradiol injection. 5. The significant differences in adrenal gland weights were recognized between all the groups 5 and 15 days after treatment in ovariectomized rats were lighter than intact rats and the adrenal gland weights were rather heavier in estradiol treated rats. 6. The days after ovariectomy the adrenal glands were atrophied accompanying with pyknosis in the cortical cells of zona fasciculata. The cells in zona fasciculata and zona reticularis started to hypertrophy 5 days after estradiol injection, but no changes were found in the zona glomerulosa of adrenal cortex and in the adrenal medulla. 7. The significant differences in uterus weights were recognized between the groups at each observation time. After ovariectomy the uterus weights decreased rapidly but after estradiol injection they increased rapidly. 8. Through histological examination of uterus, the atrophy and degeneration started to occur in endometrium and lamina propria 12 hours after ovariectomy, and in myometrium one day after ovariectomy, and the changes progressed rapidly after that. On the contrary, the myometrium was proliferated and hypertrophied from 12 hours after estradiol-$17{\beta}$ injection.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.137-145
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• 2013

This study was performed at 2 sites of Nak-Dong River to investigate the changes of nitrifiers depending on the presence and absence of organic pollutants (due to the effluents of domestic wastewater treatment plant, WWTP). Conventional chemical parameters such as T-N, $NH_4$-N, $NO_2$-N, $NO_3$-N were measured and the quantitative nitrifiers at the 2 sites were analyzed comparatively by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) with NSO190 and NIT3, after checking the presence of gene amoA of ammonia oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and 16S rDNA signature sequence for Nitrobacter sp. that belongs to nitrite oxidizing bacteria (NOB). Also ${\alpha}{\cdot}{\beta}{\cdot}{\gamma}$-Proteobacteria were detected using FISH to get a glimpse of the general bacterial community structure of the sites. Based on the distribution structure of the ${\alpha}{\cdot}{\beta}{\cdot}{\gamma}$-Proteobacteria and the measurement of nitrogen in different phases, it could be said that the site 2 was more polluted with organics than site 1. Corresponding to the above conclusion, the average numbers of AOB and NOB detected by NSO160 and NIT3, respectively, at site 2 [AOB, $9.3{\times}10^5$; NOB, $1.6{\times}10^6$ (cells/ml)] was more than those at site 1 [AOB, $7.8{\times}10^5$; NOB, $0.8{\times}10^6$ (cells/ml)] and also their ratios to total counts were higher at site 2 (AOB, 27%; NOB, 34%) than those at site 1 (AOB, 18%; NOB, 23%). Thus, it could be concluded that the nitrification at site 2 was more active due to continuous loading of organics from the effluents of domestic WWTP, compared to site 1 located closed to raw drinking water supply and subsequently less polluted with organics.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.284-294
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• 2006

Objective: Activating mutations in the fibroblast growth factor receptor-2 (FGFR2) have been shown to cause syndromic craniosynostosis such as Apert and Crouzon syndromes. The purpose of this pilot study was to investigate the resultant phenotypes induced by the two distinctive bone-targeted gene constructs of FGFR2, Pro253Arg and Cys278Phe, corresponding to human Apert and Crouzon syndromes respectively. Methods: Wild type and a transgenic mouse model with normal FGFR2 were used as controls to examine the validity of the microinjection. Micro-CT and morphometric analysis on the skull revealed the following results. Results: Both Apert and Crouzon mutants of FGFR2 induced fusion of calvarial sutures and anteroposteriorly constricted facial dimension, with anterior crossbite present only in Apert mice. Apert mice differed from Crouzon mice and transgenic mice with normal FGFR2 in the anterior cranial base flexure and calvarial flexure angle which implies a possible difference in the pathogenesis of the two mutations. In contrast, the transgenic mice with normal FGFR2 displayed normal craniofacial phenotype. Conclusion: Apert and Crouzon mutations appear to lead to genotype-specific phenotypes, possibly causing the distinctive sites and sequence of synostosis in the calvaria and cranial base. The exact function of the altered FGFR2 at each suture needs further investigation.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.105-110
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• 2002

Numerous hormones are involved in the regulation of reproduction. Among them, estrogen and progesterone are the most important ovarian steroid hormones regulating female fertility. On the other hand, diverse stressors impede female receptivity and fertility. Since norepinephrine(NE) and epinephrine(E) are released from the adrenal during stress, it might play a role in stress-induced disruptions of fEmale reproductive parameters. The present study was performed to analyze the changes in adrenal catecholaminergic activities in cycling rats. The tissue content and secretion level of catecholamines were determined by high performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrochemical detector(HPLC-ECD). Adrenomedullary content of norepinephrine(NE) was increased on proestrus stage (59.47 $\pm$ 6.86 ug/gland), peaked on diestrus I stage(65.22 $\pm$ 5.99 ug/gland), and was nadir on diestrus II stage(41.63 $\pm$ 1.33 ug/gland). The highest E content was observed on proestrus stage(361.86 $\pm$ 15.58 ug/gland) while the lowest level was on diestrus II stage(285.58 $\pm$ 12.25 ug/gland). In addition to these observations, a significant reduction of the NE : E ratio was observed (1 : 4.81 on diestrus I vs 1 : 6.13～7.02 on other stages). In vitro secretion of adrenal NE and E was increased on proestrus stage, peaked on estrus stage, and decreased on diestrus II stage. Interestingly, the NE : E ratio in conditioned media was significantly increased on estrus stage (1 : 3.32 vs 1 : 2.34～2.65 on other stages. The biosynthesis of NE and E is mediated by tyrosine hydroxylase(TH) and phenylethanolamine-N-methyltransferase(PNMT) which acts conversion of tyrosine into DOPA and NE into E, respectively. These finding demonstrated that sex steroids, during setrous cycle, seem to be able to modify the adrenal catecholamines biosynthesis and secretion with stage-specific manner by modulation of the enzyme activities.