• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.374-382
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• 2011

Aflatoxin ($AFB_1$) is a potent hepatotoxic and hepatocarcinogenic mycotoxin in humans. It is also well-known to be accumulated in animal tissues via various metabolic pathways. This study was conducted to determine the effects of vitamin C on the residual $AFB_1$ in rat sera that were treated with radiation and $AFB_1$. Six week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into five groups: a control group, $AFB_1$-treated group, the group treated with $AFB_1$ and vitamin C, the group treated with X-ray and AFB1, and the group treated with X-ray and $AFB_1$ with vitamin C. On the first day of the experiment, only one dose of X-rays was exposed to the entire liver at 1,500 cGy. Next, vitamin C was injected at 10 mg/kg body weight via intraperitoneal injection, followed 1 hr later by the administration of 0.4 mg/kg of $AFB_1$ via intraperitoneal injection. These treatments were then administered every three days over a period of 15 days. On the 16th day of treatments, the animals were sacrificed. The contents of $AFB_1$ in rat sera were determined via indirect competitive ELISA and HPLC method. In the quantitative analysis of $AFB_1$ in rat sera via ELISA, $5.17{\pm}0.34$ ng/mL of $AFB_1$ was detected in the $AFB_1$-treated groups, but the amount more significantly decreased to $3.23{\pm}0.76$ ng/mL in the groups treated with $AFB_1$ and vitamin C (p<0.01) than in the $AFB_1$-treated groups. The $AFB_1$ contents of the rat sera of the groups treated with X-ray and $AFB_1$ did not significantly decreased with the administration of vitamin C. The $AFB_1$ content of the rat sera that was analyzed via HPLC showed a tendency similar to that of the content that was analyzed via ELISA. With regard to these data, vitamin C was very effective in reducing $AFB_1$ residue in rat sera.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Geographic Information Studies
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.1-18
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• 2019

This research measured and visualized the spatial dependency and the spatial heterogeneity of the small business in Cheonan-si, Asan-si with $100m{\times}100m$ grids based on global and local spatial autocorrelation. First, we confirmed positive spatial autocorrelation of small business in the research area using Moran's I Index, which is ESDA(Exploratory Spatial Data Analysis). And then, through Getis-Ord $GI{\ast}$, one kind of LISA(Local Indicators of Spatial Association), local patterns of spatial autocorrelation were visualized. These verified that Spatial Regression Model is valid for the location factor analysis on small business commercial buildings. Next, GWR(Geographically Weighted Regression) was used to analyze the spatial relations between the distribution of small business, hourly mobile traffic-based floating population, land use attributes index, residence, commercial building, road networks, and the node of traffic networks. Final six variables were applied and the accessibility to bus stops, afternoon time floating population, and evening time floating population were excluded due to multicollinearity. By this, we demonstrated that GWR is statistically improved compared to OLS. We visualized the spatial influence of the individual variables using the regression coefficients and local coefficients of determinant of the six variables. This research applied the measured population information in a practical way. Reflecting the dynamic information of the urban people using the commercial area. It is different from other studies that performed commercial analysis. Finally, this research has a differentiated advantage over the existing commercial area analysis in that it employed hourly changing commercial service population data and it applied spatial statistical models to micro spatial units. This research proposed new framework for the commercial analysis area analysis.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.265-272
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of LED and QD-LED (Quantum Dot) irradiation on seed germination, antioxidant ability, and microbial growth, during red radish (Raphanus sativus L.) sprouts cultivation. Irradiated light was blue, red, blue + red and blue + red + far red (QD-LED) lights, and the controls were a fluorescent lamp (FL), and dark condition. Germination rate of red radish was highest in the dark condition. The plant height and fresh weight of red radish sprouts that irradiated each light for 24 hrs after 7 days growing in dark condition, did not shown significantly difference among treatments. After 24 hrs of light irradiation, cotyledon green was best in blue + red light, and the red hypocotyl was excellent in blue light and QD-LED light. DPPH and phenol contents were high in dark and blue + red light treatment, and anthocyanin content was high in blue light and QD-LED light. Total aerobic counts were similar in all treatments and did not show bactericidal effect, whereas E. coli count was lowest in QD-LED light treatment, and yeast and mold counts were lowest in FL only treatment. Results suggest that when red radish seeds were germinated in dark condition and cultivated for 7 days as sprouts, and then treated with blue light or QD-LED light for 24 hrs, the seeds produced good quality red radish sprouts with greenish cotyledon, reddish hypocotyl, high anthocyanin content, and lower level of E coli contamination.

• Journal of Climate Change Research
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.397-407
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• 2013

Seasons in Korea have very distinguishable features. Due to continental high pressure, spring in Korea is dry and has low precipitation. Due to climate change derived from the increase of greenhouse gases, climate variability had increased and it became harder to predict. This caused the spring drought harsher than usual. Since 1990s, numbers of chronic drought from winter to spring increased in southern regions of Korea. Such drought in the spring damages the growth and development of the crops sown in the spring and decreases its quantity. For stable agricultural production in the future, it is necessary to assess vulnerability of the relationship between spring drought and agricultural production as well as to establish appropriate measures accordingly. This research used CCGIS program to perform vulnerability assessment on spring drought based on climate change scenario SRES A1B, A1FI, A1T, A2, B1, B2 and RCP 8.5 in 232 regions in Korea. As a result, Every scenario showed that vulnerability of spring drought decreased from 2000s to 2050s. Ratio of decrease was 37% under SRES scenario but, 3% under RCP 8.5 scenario. Also, for 2050 prediction, every scenario predicted the highest vulnerability in Chungcheongnam-do. However, RCP-8.5 predicted higher vulnerability in Gyeonggi-do than SRES scenario. The reason for overall decrease in vulnerability of agriculture for future spring drought is because the increase of precipitation was predicted. The assessment of vulnerability by different regions showed that choosing suitable scenario is very important factor.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.360-369
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• 2019

Cadherins are essential transmembrane proteins that promote cell-cell adhesion and maintain the corpus luteum structure in the ovary. This study examined the influence of prostaglandin F2 alpha ($PGF2{\alpha}$) on E-cadherin, N-cadherin, and adhesion in luteal theca cells (LTCs). The luteal cells were isolated from the mid-phase corpus luteum, and the LTCs were cultured separately from the luteal heterogeneous cells according to the morphology of the mesenchymal cells and to determine if steroidogenic and endothelial cells of LTCs, 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase ($3{\beta}$-HSD), and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) mRNA were used. The LTCs were then incubated in the culture medium supplemented with 0.01, 0.1, and 1.0 mM $PGF2{\alpha}$ for 24 h, and the E-cadherin and N-cadherin proteins in the LTCs were detected by confocal laser scanning microscopy. The results revealed $3{\beta}$-HSD mRNA expression in the LTC but no VEGF2R mRNA expression. The E-cadherin and N-cadherin proteins of the LTCs were damaged in the 0.01, 0.1, and 1.0 mM $PGF2{\alpha}$ treatment groups, and the expression of the N-cadherin protein was reduced significantly in 0.01 mM $PGF2{\alpha}$ compared to the 0 mM $PGF2{\alpha}$ treatment groups (P<0.05). In addition, the number of attached LTCs were significantly lower in the 0.01 mM $PGF2{\alpha}$ treatment group than in the 0 mM $PGF2{\alpha}$ treatment group (P<0.05). In conclusion, $PGF2{\alpha}$ affected the disruption of cadherin proteins and cell adhesion in LTCs. These results may help better understand the cadherin and adhesion mechanism during corpus luteum regression in the ovary.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.942-953
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• 2019

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of L-arginine supplementation on muscle damage and fatigue indices and athletic performance improvement of canoe athletes after conducting a high-intensity training program. To achieve the objective, this study applied a high-intensity training program to seven high school canoe athletes. The high-intensity training program is composed of aerobic exercise sessions (twice per week; Tuesday and Thursday), anaerobic exercise sessions (three times per week; Monday, Wednesday, and Friday), and flexibility exercise sessions (five times per week). During the 6 week high-intensity training program, drug ingestion (L-arginine or placebo) was conducted in the first two weeks, wash out (two weeks) followed it, and drug ingestion (L-arginine or placebo) was carried out again in the last two weeks. The crossover design was used for the experiment so all study subjects were assigned to either the L-arginine intake group (the treatment group) or the placebo group (the control group). Each subject ingested 3g per day. This study confirmed the significant effects of L-arginine supplementation on muscle damage indices, fatigue indices, and antioxidants using blood samples. Additionally, FMD was analyzed to evaluate vascular endothelial cell functions and canoe performance was examined using the canoe ergometer. The results of this study showed that L-arginine intake did not have direct effects on the levels of ammonia, IP, and CK. The level of LDH decreased significantly more in the ARG group than in the PLA group due to L-arginine supplementation. Moreover, L-arginine supplementation did not change total NO, d-ROMs, BAP, and FMD significantly. Lastly, the results of the 500m canoe ergometer, which was conducted to evaluate the canoe performance, revealed that L-arginine did not have direct effects on total time, stroke distance, and mean velocity. However, L-arginine supplementation significantly improved muscle damage indices, fatigue indices, antioxidants, FMD, and canoe performance. Therefore, it is believed that additional studies are needed for examining the potential effects of L-arginine supplementation athletic performance enhancement.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.119-127
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• 2021

The objective of this study was to evaluate effects of feeding methods on in vitro ruminal fermentation, total gas and methane production in Hanwoo steers. Six Hanwoo steers fitted with rumen cannula (430 ± 21 kg of body weight) were randomly assigned to one of three feeding systems: 1) feeding forage 1 hour after concentrate, 2) feeding concentrate 1 hour after forage, 3) feeding mixed ration. Rumen fluid sampled from each animals was incubated 24 hours with maize or timothy substrates in in vitro. Ruminal pH was increased in feeding method 2 or maize substrate than that of other methods or timothy substrate (P < 0.001). The production of total volatile fatty acid, acetate, propionate, butyrate, and valerate were increased when steers fed diets using feeding method 1 or rumen fluid was incubated with maize substrate (P < 0.001). Increased production of total gas and methane was observed in feeding method 1 and maize substrate compared to those of other methods or timothy substrate (P < 0.001). Due to the inconsistent results between ruminal fermentation and gas production in this study, further research is required to estimate effects of feeding method on enteric fermentation and gas production in in vivo.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.46-55
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• 2021

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effect on chlorophyll fluorescence, stem sap flux relative rate (SFRR) and leaf temperature of cucumber when irrigation is controlled using a soil moisture tensiometer. Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) 'Chungchun' was irrigated of 10-10-20 kPa and 20-10-10 kPa by soil starting point of irrigation at each growth stage. At the 66 days after treatment (DAT) of 736 to 854 W·m-2 and above 32℃, chlorophyll fluorescence variables (Fo, Fm, Fv/Fm) values showed significantly different between treatments. The Fo and Fv/Fm value in the daytime (10:30 am to 6:00 pm) at 66 DAT was higher in 20-10-10 kPa treatment than in 10-10-20 kPa treatment. The Fv/Fm value decreased when the leaf temperature was increased. There was no difference in leaf growth (length, width and area) at 28 and 66 DAT, but the chlorophyll content (SPAD value) was significantly higher in 20-10-10kPa treatment. SFRR and leaf temperature increased with light intensity and temperature increased. In both treatments, the SFRR started to increase sharply between 8 am and 9 am when the solar radiation is 170 W·m-2 or higher. The soil temperature of the treatments decreased after irrigation, that showed 31.0℃ at 10-10-20kPa and 28.5℃ at 20-10-10kPa on July 5 (820W·m-2 at 1 pm). However, there was no difference in SFRR, leaf temperature, temperature difference (leaf temperature - air temperature) and VPD between treatments. SFRR was significantly positive correlate with the leaf temperature (p < 0.01, r = 0.770). The SFRR and leaf temperature showed positive significant correlation with solar radiation, temperature, soil temperature, soil moisture content and VPD. There was a negative significant correlation with relative humidity and temperature difference.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.481-495
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• 2022

This study was designed to identify the actual state of naturalized plants and invasive alien species that cause disturbances to the ecosystem, plants which are introduced after forest restoration, and explore the implications resulting from the project. Onsite examination included 29 sites which have been subjected to forest restoration by the Korea Forest Service. Once these were chosen, activity took place twice a year in the spring (May-June) and in the summer (August-September) in 2020 and 2021. Areas not relevant to the project sites were excluded from this activity so that we could identify the plants that could be understood to have been introduced or brought into the site after the actual forest restoration. And the correlation was analyzed, between the naturalized flora within the project sites and the working types applied to the site through confirmation of completion of the restoration project. The naturalized plants appearing on the entire site cover a total of 109 taxa, which includes 29 families, 80 genera, 108 species and 1 subspecies, while invasive plants included 3 families, 7 genera and 8 species. The number of classifications and the naturalization rate gradually decreased over time, after the project. While there was no significant difference between the number of classification groups and the naturalization rate for naturalized plants between project sites, given the number of taxa of naturalized plants, organized by type of damage, there were relatively more naturalized plants that appeared in the severed section of the Baekdudaegan Mountain Range, as well as at quarry and facility sites. Seeding apparently results in naturalization rates as high as 15.545%, on average, based on comparisons of naturalization rates by sowing, seeding, planting, herb planting, and sod pitching channels, all of these being methods of vegetation for planting/greening of bareland and slopes within the project areas. With no seeding, it was 9.167%, higher than the average. As for other vegetation, there was no significant difference depending on application of the working type. This means that unlike the plants subjected to planting, the working type of seed planting which makes it difficult to identify whether a certain plant is a naturalized plant greatly affects the introduction of naturalized plants to the restoration sites, even when using herb planting and sod pitching to control plants and results. Therefore the study suggests that there be inspection by experts of seeds when sowing within restoration sites. The results of this study suggest good practices that will help to direct effective vegetation restoration and follow-up management.

• Clean Technology
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.309-315
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• 2022

Research was conducted to derive the optimal operation conditions and the optimal cathode for using a DSA electrode as an anode to minimize electrode consumption during the removal of nitrogen from wastewater by the electro-chemical method. Of the various electrodes tested as cathodes, brass was determined to be the optimal electrode. It had the highest NO₃-N removal rate and the lowest concentration of residual NH₃-N, a by-product when Cl is present in the solution. Investigating the effect of current density found that when the initial concentration of NO₃-N was 50 mg L^-1, the optimal current density was 15 mA cm^-2. In addition, current densities above 15 mA cm^-2 did not significantly affect the NO₃-N removal rate. The effect of electrolytes on removing NO₃-N and minimizing NH₃-N was investigated by using Na₂SO₄ and NaCl as electrolytes and varying the reaction times. When Na₂SO₄ and NaCl are mixed at a ratio of 1.0 g L^-1 to 0.5 g L^-1 and reacted for 90 min at a current density of 15 mA cm^-2 and an initial NO₃-N concentration of 50 mg L^-1, the removal rate of NO₃-N was about 48% and there was no residual NH₃-N. On the other hand, when using only 1.5 g L^-1 of NaCl as an electrolyte, the removal rate of NO₃-N was the highest at about 55% and there was no residual NH₃-N.