• Development and Reproduction
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.97-104
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• 2002

In most mammals, mature oocyte-cumulus complexer(OCCs) ovulate into the oviduct where fertilization by sperm takes place. However, the complex that fail to fertilize eventually undergoes degeneration while they reside in the oviduct. Yet there is no blown mechanism how both oocyte and cumulus cells degenerate. Using human follicular fluid (hFF), bovine oviductal tissue extract (BOX) and mouse OCC, the present study aimed to find how the oviduct influence the viability of the oocyte and cumulus cells in vitro. There was no difference of oocyte maturation rate between the control and BOX-treated groups. However, there was a significant difference in the survival of cumulus cells between two groups. Cumulus cells cultured in the presence of hFF alone underwent initially expansion and then they formed monolayer in the culture dish. Even after 72 hr, they proliferated well and showed fibroblast-like morphology. Cumulus cells cultured in the presence of both hFF and BOX also expanded after 24 hr, however, after 72 hr culture, they eventually detached and degenerated. Cumulus cells cultured in the BOX alone gave a similar drastic result. When the cumulus cells cultured in the presence of BOX were stained with DAPI, their nuclei showed partial condensation and fragmentation. After detailed analysis of these cells by TUNEL assay, many nuclei of them exhibited well stained spots indicating the signs of apoptosis. Based upon these observations, it is suggested that BOX might possess a factor that leads mouse cumulus cells to undergo apoptosis in vitro.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.211-217
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• 2001

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of Zn and Cu on physiological responses of tobacco at the different leaf ages for the purpose of phytoremediation of heavy metal contaminated field. Plant height was significantly decreased at Zn and Cu concentrations of 1.0 mM or higher. Especially, root dry weight decreased more (50% reduced) than shoot dry weight. Zn and Cu accumulation in the shoot and root was dramatically increased after 2.0 mM treatment. The accumulation pattern was different by leaf aging in that Zn accumulated more in senescence leaf and Cu accumulated more in growing leaf. The amounts of heavy metal accumulations per plant were 146,000 mg/kg for Zn and 20,500 mg/kg for Cu at 2.0 mM treatment. The proper harvesting time would be suggested as vegetative growth stage for Zn and reproductive stage for Cu. The concentrations of other inorganic ions (Mg, Mn, Fe) were decreased when Zn and Cu concentrations were increased. Cu concentration and Zn concentration of both shoot and root were decreased in Zn treatment and Cu treatment, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.157-162
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• 2006

Objective of this research was to evaluate optimal conditions of arsenic adsorption in water by zero-valent iron (ZVI). Batch experiment showed that adsorption of arsenic by ZVI followed a Langmuir isotherm model. The masses of As(V) adsorbed onto ZVI were increased as decreasing pH of the reacting solution (pH 3: 2.05, pH 5: 1.82, pH 7: 1.24, pH 9: 1.03 mg As/g $Fe^0$) and as increasing the temperature ($15^{\circ}C$ : 1.59, $25^{\circ}C$ : 1.81, 35 : $1.93^{\circ}C$ mg As/g $Fe^0$). The SEM and EDS (energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer) analysis of morphology and structure of ZVI before and after reacting with arsenic in water revealed that a relatively smooth and large surface of ZVI was transformed into a coarse and small surface particle after the reaction. The EDS spectra on the chemical composition of ZVI demonstrated that arsenic was incorporated into ZVI by adsorption mechanism. The XRD analysis also identified that the only peak for $Fe^0$ in the ZVI before the reaction and confirmed that $Fe^0$ was transformed into $Fe_2O_3$ and FeOOH, and As into $FeAsO_4{\cdot}2H_2O$.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.52-58
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• 2005

In Korea, little attention has been paid to microbial perchloroethylene (PCE) and/or trichloroethylene (TCE) dechlorination activity and identification of microorganisms involved in PCE reductive dechlorination at a PCE-contaminated aquifer. We performed microcosm tests using the groundwater samples from 4 different contaminated sites (i.e. Changwon A, Changwon B, Bucheon and Yangsan) to assess PCE reductive dechlorination activity. We also adapted molecular techniques to screen what types of known reductive dechlorinators are present at the PCE-contaminated aquifers. In the Changwon A and Changwon B active microcosms where potential electron donors such as sodium propionate, sodium lactate, sodium butyrate, and sodium fumarate, were added, ethylene, an end-product of complete reductive dechlorination of PCE, was detected after a period of 90 days of incubation. In the Bucheon and Yangsan active microcosms, cis-1,2-dichloroethylene (c-DCE) was accumulated without the production of vinyl chloride (VC) and ethylene. Molecular techniques were used to evaluate the microbial community structures in the Changwon B and Yangsan aquifer. We found two sequence types that were closely related to a known PCE to ethylene dechlorinator, named uncultured bacterium clone DCE47, in the Changwon B site clone library. However, in the Yangsan site clone library, no sequence type was closely related to known PCE dechlorinators reported. It is plausible that microorganisms being capable of completely dechlorinating PCE to ethylene may be present in the Changwon B site aquifer. In this study we find that complete PCE reductive dechlorinators are present at some PCE-contaminated sites in Korea. In an engineering point of view this information makes it feasible to apply a biological reductive dechlorination process for remediating PCE- and/or TCE-contaminated aquifers in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.265-273
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• 2005

Chemical properties and heavy metal concentrations of forest soils of four abandoned coal mine lands affected by coal mining activities in the Mungyeong area were investigated to provide basic information for revegetation of abandoned coal mine lands. Soil pH in abandoned coal mine lands ranged from 5.30 to 6.76 it in the control site was 5.23. Contents of organic matter and total N in abandoned coal mine lands were $4.46\~7.19\%\;and\;0.07\~0.15\%$, respectively. Available P contents were 6.54 for A (Samchang), 6.52 for B (Bongmyeong),3.94 fur C (Kabjung), 5.45 mg/kg for D (Danbong coal mine land) and 5.25 mg/kg for the control site, which had a positive correlation with soil pH. Contents of exchangeable Ca, Mg, K and Na in abandoned coal mile lands averaged 196.1, 88.7, 88.2 and $10.2cmol^+/kg$, with a range of $132.1\~242.1,\;24.2\~138.\; 64.9\~120.8\;and\;8\~12.2cmol^+/kg$, respectively. Those of the control site were 192.8, 95.8, 104 and $21.2 cmol^+/kg$, respectively. Heavy metals such as Al, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn of forest soil in abandoned coal mine lands have a larger content than those of the control site. Al, Mn and fb content was especially high in abandoned coal mine lands. The Al content of forest soil in abandoned coal mine lands ranged from 397 to 917 ppm, which was considered to be high enough to inhibit tree growth. Therefore, it is suggested that soils of abandoned coal mine lands contaminated by mining activities need to be properly treated for remediation of environmental problems.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.685-693
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• 2008

The rates of oxidative degradation of perchloroethene (PCE) and trichloroethene (TCE) using $KMnO_4$ solution were evaluated under the flow condition using a bench-scale transport experimental setup. Parameters which are considered to affect the reaction rates tested in this study were the contact time (or retention time), and the concentration of oxidizing agent. A glass column packed with coarse sand was used for simulating the aquifer condition. Contact time between reactants was controlled by changing the flow rate of the solution through the column. The inflow concentrations of PCE and TCE were controlled constant within the range of $0.11{\sim}0.21\;mM$ and $1.3{\sim}1.5\;mM$, respectively. And the contact time was $14{\sim}125$ min for PCE and $15{\sim}36$ min for TCE. The $KMnO_4$ concentration was controlled constant during experiment in the range of $0.6{\sim}2.5\;mM$. It was found that the reduction of PCE and TCE concentrations were inversely proportional to the contact time. The exact reaction order for the PCE and TCE degradation reaction could not be determined under the experimental condition used in this study. However, the estimated reaction rate constants assuming pseudo-1st order reaction agree with those reported based on batch studies. TCE degradation rate was proportional to $KMnO_4$ concentration. This was considered to be the result of using high inflow concentrations of reactant, which might be the case at the vicinity of the source zones in aquifer. The results of this study, performed using a dynamic flow system, are expected to provide useful information for designing and implementing a field scale oxidative removal process for PCE/TCE-contaminated sites.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.299-304
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• 2001

For the remediation of the contaminated soil with heavy metals, Cd, Cr, Cu, and Pb, the reaction parameters were optimized. Tartaric acid (TA) and oxalic acid(OA) as a washing agent and recovery of metals, The optimum washing conditions of TA and OA were in the ratio of 1 : 20 between soil and acid solution during 2hr reaction under unbuffered pH solutions. At the optimized reaction conditions, the removal efficiencies were compared with that of 0.1 M HCl and ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid(EDTA). TA showed higher efficiency on the removal of Pb than that of EDTA, which established for the remediation of contaminated soil with Pb and Cd metals. The recovery of metal ions from washing solution was achieved by adding calcium hydroxide and sodium sulfide by forming the precipitation of metal hydroxide and metal slfied. Optimum amounts of sodium sulgide and calcium hydroxide were Cd = 25g/$\ell$, Cu = 5~10g/$\ell$ and Pb = 5~10g/$\ell$ for the washing solution of OA and 2~5g/$\ell$ for the washing solution of TA, respectively. The amounts of $Na_2S$ and $CA(OH)_2$ for the tartaric acid was less than that of oxalic acid.

• The Inventors News
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• no.51
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• pp.1-16
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• 2006

함께 즐기는 '여성 발명인 축제'열린다/이 가을을 여성 발명의 계절로/빠진 영구치, 임플란트 기술로 대신한다/국내 의약품 특허출원 외국 기업이 주도/웰빙 붐 타고 기능성 베개 출원 늘어나/토양오염 복원기술, 관심 높아져/기업 CI교체 따른 상표출원 급증/여성경제단체, 오세훈 서울 시장 초청 간담회 가져/'2006대한민국 발명특허대전' 개최/특허청, 중소기업 특허경영 지원단 발족/한국특허문헌, WIPO로 전세계 서비스 실시/APEC 여성지도자네트워크 회의 개최/'2006 특허기술 사업화 성공사례발표회'/세계최초 신개념 CTF기술 상용화/특허청, 제4회 발명 장학생 선발/김치, 러시아 모스크바에 진출한다/고속 주행 틸팅열차 특허로 인정/현직 공무원, 다양한 발명품으로 특허와 되다/자신만의 'TV채널' 선택 가능하다/전지산업, 이온성 액체 관련 특허로 안전하게/명확한 의견 제출로 효율적인 심판 진행/치매예방물질 2배인 김치 개발됐다/한국과학기술연구원 논문 특허심의제도 도입/'한국 오시면 KISS로 맞이합니다'/삼성전자, 중국 특허 마쓰시타 아성 깨다/싱가포르 수출 인큐베이터로 중소기업 해외시장 공략/특허청, 영남대와 지식재산역량 강화 위한 약정 체결/깎는 횟수 줄인 잔디, 세계최초 개발/순창군, 웰빙 고추장 특허출원/역사 속의 발명품/하루 10분 발명교실/특허Q&A/케이제이알텍(주)문승자 대표/한.일 변리사회 업무협정체결 25주년 기념식 개최/중소기업청, 하반기 18조원 신용보증 공급 계획/'2006 대만 국제발명품 전시회'서 한국 참가자 수상/'불났을 때' 긴급 대피 요령은?/아이디어 착상 및 발명 기법/창의성과 도전정신이 성공한 사업가 만든다/사탕을 탄생시킨 사람들/'휴대폰 특허료 1.3억불 내라' 중재 결정/'신발깔창 휴대폰 충전기'/휴대폰으로 광고 받고 무료 문자 이용 가능/아파트 저작권.특허 열풍 거세게 불어/'골다공증 예방 요구르트' 나왔다/갈증 느끼지 않아도 '물' 자주 마셔라/10월 '지재권 및 여성발명 창의교실' 개최안내/한국여성발명협회 회원사 발명품 가이드/함씨네토종콩종합식품, 특선 수상/

• Journal of the Korean Society of Groundwater Environment
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.188-193
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• 1999

Transport of pollutants in aquifer largely depends on groundwater flow which is governed by aquifer hydraulic parameters. Determination of these parameters and associated groundwater modeling become essential for adequate remediation of contaminate groundwater. The objective of this paper is to analyze groundwater flow and determine the optimum hydraulic parameters by performing groundwater modeling based on sensitivity analysis for unconfined sandy gavel aquifer constructed in a laboratory scale under various boundary condition. Results revealed that the simulated drawdown was lower than the observed drawdown irrespective of boundary conditions. and specific yield (S$_{y}$) had less effect on the grondwater flow than permeability (K) in the aquifer. Water balance analysis showed that the measured drawdown in neighboring observation wells during pumping was higher than either simulated or recovered water table. The indicated that a difference might exist in the water tables between aquifer and wells. The difference was investigated by time domain reflectometry (TDR) measurements on water contents in the region of water table and capillary fringe, and explained by a delayed response of water table during gravitational drainage as the water table was lowered as a result of pumping.g.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.67-72
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• 2014

Minimal broth containing nicotine as a sole carbon source (MB/N) was used to isolate novel nicotine-degrading bacterial strains from tobacco plants and field soils. Comparative analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequence, phenotypic test and morphological tests showed that the position of these isolates were in the genus Arthrobacter of the family Micrococcaceae. The highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of the isolate NU11 and NU15 to type strains in the genus Arthrobacter were Arthrobacter equi (98.2%) which was presumably a novel strain and Arthrobacter nicotinovorans (99.8%), respectively. Both strain NU11 and NU15 showed rod shaped, Gram-positive characteristics and catalase activity, but did not show oxidase activity. The novel strain NU11 was found to degrade efficiently nicotine in MB/N medium by the analysis of UV absorption spectra and could be used as an organism in bioremediation technique.