• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.52 no.7
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• pp.824-831
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• 2009

Purpose : We aimed to investigate the efficacy of and functional recovery after intracerebral transplantation of different doses of mouse mesenchymal stem cells (mMSCs) in immature rat brain with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). Methods : Postnatal 7-days-old Sprague-Dawley rats, which had undergone unilateral HI operation, were given stereotaxic intracerebral injections of either vehicle or mMSCs and then tested for locomotory activity in the 2nd, 4th, 6th, and 8th week of the stem cell injection. In the 8th week, Morris water maze test was performed to evaluate the learning and memory dysfunction for a week. Results : In the open field test, no differences were observed in the total distance/the total duration (F=0.412, P=0.745) among the 4 study groups. In the invisible-platform Morris water maze test, significant differences were observed in escape latency (F=380.319, P<0.01) among the 4 groups. The escape latency in the control group significantly differed from that in the high-dose mMSC and/or sham group on training days 2-5 (Scheffe's test, P<0.05) and became prominent with time progression (F=6.034, P<0.01). In spatial probe trial and visible-platform Morris water maze test, no significant improvement was observed in the rats that had undergone transplantation. Conclusion : Although the rats that received a high dose of mMSCs showed significant recovery in the learning-related behavioral test only, our data support that mMSCs may be used as a valuable source to improve outcome in HIE. Further study is necessary to identify the optimal dose that shows maximal efficacy for HIE treatment.

• Journal of Mushroom
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.209-215
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• 2014

Changes in physical and chemical properties of oak sawdust were investigated by depth and time for 46 days during the fermentation process of 33 tons of the sawdust for oak mushroom cultivation. The degrees of change in the properties of the sawdust differed depending on the depth and fermentation period. Most of the physical-chemical properties except temperature and pH gradually changed during the fermentation. The temperature change was highly sensitive to the environment at the surface sawdust to 20 cm depth, while it gradually increased to the maximum $58.9^{\circ}C$ at 40~100 cm depths in 12 days and slowly to the maximum at 150 cm depth in 24 days. The moisture content of the sawdust decreased gradually from 31% to 26.5~28.0% in 24 days. Of the chemical properties during the fermentation, pH generally rose from 5.2 to 5.6, but it decreased to 4.4~4.7 at 150 cm depth in 16 days. While the carbon content of the sawdust was 68~70% without significant change, nitrogen content increased from 0.22% to 0.25% and thus C/N ratio gradually lowered from 320 to 280. P content in the sawdust gradually increased from 0.005% to 0.022% for 46 days. Osmotic concentration of the hot water extract of the sawdust varied 41.5~44.2 mmol/kg without significant change by the depth and time. The starch particles within initial ray parenchyma cells of sawdust decreased and fungal hyphae formed on the surface of the sawdust granules and within xylem vessel cells in 35 days. The effect of the sawdust fermentation on oak mushroom cultivation needs continued research.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.75-84
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• 2002

Purpose Acute pyelonephritis of growing kidneys may result in renal scarring. TGF-${\beta}1$, inflammatory cytokine, has been suggested to play an important role in promoting renal scarring through apoptosis, suppression of cellular proliferation and fibrosis. We observed the effects of a potent anti-inflammatory agent, methylprednisolone on apoptosis and renal scarring in experimentally induced acute pyelonephritic weaning rats. Materials and Methods: To induce ascending pyelonephritis a saline solution containing Escherichia coli type ATCC No. 25922, pili- form (107 bacteria/mL) was infused into the bladder through the 16-guage silicone cannula for 48 hours to 102 three-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats (50-60g). Experimental groups were divided into three groups according to the treatment protocols, group I (ceftriaxone only, n=3l), group II (methylprednisolone+ceftriaxone n=28), control group (n=43) was not treated. Histopathologic scores of inflammatory changes, fibrosis and tubular atrophy, the apoptosis index and TGF-${\beta}1$ expression score were observed at post-infection 1 and 3 week. Datas were analysed using ANOVA test and P value below 0.05 was interpreted as significant. Results: The mortality rate ($21.4\%$) of group II was not different to the control group ($41.9\%$) and group I ($32.3\%$). The inflammatory score of group II ($0.8{\pm}0.87$) at week 1 was significantly lower than those of the control group ($2.3{\pm}0.87$) and Group I ($1.7{\pm}0.79$) (P<0.05). Apoptosis index of group II ($2.9{\pm}2.15$) at week 1 was significantly lower than those of the control group ($10.0{\pm}1.95$) and group 1 ($8.3{\pm}2.53$) (P<0.05). TCF-${\beta}1$ expression score of group II ($0.8{\pm}0.72$) at week 1 was significantly lower than those of the control group ($1.9{\pm}0.68$) and group I ($1.8{\pm}0.60$) (P<0.05). The fibrosis score of group II ($1.1{\pm}1.10$) at week 3 was significantly lower than that of the group I ($1.8{\pm}0.83$) (P<0.05) Conclusion: Conclusion Combined treatment with methylprednisolone and ceftriaxone reduced inflammation, fibrosis, apoptosis and TGF-${\beta}1$ expression in acute pyelonephritic weaning rats, compared to ceftriaxone alone. Anti-inflammatory agent supplemented to antibiotics could prevent renal scarring more effectively. (J Korean Soc Pediatr Nephrol 2002 ; 6 : 75-84)

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.527-539
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• 2009

The Kumho River flows through volcanic and sedimentary rocks at upstream and downstream regions and also through industrial district including dyeing complex before it meets the Nakdong River, and as a result, many factors can influence the geochemistry of river water. The concentrations of dissolved ions generally increased as it flows downstream. The concentrations of cations are in the order of Ca>Na>Mg>K, and those of anions are $HCO_3$>$SO_4$>Cl>$NO_3$. These results show that the weathering of sandstone and shale containing carbonate including calcite caused the enrichment of Ca and $HCO_3$. At first 4 sampling sites, Si contents are relatively high mainly due to the weathering of silicate minerals of volcanic rocks. However, Na and $SO_4$ contents are higher at downstream sites due to the industrial and municipal sewage. Piper diagram also shows that the geochemical patterns changed from Ca-$HCO_3$ to Ca-Cl/Ca-$SO_4$ and Na-Cl/Na-$SO_4$ type. When comparing the samples collected in May and July, the concentrations of dissolved ions in July are generally lower than those in May, which indicates that dilution by precipitation played an important role. In July the relative concentration of Ca increased, indicating that Ca in soils probably from fertilizer were mixed into the river water by precipitation. The river waters are mainly from precipitation. The dissolved ions are mainly from weathering of carbonate minerals and pollutants from municipal sewage and discharged water from industrial complex. The composition of oxygen and deutrium isotope in July showed higher values, which is contrary to the amount effect, maybe due to Youngchon Dam. The nitrogen isotope showed lower values in July than those in May, which can be interpreted to indicate mixing of nitrate from soils and fertilizer in the cultivated land by the heavy rain. The isotope composition of nitrate increased downstream, indicating that the influence of sewage and animal manure also increased downstream.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.79-86
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• 2014

In previous work, we fermented coffee beans using solid-state culture with various fungal mycelia to enhance the physiological activity of the coffee. The coffee fermented with Monascus sp. showed a higher physiological activity than non-fermented coffee or other coffees fermented with mushroom mycelium. The aim of this study was to characterize the various fermented coffees with respect to their area of cultivation and their variety using Monascus purpureus (MP) mycelium solid-state culture. Thirty types of green coffee beans, which varied in terms of their cultivation area or variety, were purchased from different suppliers and fermented with MP under optimal conditions. Each MP-fermented coffee was medium roasted and extracted further using hot water (HW) under the same conditions. Of the HW extracts, those derived from MP-Mandheling coffees had the highest yield (13.6-15.5%), and MP-Robusta coffee showed a significantly higher polyphenolic content (3.03 mg gallic acid equivalent/100 mg) and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) free radical scavenging activity (27.11 mg ascorbic acid equivalent antioxidant capacity/100 mg). Furthermore, in comparison to other MP-fermented coffees at $1,000{\mu}g/mL$, MP-Robusta coffee showed not only the most effective inhibition of tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$) production in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells (67.1% of that in LPS-stimulated control cells), but also an effective inhibition of lipogenesis in 3T3-L1 adipose cells (22.2% of that in differentiated control cells). In conclusion, these results suggest that Vietnam Robusta coffee beans solid-state fermented with MP mycelium are amenable to industrial applications as a functional coffee beverage or material.

• Environmental and Resource Economics Review
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.49-82
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• 2004

The study aimed to evaluate cancer damage cost due to risk from benzene inhalation. We performed health risk assessment based on US EPA guideline to estimate annual population risk in Ulsan metropolitan city. Also, we estimated a willingness-to-pay amount for reducing a cancer mortality rate to evaluate a value of statistical life. We combined the annual population risk and the value of statistical life to calculate the cancer damage cost. In the health risk assessment, we applied the benzene unit risk ($2.2{\times}10^{-6}{\sim}7.8{\times}10^{-6}$) in the US EPA'S Integrated Risk Information System to assess the annual population risk. Average concentration of benzene in ambient air is $7.88{\mu}g/m^3$(min: 1.16~max: $23.32{\mu}g/m^3$). We targeted an exposure population of 516,641 persons who aged over 30 years old. Using a Monte-Carlo simulation for uncertainty analysis, we evaluated that the population risk of benzene during ten years in Ulsan city is 2.90 persons (5 percentile: 0.32~95 percentile: 9.11persons). And the monthly average WTP for 5/1,000 cancer mortality reduction during ten years is 14,852 Won(95% C.I: 13,135~16,794 Won) and the implied VSL is 36 million Won(95% C.I: 30~40 million Won). Cancer damage cost due to risk from benzene inhalation during 10 years in Ulsan city is about 104 million Won(5 percentile: 13~95 percentile: 328 million Won). Health benefit cost to reduce a cancer mortality risk of benzene is about 50 million Won is Ulsan metropolitann city. But, it is very important that this cost is not for all health damage cost of cancer mortality in some area. We just recommended a model for evaluating a cancer risk reduction, so we must re-evaluate an integrated application of total VOCs damage cost including benzene.

• Current Research on Agriculture and Life Sciences
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• v.6
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• pp.181-186
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• 1988

This experiment was conducted to examine the $PGF{2{\alpha}}$-induced changes in concentrations of ovarian and pituitary hormones of Korean native goats. Each goats received two injections of $PGF{2{\alpha}}$ (5mg each ; 3 hours apart) on day 10 of the estrous cycle. Jugular venous blood samples were collected at 0, 3, 6, 12, 24, 48 and 72 hours postinjection for quantification of LH, FSH, prolactin, progesterone and estradiol-$17{\beta}$. The results were summarized as follows ; The blood serum concentration of progesterone was decreased from pretreatment level of $4.15{\pm}1.8ng/ml$ to $2.52{\pm}1.2ng/ml$ (about 60%) within 3 hours and to $0.81{\pm}0.3ng/ml$ at 12 hours of the $PGF{2{\alpha}}$ injection. After 12 hours, the concentrations of progesterone were less than 1.02ng/ml by 72 hours postinjection. The concentrations of estradiol-$17{\beta}$ following treatment increased (p < 0.05) over the 72 hours. Initial concentration of LH was $3.0{\pm}0.3{\mu}IU/ml$. After treatment with $PGF{2{\alpha}}$, concentrations of LH increased within 12 hours but declined 12 and 72 hours from $4.1{\mu}IU/ml$ to $2.5{\mu}IU/ml$. Prior to administration of $PGF{2{\alpha}}$, mean concentration of FSH was $3.5{\pm}0.5{\mu}IU/ml$. Concentrations of FSH declined over time in goats treated with $PGF{2{\alpha}}$ on day 10 postestrus. The mean prolactin concentrations in the blood serum after $PGF{2{\alpha}}$ treatment were not significantly different from those of the pretreatment. It is concluded that the initial increase in LH is dependent on a decrease in serum progesterone and differences in patterns of secretion of gonadotropins might be caused by differences in progesterone or progesterone-estradiol ratio when luteal regression is induced on day 10 of the estrous cycle.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.243-258
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• 1977

1 The coastal area between Youngdo and Jodo was a common coastal water not much different from other coastal waters before the construction of the breakwater between them. 2. The breakwater between the two islands shuts off the tidal currents and divides the area . into the two small isolated bays to create quite different environments. 3. To understand the differences between then, present study examined some environmental factors such as water temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, transparency, and major nutrients, phosphates, sillicates and nitrites and the phytoand zooplankton. The samplings were carried out monthly from March 1976 to February 1977 at 4 stations: 2 stations in each bay. 4. Some differences were observed in the environmental factors such as water temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen and transparency between the two bays. 5. The distribution and occurence of nutrient salts of the two bays were distinctly different each other. Northern Bay had $138\%$ of nutrients in comparison with Southern Bay. 6. Phytoplankton in Northern Bay was about $200\%$ plentier than in Southern Bay. 7. Zooplankton in Southern Bay was about $180\%$ richer than in Northern Bay. 8. One of the pollution indicator species, Synedra ulna, was observed in Northern Bay and the occurence of Euglena sp. and ciliates were much higher in Northern Bay than in Southern Bay, but, in contrast, Sagitta sp. was more abundant in Southern Bay than in the other. 9. The areas of the two bays seem to be in its way to eutrophication especially in Northern Bay. 10. The two bays have been differentiated enough to identify each other.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.658-665
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• 2013

In this study, we measured particulate matter(PM) which emerged as the hot issue from the International Maritime Organization(IMO) and the exhaust emission using HANBADA, the training ship of Korea Maritime University. In particular, the PM was obtained with TEM grid. PM structure was observed by electron microscopy. And exhaust gases such as NOx, $CO_2$, and CO were measured using the combustion gas analyzer(PG-250A, HORIBA). The results of this study are as follows. 1) When the ship departed from the port, the maximum difference in PM emissions were up to 30 % due to the Bunker Change. 2) Under the steady navigation, emission of PM was $1.34mg/m^3$ when Bunker-A is changing L.R.F.O(3 %). And, at the fixed L.R.F.O (3 %), emission of PM was $1.19mg/m^3$. When the main engine RPM increased up to 20 % with fixed L.R.F.O(3 %), emission of PM was $1.40mg/m^3$. When we changed to low quality oil(L.R.F.O(3 %)), CO concentration from main engine increased about 16 %. On the other hand, when the main engine RPM is rising up to 20 %, CO concentration is increased more than 152 percent. These results imply that the changes of RPM is a dominant factor in exhaust emission although fuel oil type is an important factor. 3) The diameter of PM obtained with TEM grid is about $4{\sim}10{\mu}m$ and its structure shows porous aggregate.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.142-147
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• 2008

Nuruk is the Korean traditional Koji that contains various microorganisms and has been used to make the traditional fermented foods including alcoholic beverages. Rhizopus oryzae KSD-815 was isolated from the alcohol-fermenting Nuruk used for manufacturing traditional alcohol. In this study, the authors reported the isolation and identification of four lipids from the Nuruk (Rhizopus oryzae KSD-815) that inoculated wheat with Rhizopus oryzae KSD-815. The dried and powdered Nuruk (Rhizopus oryzae KSD-815) were extracted three times at room temperature with 80% aqueous MeOH. The extracts were partitioned with EtOAc, n-BuOH, and water, successively. The EtOAc extract was suspended in 80% MeOH and partitioned repeatedly with n-hexane. From the n-hexane fraction, four lipids were isolated through the repeated silica gel and ODS column chromatographies. According to the results of physico-chemical data including NMR, GC and MS, the chemical structures of the compounds were determined as linolenic acid methyl ester (1), palmitic acid methyl ester (2), linoleic acid (3), palmitic acid (4). Cytotoxicity was evaluated in huamn breast cancer cells, MDA-MB-231 and human hepatocarcinoma, SK-HEP-1 cells using MTT assay. Exposure of compounds 1 and 3 led to a dose-dependent inhibition of cell viability in both cancer cell lines. In addition, treatment of RAW264.7 cells with compound 3 caused inhibition of lipopolysaccharide/interferon-${\gamma}$-induced nitric oxide production.