• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.23 no.3 s.59
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• pp.315-321
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• 2005

The population of river otter (Lutra lutra) has been declined most of the world due to hunting, habitat destruction and indirect or direct influences of eutrophication, acidification and toxic chemicals. This study is conducted to identify the population decline of river otter in Korea with relation to environmental pollution caused by accumulation of heavy and flared metals. The field survey was conducted during Jan~Dec, 2004 at a monthly basis by collecting spraints. A total of 228 spraints were collected and analysis was done by ICP-AES. The concentrations of fourteen metals (Cr, Zn, Cd, Pb, Ni, Fe, Co, Mn, Mg, Cu, Al, Ba Hg, As) have been determined. Annual concentrations of Cd $(1.38{\mu}g\;g^{-1}),\;Zn\;(599.06\;{\mu}g\;g^{-1}),\;Pb\;(5.54\;{\mu}g\;g^{-1})$ at Gucheon were higher than those of Yeonchocheon. Concentrations of $Cr\;(5.01{\mu}g\;g^{-1}),\;Ni\;(1.91{\mu}g\;g^{-1}),\;Co\;(0.25{\mu}g\;g^{-1})$ were higher at Yeonchocheon. Most metals in winter were significantly increased (P<0.05) as season progressed from spring to winter. $Pb\;(15.58{\mu}g\;g^{-1}),\;Cu\;(15.15{\mu}g\;g^{-1}),\;a;Guchoen\;and\;Cr\;(5.77{\mu}g\;g^{-1})$ at Yeonchocheon were high in the downstream of winter.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.453-458
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• 2010

DOC (Dissolved Organic Carbon) is an operational terminology for organic carbon molecules dissolved in natural waters. DOC has been studied by ecologists extensively, because it plays a key role in various ecological functions such as substrates for secondary production and the carbon cycle. DOC also represents a substrate for microbial growth within potable water distribution systems, and can react with disinfectants (e.g., chloride) to form harmful disinfection by-products. In addition, residual DOC may carry with it organically bound toxic heavy metals. DOC in aquatic ecosystems may ultimately be transported to the oceans, or released back to the atmosphere by heterotrophic respiration, which can accelerate global climate change. There is evidence that DOC concentrations in aquatic ecosystems are increasing in many regions of the world including Europe, North America, and even in Korea. Land use changes, elevated temperature, elevated $CO_2$, recovery from acidification, and nitrogen deposition have been proposed as mechanisms for the trend. However, the key driving mechanism is yet to be conclusively determined. We propose that more extensive and longer-term observations, research of chemical properties of DOC, impacts of elevated DOC on environmental issues and interdisciplinary approaches are warranted as future studies to fill the gaps in our knowledge about DOC dynamics.

• Mycobiology
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.172-177
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• 2017

The genus Paxillus is characterized by the difficulty of species identification, which results in reproducibility problems, as well as the need for large quantities of fungal inoculum. In particular, studies of Paxillus ammoniavirescens have reported divergent results in the in vitro growth while little is known of its capacity to degrade organic matter. For all the above, and assuming that this variability could be due to an inappropriate culture media, the aim of this study was to analyse growth in different culture media (MMN, MS, and 1/2 MS) and in the case of MMN in presence/absence of two types of organic matter (fresh litter and senescence litter) to probe the saprophytic ability of P. ammoniavirescens. We also evaluated the effects of pH changes in the culture media. Growth kinetics was assessed by weekly quantification of the area of growth in solid culture media over 5 wk, calculating the growth curves and inflection points of each culture media. In addition, final biomass after 5 wk in the different culture media was calculated. Results showed that best culture media are MS and 1/2 MS. Moreover, an improvement in growth in culture media containing decomposing fall litter was observed, leading to confirm differences in the culture media of this species with others of the same genus. Further, we established that all growth media suffered a significant acidification after fungal growth.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.34 no.11
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• pp.3405-3409
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• 2013

The activation of heat shock factor 1 (HSF1) can be induced by the changes in environmental pH, but the mechanism of HSF1 activation by acidification is not completely understood. This paper reports that a low pH (pH~6.0) can trigger human HSF1 activation. Considering the involvement of the imidazole group of histidine residues under acid pH stress, an in vitro EMSA experiment, Trp-fluorescence spectroscopy, and protein structural analysis showed that the residue, His83, is the essential for pH-dependent human HSF1-activation. To determine the roles of His83 in the HSF1-mediated stress response affecting the cellular acid resistance, mouse embryo fibroblasts with normal wild-type or mutant mouse HSF1 expression were preconditioned by heating or pH stress. The results suggest that His83 is essential for HSF1 activation or the HSF1-mediated transcription of heat shock proteins, in protecting cells from acid pH stress.

• Journal of Power System Engineering
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.72-78
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• 2018

With growing concerns over air pollutions attributed to shipping activities, the international maritime organization has enacted a series of stringent regulations. In particular, MARPOL Annex IV Reg. 16 requires sulfur contents from exhaust gases of marine engines to be progressively reduced. To comply with this regulation, three feasible options have been introduced: using LNG as a marine fuel, using heavy fuel oil with the scrubber system, and using the marine gas oil (a type of low sulfur fuel oil). For the objectives of this paper, the holistic environmental impacts pertinent to these options were investigated and compared in ways that the flows of energy and emission were tracked and quantified through the life cycle of the ship. Research findings obtained from a case study with a large bulk carrier showed that the use of the scrubber system to purify heavy fuel oil would produce relatively fewer amounts of emissions attributing to global warming than other two options. On the other than, the use of LNG would be the way to operate the ship in a cleaner way in terms of reducing the acidification, eutrophication, and photochemical effects. Throughout the analysis, the excellence of life cycle assessment was proven to shift the environmental impact of marine systems from the short-term view to the long-term one.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.126-131
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• 1996

The effects of various synthetic benzimidazole derivatives on gastric H^+/K^+$ATPase activity in vitro were examined. The results showed that the effects of substituents on the benzimidazole ring were not significant. However, replacement of sulfoxide connecting two ring systems to sulfide resulted in a completely inactive compound in vitro, suggesting the essential role of sulfoxide group in the inhibition. In addition, compounds with 5 or 6-membered oxacyclic substituents attached to the pyridine ring displayed the most effective inhibitory activity. Among these derivatives, AU-47 was the most potent, and detailed mechanistic studies with the compound were carried out. AU-47 inhibited gastricH^+/K^+$ATPase in a concentration and time dependent manner with 50% inhibition at $6\muM$. The presence of sulfhydryl reducing agents or substrate analogue protected H^+/K^+$ATPase from the inactivation. The inhibition by AU-47 was potentiated by acid pretreatment of the compound, suggesting the structural conversion of AU-47 into a more active intermediate which was favored in acidic condition. Consistent with in vitro results, AU-47 inhibited in vivo gastric acid secretion. The results suggest that AU47 is a relevant candidate for the development of new antiulcer agent.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.46-49
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• 1994

When Coprinus congregatus was cultivated in low pH YpSs medium(pH 4.2), the culture supernatant turned brown earlier than that of normal(pH 7.1) medium resulted from the melanization synthesized by the secreted laccase reaction. The pH of medium became 5.2 after 24 h incubation. Laccase which was deeply related to the fungal development might also be implicated in the neutralization of excess hydrogen ions to protect from acidification of cytoplasm.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.227-234
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• 2002

Laboratory experiments were conducted to examine the behavior of metalaxyl in environment which was used as pesticide in green soil of golf course and as functions of the characteristics of adsorption, desorption and degradation in soil texture and organic matter contents. Acid water containing metalaxyl was conducted to evaluate the effects on adsorption, desorption and degradation. The adsorption of metalaxyl played more significant role in organic contents than clay contents, and pH Increases more pH 2.5 than pH 5.6. The desorption of metalaxyl from contaminants soil decreased higher organic contents LS-soil than S-soil, but the desorption amount of metalaxyl increased more pH 5.6 than pH 2.5. The rate of degradation of metalaxyl in green soil environmental increased higher organic contents LS-soil than S-soil and decreased more pH 2.5 than pH 5.6. These results indicated that the behavior of metalaxyl of the green soil was affected the soil texture of the golf course. Increasing of organic contents, the adsorption amount of metalaxyl on soil increased. Moreover the decrease of the pH of solution increased adsorption amounts and decreased desorption amounts. As the results, the transportation of metalaxyl in soil decreased the acidic rates. The acidification of soil by the acid rain increased the adsorption amount of metalaxyl, but the degradation of metalaxyl decreased. Therefore, it is possible to sustain contamination in run-off the stream and ground water by residuals in soil.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.31 no.4 s.85
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• pp.294-300
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• 2005

Food waste can be a valuable carbon source in biological nutrient removal (BNR) systems because of high C/N and C/P ratios. However, food waste should be pretreated to promote its hydrolysis rate because hydrolysis reaction would be a rate-limiting step. This study investigates the influence of the enzymatic pretreatment on acid fermentation of food waste. Solubilization of particulate matter in food waste by using commercial enzymes was examined. The acidification efficiency and the volatile fatty acids (VFAs) production potential of enzymatically pretreated food waste were also examined. The highest volatile suspended solids (VSS) reduction was obtained with an enzyme mixture ratio of 1:2:1 of carbohydrase:protease:lipase. An optimum enzyme dosage for solubilization of food waste was $0.1\%$(V/V) with the enzyme mixture ratio of 1:2:1. In the acid fermentation of enzymatically pretreated food waste, $0.1\%$(V/V) enzyme mixture dosage for pretreatment result in the maximum VFAs production and the best VFAs fraction in soluble COD(SCOD). The VFAs production at this addition level was 3.3 times higher than that of no-enzyme added fermenter. The dominant VFAs present was n-butyrate followed by acetate.

• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers A
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• v.48 no.8
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• pp.1046-1053
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• 1999

The musculotendon model is presented to show the declines in muscle force and shortening velocity during muscle fatigue due to the repeated functional electrical stimulation (FES). It consists of the nonlinear activation and contraction dynamics including physiological concepts of muscle fatigue. The activation dynamics represents $Ca^{2+}$ binding and unbinding mechanism with troponins of cross-bridges in sarcoplasm. It has the constant binding rate or activation time constant and two step nonlinear unbinding rate or inactivation time constant. The contraction dynamics is the modified Hill type model to represent muscle force - length and muscle force - velocity relations. A muscle fatigue profile as a function of the intracellular acidification, pH is applied into the contraction dynamics to represent the force decline. The computer simulation shows that muscle force and shortening velocity decline in stimulation time. And we validate the model. The model can predicts the proper muscle force without changing its parameters even when existing the estimation errors of the optimal fiber length. The change in the estimate of the optimal fiber length has an effect only on muscle time constant in transient period not on the tetanic force in the steady-state and relaxation periods.