• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.20 no.10
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• pp.1503-1509
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• 2007

Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is an important factor in regulation of cardiovascular tone in humans and mammals, but the biological function of ET-1 in the avian vascular system has not been determined. The purpose of this study was to characterize the role of endogenous ET-1 in the vascular system of poultry by investigating the effect of endothelin A receptor ($ET_AR$) antagonist BQ123 on the femoral artery pressure (FAP) and the pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) in broiler chickens. First, we found that plasma and lung homogenate ET-1 levels were both increased with age over the seven weeks life cyccle of broiler chickens. Second, 60 min after intravenous injection, BQ123 ($0.4{\mu}g\;kg^{-1}$ and $2.0{\mu}g\;kg^{-1}$, respectively) induced a significant reduction in FAP and PAP (p<0.05). Third, chronic infusion of BQ123 ($2.0{\mu}g\;kg^{-1}$ each time, two times a day) into abdominal cavities led to significant decrease in systolic pressure of the femoral (p<0.05) and pulmonary arteries (p<0.01) in broiler chickens at 7 and 14 days after treatment. Taken together, the $ET_AR$ antagonist BQ123 lead to a significant reduction of FAP and PAP, which suggests that endogenous ET-1 may be involved in the maintenance and regulation of systemic and pulmonary pressure in broiler chickens.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.260-264
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• 2018

Poly (ethylene oxide) (PEO)/Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs)(precursor : $AgBF_4$)/p-benzoquinone (p-BQ) composite membrane was prepared for olefin/paraffin separation. As a result, the performance of composite membrane was observed to be maintained at selectivity of 10 and permeance of 15 GPU up to 100 hours. The performance of the membrane was maintained for 100 hours was attributable to that Ag ions could be converted into stable Ag NPs by addition of p-BQ. Furthermore, the surface was partially polarized by the electron acceptor p-BQ, resulting in the formation of olefin carrier. In this study, since the cost of $AgBF_4$ used as a precursor of Ag NPs was relatively higher, $AgNO_3$ was utilized. As a result, it was confirmed that $AgNO_3$ couldn't show the stable formation of nanoparticle, resulting in the poor separation performance.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.7-13
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• 2012

The real-time monitoring of radon ($^{222}Rn$) concentrations has been carried out to evaluate the background concentration level of atmospheric radon in Gosan site, Jeju Island. The mean concentration of radon for the recent 10 years was 2831 $mBq/m^3$ (0.077 pCi/L), which was 19.5 time lower than that of indoor radon in Korea. The seasonal concentrations were 2657, 2071, 3249, 3384 $mBq/m^3$ respectively for spring, summer, fall, and winter seasons. In monthly comparison, the radon concentrations were high in October and low in July. The hourly concentrations have increased during the nighttime, showing 3666 $mBq/m^3$ at 7 a.m., and decreased relatively during the daytime, showing 2755 $mBq/m^3$ at 2~3 p.m. From the back trajectory analysis, the radon concentrations showed higher values when the air mass was moved from the Asia continent to Jeju area, on the other hand, it showed low values when it was moved from the North Pacific Ocean.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.109-118
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• 2016

Objectives: To review reference levels by the international and domestic management and provide the basis for setting occupational exposure limits(OELs) of radon in Korea Methods: Government's organizations with laws and systems for monitoring radon exposure were investigated and compared. There are five laws governing Indoor Air Quality(IAQ) control such as Occupational Safety and Health Act, Indoor Air Quality Control in Public Use Facilities, Etc. Act, School Health Act, Public Health Control Act and Parking Lot Act in Korea. It was surveyed that a total of 32 countries including 24 countries in the European Union(EU), six countries in Asian and two countries in North America setting the reference levels for radon in the world. Results: In Korea, there are set guidelines for radon in the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Education. Reference levels of radon for existing dwellings were $150{\sim}400Bq/m^3$ for Western European countries, and $200{\sim}1,500Bq/m^3$ in Eastern European countries. Approximately 67% of those EU countries were set up $400Bq/m^3$ to the standards for existing dwellings. EU countries such as Luxembourg, Finland, Norway, Sweden and Russia had adopted mandatory level for radon. Radon guidelines for new dwellings were set more strictly reference level($200Bq/m^3$) than existing dwellings. Conclusions: International organizations such as ICRP, UNSCEAR and NCRP, etc. had recommended the guidelines for radon. It was calculated the relation of the dose conversion factors with the annual effective doses. the OELs of radon suggest to need to establish $150Bq/m^3$ for office room and $400{\sim}1,000Bq/m^3$ for the workplace.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.23-28
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• 2009

Medical radiation therapy using radioactive isotope I-131 is an extremely critical part of nuclear medicine. It is important to evaluate patients' radiation exposure dose for the safe handling of radiation in the medical area. Cautions related to patients' exposure to radiation are as follows. First, the dose should not exceed the level required for medical purpose. Second, unnecessary exposure should be avoided. Third, it should be considered carefully first whether the same medical purpose is attainable without the use of radiation. For these purposes, we need to evaluate patients' radiation exposure dose. Thus, in order to promote the safety of patients in medical wards, this study sampled air using an air sampler and measured the radioactivity of the sample using a gamma counter. According to the results of measuring I-131 in medical wards, the highest level, the average and the lowest level were $404.11Bq/m^3$, $228.27Bq/m^3$ and $126.17Bq/m^3$, respectively.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.49 no.8
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• pp.1752-1757
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• 2017

The aim of this study is to evaluate the radioactivity levels and radiological impacts of representative black sand samples collected from different locations in the Rashid area, Egypt. These samples were prepared and then analyzed using the high-resolution gamma ray spectroscopy technique with a high-purity germanium detector. The activity concentration ($A_c$), minimum detectable activity, absorbed gamma dose rate, external hazard index ($H_{ex}$), annual effective dose rate equivalent, radium equivalent, as well as external and internal hazard index ($H_{ex}$ and $H_{in}$, respectively) were estimated based on the measured radionuclide concentration of the $^{238}U$($^{226}Ra$) and $^{232}Th$ decay chains and $^{40}K$. The activity concentrations of the $^{238}U$, $^{232}Th$ decay series and $^{40}K$ of these samples varied from $45.11{\pm}3.1Bq/kg$ to $252.38{\pm}34.3Bq/kg$, from $64.65{\pm}6.1Bq/kg$ to $579.84{\pm}53.1Bq/kg$, and from $403.36{\pm}20.8Bq/kg$ to $527.47{\pm}23.1Bq/kg$, respectively. The activity concentration of $^{232}Th$ in Sample 1 has the highest value compared to the other samples; this value is also higher than the worldwide mean range as reported by UNSCEAR 2000. The total absorbed gamma dose rate and the annual effective dose for these samples were found to vary from 81.19 nGy/h to 497.81 nGy/h and from $99.86{\mu}Sv/y$ to $612.31{\mu}Sv/y$, which are higher than the world average values of 59 nGy/h and $70{\mu}Sv/y$, respectively. The $H_{ex}$ values were also calculated to be 3.02, 0.47, 0.63, 0.87, 0.87, 0.51 and 0.91. It was found that the calculated value of $H_{ex}$ for Sample 1 is significantly higher than the international acceptable limit of <1. The results are tabulated, depicted, and discussed within national and international frameworks, levels, and approaches.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.57-66
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• 1988

A series of experiments is performed to measure radon concentration in the near-surface soil gas at the four locations (Cheju-Si, Seoguipo-Si, Taejeong-eup, Seongsan-eup) in Cheju Island, using CR-39 detectors placed inside radon cups. Two types of radon cups are installed in shallow holes of about 15 cm in diameter and 50cm in depth. The optimum etching conditions, i.e., the concentration of NaOH solution, etchant temperature and etching time, are found to be 625N, $70^{\circ}C$ and 5.5 hours for CR-39 detectors. A typical conversion factor of radon cup is calculated as $$1track/mm^3{\cdot}30day=0.059Bq/{\ell}$$. Average radon concentrations over 30 days measured in Cheju Island from May 1, 1987 to April 23, 1988 are $3.1{\pm}0.3Bq/{\ell}$ for open radon cups and $1.7{\pm}0.2Bq/{\ell}$ for closed radon cups.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.164-168
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• 1999

For investigating transfer factors of $^{137}Cs$ in the arable land of Korea, mature crop plants and topsoils were collected from paddy and upland fields located at 33 areas of the country and $^{137}Cs$ concentrations were measured by ${\gamma}-spectrometry$. The $^{137}Cs$ concentrations in soil were in the range of $0.7{\sim}17.7$ Bq/kg-dry in the paddy fields and $1.2{\sim}27.8$ Bq/kg-dry in the upland fields. The $^{137}Cs$concentrations in hulled seed, detected for 12 areas only, were in the range of $0.019{\sim}0.111$ Bq/kg-dry and those in Chinese cabbage, detected also for 12 areas only, were in the range of $0.012{\sim}0.066$ Bq/kg-fresh. Soil-to-plant transfer factors of $^{137}Cs$ were in the range of $1.2{\times}10^{-3}{\sim}1.1{\times}10^{-2}$ for hulled seed and $6.8{\times}10^{-4}{\sim}1.7{\times}10^{-2}$ for Chinese cabbage. Inboth plant stuffs, the factor tended to decrease with increasing soil organic matter or cation exchange capacity and, in hulled seed, it tended to increase with increasing soil clay content. No statistical significance was, however, found in all those relationships. Present results can be utilized for estimating radiation risk resulting from the food consumption by Korean people and deciding agronomical counter-measures at the time of an nuclear accident.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.474-479
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• 2008

Radioactivity of naturally occurring radioactive nuclides (NORN) such as $^{226}Ra$, $^{228}Ac$ and $^{40}K$ were investigated for surface sediments collected from Ordos, Alashan, Taklimakan deserts and Loess plateau regions in China. By a Gamma-ray spectrometry, specific activity (SA) and SA ratio (SAR) of the NORN were determined for each source region of Asian dust. Characterization of the source regions of Asian dust was performed with the SA and SAR values. SA of $^{226}Ra$ in the three desert regions have almost same values in the range of mean value 17.9~21.9 Bq/kg, however, the SA in Loess Plateau has much higher values in the mean value of 35 Bq/Kg. SA of $^{228}Ac$ in the Ordos and Alashan desert regions have almost same values in the range of mean value 27.1~27.2 Bq/kg, and those in Taklimakan desert and Loess Plateau were 31.7 and 49.0 Bq/kg, respectively. In case of 40K, the SA in all regions have similar values in the range of 636~943 Bq/kg. The mean SAR value of $^{226}Ra/^{228}Ac$ in four source regions was almost same in the range of 0.708-0.721. It is shown that relationship between $^{226}Ra$ and $^{228}Ac$ is clearly presented in the source regions. The mean SAR values of $^{226}Ra/^{40}K$, $^{228}Ac/^{40}K$ are 0.0209-0.056, 0.0287-0.0773, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.219-226
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• 1995

A study was made of the concentration of the naturally occurring radionuclide $^{210}Po$ in seawater, plankton and fishes collected from Yongil Bay, Korea, in summer 1993. The mean value of the $^{210}Po$ concentration in sea water was determined to be about 1.9 mBq/l, with the proportion of the dissolved forms being about $46\%$. The mean $^{210}Po$ concentration factor in the centric diatom Skeletonema costatum, comprises > $95\%$ of the total phytoplankton cell number, was $7.6\times10^4$. Of five species of zooplankton examined, four species (two copepods and two mysids) had $^{210}Po$ concentrations in the range of $^{210}Po$ mBq/g dry weight. A copepod Labidocera bipinnata, however, was exceptional with a particularly high $^{210}Po$ level of 2,070 mBq/g. This indicates that L. bipinnata is primarily a raptorial feeder. The concentration of $^{210}Po$ in the pyloric caecum of pelagic fishes was 2,979-3,811 mBq/g, with the concentration factors of $3.4-4.3\times10^6$. The food chain concentration of $^{210}Po$ occurred as follows: phytoplankton < filter feeding copepods < omnivorous mysids < raptorial copepod < pelagic fishes.