• Title/Summary/Keyword: Biological systems

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Treatment of Dairy Wastewater by the Combination of RBC and tapered Aeration (RBC와 점감포기조의 복합구성에 따른 유가공폐수 처리에 관한 연구)

  • Lee, Sang-Ho
    • Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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    • v.9 no.6
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    • pp.1733-1738
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    • 2008
  • The treatment efficiency of rotating biological contactors (RBCs) for the high strength of dairy wastewater was investigated. Two different systems were conducted composing of a single RBC with tapered aeration reactors for the system A and a sequential RBCs following tapered aeration reactors for the system B. Experiments using dairy wastewater were conducted for 50 days period of time, in which hydraulic rates were maintained at the constant ratios of 346L per day and variable BOD concentrations were at the range from 1,358mg/L to 829mg/L, the $COD_{cr}$, concentration of the range were from 2,384mg/L to 1,329mg/L, the range of T-N concentrations was from 66mg/L to 38mg/L, and 50% of internal recycle and 50% of sludge return were performed. Results indicated that the removal efficiencies of the system B were higher than those of the system A. The removal efficiencies of system A for the BOD, $COD_{cr}$, T-N and T-P were 97.8%, 96.7%, 87.2% and 82%, respectively. The removal efficiencies of system B for the BOD, $COD_{cr}$, T-N and T-P were as of 98.5%, 98.5%, 91.3% and 89%.

Molecular Analysis of Growth Factor and Clock Gene Expression in the Livers of Rats with Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetes

  • Kim, Joo-Heon;Shim, Cheol-Soo;Won, Jin-Young;Park, Young-Ji;Park, Soo-Kyoung;Kang, Jae-Seon;Hong, Yong-Geun
    • Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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    • v.33 no.3
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    • pp.163-169
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    • 2009
  • Many biological systems are regulated by an intricate set of feedback loops that oscillate with a circadian rhythm of roughly 24 h. This circadian clock mediates an increase in body temperature, heart rate, blood pressure, and cortisol secretion early in the day. Recent studies have shown changes in the amplitude of the circadian clock in the hearts and livers of streptozotocin (STZ)-treated rats. It is therefore important to examine the relationships between circadian clock genes and growth factors and their effects on diabetic phenomena in animal models as well as in human patients. In this study, we sought to determine whether diurnal variation in organ development and the regulation of metabolism, including growth and development during the juvenile period in rats, exists as a mechanism for anticipating and responding to the environment. Also, we examined the relationship between changes in growth factor expression in the liver and clock-controlled protein synthesis and turnover, which are important in cellular growth. Specifically, we assessed the expression patterns of several clock genes, including Per1, Per2, Clock, Bmal1, Cry1 and Cry2 and growth factors such as insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 and -2 and transforming growth factor (TGF)-${\beta}1$ in rats with STZ-induced diabetes. Growth factor and clock gene expression in the liver at 1 week post-induction was clearly increased compared to the level in control rats. In contrast, the expression patterns of the genes were similar to those observed after 5 weeks in the STZ-treated rats. The increase in gene expression is likely a compensatory change in response to the obstruction of insulin function during the initial phase of induction. However, as the period of induction was extended, the expression of the compensatory genes decreased to the control level. This is likely the result of decreased insulin secretion due to the destruction of beta cells in the pancreas by STZ.

Biological Inspiration toward Artificial Photostystem

  • Park, Jimin;Lee, Jung-Ho;Park, Yong-Sun;Jin, Kyoungsuk;Nam, Ki Tae
    • Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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    • 2013.08a
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    • pp.91-91
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    • 2013
  • Imagine a world where we could biomanufacture hybrid nanomaterials having atomic-scale resolution over functionality and architecture. Toward this vision, a fundamental challenge in materials science is how to design and synthesize protein-like material that can be fully self-assembled and exhibit information-specific process. In an ongoing effort to extend the fundamental understanding of protein structure to non-natural systems, we have designed a class of short peptides to fold like proteins and assemble into defined nanostructures. In this talk, I will talk about new strategies to drive the self-assembled structures designing sequence of peptide. I will also discuss about the specific interaction between proteins and inorganics that can be used for the development of new hybrid solar energy devices. Splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen is one of the promising pathways for solar to energy convertsion and storage system. The oxygen evolution reaction (OER) has been regarded as a major bottleneck in the overall water splitting process due to the slow transfer rate of four electrons and the high activation energy barrier for O-O bond formation. In nature, there is a water oxidation complex (WOC) in photosystem II (PSII) comprised of the earthabundant elements Mn and Ca. The WOC in photosystem II, in the form of a cubical CaMn4O5 cluster, efficiently catalyzes water oxidation under neutral conditions with extremely low overpotential (~160 mV) and a high TOF number. The cluster is stabilized by a surrounding redox-active peptide ligand, and undergo successive changes in oxidation state by PCET (proton-coupled electron transfer) reaction with the peptide ligand. It is fundamental challenge to achieve a level of structural complexity and functionality that rivals that seen in the cubane Mn4CaO5 cluster and surrounding peptide in nature. In this presentation, I will present a new strategy to mimic the natural photosystem. The approach is based on the atomically defined assembly based on the short redox-active peptide sequences. Additionally, I will show a newly identified manganese based compound that is very close to manganese clusters in photosystem II.

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Variations of DOC and Phenolics in Pore-water of Peatlands (이탄습지 공극수내 용존유기탄소와 페놀계열 물질의 변화도)

  • Freeman, Chris;Kim, Seon-Young;Kang, Ho-Jeong
    • Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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    • v.35 no.4 s.100
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    • pp.306-311
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    • 2002
  • The amount and composition of dissolved organic carbon in wetlands are of great importance for their influence in secondary productivity, various biogeochemical processes, and aquatic ecosystem functions. In the present study, we measured variations of DOC and phenolics concentrations in pore-water of three northern peatlands (bog, fen, and swamp) over a 1-year period. General microbial activity (soil respirometry) and phenol oxidase enzyme activity were determined in the same peatlands to elucidate mechanisms underlying the differences in DOC and phenolics contents. The concentrations of DOC varied 25.5-45.4 (bog),29.2-71.4 (fen), and 13.5-87.6 (swamp) mg/L, while phenolic concentrations ranged 13.3-48.1 (bog), 7.6-29.5(fen) , and 4.9-30.8 (swamp) mg/L. The seasonal variations of DOC and phenolics in the swamp suggest that litterfall may be one of the most important factors for the DOC dynamics in such systems. The lowest microbial activity and phenol oxidase activity were found in the bog, which appears to Induce high percentage of phenolic contents in pore-water from bogs. It is also suggested that not only the DOC concentrations but also composition of DOC is of great importance in wetland biogeochernistry.

Development of Well-reconstituted Instantized Thin Rice Gruel (재수화능이 향상된 인스턴트 쌀 미음의 제조)

  • Yang, Seung-Chul;Lee, Inae;Sun, Ju-Ho;Kim, Dong-Eun;Kang, Wie-Soo;Chung, Ha Sook;Shin, Malshick;Ko, Sanghoon
    • Food Engineering Progress
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    • v.14 no.1
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    • pp.54-59
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    • 2010
  • Instantized thin gruels have been popular to supplement patients who want nutritional, ready-to-eat, and easy-to-use products. In this study, rice-based thin gruels were developed by use of gelatinized rice powder which was manufactured by extrudating rice in a twin-screw extruder. Subsequently, the rice paste from the extruder were dried and ground into fine powder. The gelatinized rice powder was mixed with the powders of various grains, soy beans, nuts, oil seeds, and vegetables to formulate the instantized thin rice gruel with well-balanced nutrients (mixed powder). The mixed powder was granulated to improve reconstitution capability in a fluid bed spray granulator (granulated powder). Lipid and protein contents were higher by 0.9 and 1.9%, respectively, in the granulated powder whereas carbohydrate content was higher by 3.2% in the mixed powder. The calculated dispersibility was 93.7 and 77.0% for the granulated and the mixed powders, respectively. The reconstitution time was 122.3 and 305.3 for the granulated and the mixed powders, respectively. In conclusion, the granulation of the mixed powder improved the dispersibility. This study will be helpful to develop a variety of processed rice products and promote rice process industry.

Setting limits for water use in the Wairarapa Valley, New Zealand

  • Mike, Thompson
    • Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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    • 2015.05a
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    • pp.227-227
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    • 2015
  • The Wairarapa Valley occupies a predominantly rural area in the lower North Island of New Zealand. It supports a mix of intensive farming (dairy), dry stock farming (sheep and beef cattle) and horticulture (including wine grapes). The valley floor is traversed by the Ruamahanga River, the largest river in the Wellington region with a total catchment area of 3,430 km2. Environmental, cultural and recreational values associated with this Ruamahanga River are very high. The alluvial gravel and sand aquifers of the Wairarapa Valley, support productive groundwater aquifers at depths of up to 100 metres below ground while the Ruamahanga River and its tributaries present a further source of water for users. Water is allocated to users via resource consents by Greater Wellington Regional Council (GWRC). With intensifying land use, demand from the surface and groundwater resources of the Wairarapa Valley has increased substantially in recent times and careful management is needed to ensure values are maintained. This paper describes the approach being taken to manage water resources in the Wairarapa Valley and redefine appropriate limits of sustainable water use. There are three key parts: Quantifying the groundwater resource. A FEFLOW numerical groundwater flow model was developed by GWRC. This modelling phase provided a much improved understanding of aquifer recharge and abstraction processes. It also began to reveal the extent of hydraulic connection between aquifer and river systems and the importance of moving towards an integrated (conjunctive) approach to allocating water. Development of a conjunctive management framework. The FEFLOW model was used to quantify the stream flow depletion impacts of a range of groundwater abstraction scenarios. From this, three abstraction categories (A, B and C) that describe diminishing degrees of hydraulic connection between ground and surface water resources were mapped in 3 dimensions across the Valley. Interim allocation limits have been defined for each of 17 discrete management units within the valley based on both local scale aquifer recharge and stream flow depletion criteria but also cumulative impacts at the valley-wide scale. These allocation limits are to be further refined into agreed final limits through a community-led decision making process. Community involvement in the limit setting process. Historically in New Zealand, limits for sustainable resource use have been established primarily on the basis of 'hard science' and the decision making process has been driven by regional councils. Community involvement in limit setting processes has been through consultation rather than active participation. Recent legislation in the form of a National Policy Statement on Freshwater Management (2011) is reforming this approach. In particular, collaborative consensus-based decision making with active engagement from stakeholders is now expected. With this in mind, a committee of Wairarapa local people with a wide range of backgrounds was established in 2014. The role of this committee is to make final recommendations about resource use limits (including allocation of water) that reflect the aspirations of the communities they represent. To assist the committee in taking a holistic view it is intended that the existing numerical groundwater flow models will be coupled with with surface flow, contaminant transport, biological and economic models. This will provide the basis for assessing the likely outcomes of a range of future land use and resource limit scenarios.

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Effect of an Endoplasmic Reticulum Retention Signal Tagged to Human Anti-Rabies mAb SO57 on Its Expression in Arabidopsis and Plant Growth

  • Song, Ilchan;Lee, Young Koung;Kim, Jin Wook;Lee, Seung-Won;Park, Se Ra;Lee, Hae Kyung;Oh, Soyeon;Ko, Kinarm;Kim, Mi Kyung;Park, Soon Ju;Kim, Dae Heon;Kim, Moon-Soo;Kim, Do Sun;Ko, Kisung
    • Molecules and Cells
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    • v.44 no.10
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    • pp.770-779
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    • 2021
  • Transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana expressing an anti-rabies monoclonal antibody (mAb), SO57, was obtained using Agrobacterium-mediated floral dip transformation. The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) retention signal Lys-Asp-Glu-Leu (KDEL) was tagged to the C-terminus of the anti-rabies mAb heavy chain to localize the mAb to the ER and enhance its accumulation. When the inaccurately folded proteins accumulated in the ER exceed its storage capacity, it results in stress that can affect plant development and growth. We generated T1 transformants and obtained homozygous T3 seeds from transgenic Arabidopsis to investigate the effect of KDEL on plant growth. The germination rate did not significantly differ between plants expressing mAb SO57 without KDEL (SO plant) and mAb SO57 with KDEL (SOK plant). The primary roots of SOK agar media grown plants were slightly shorter than those of SO plants. Transcriptomic analysis showed that expression of all 11 ER stress-related genes were not significantly changed in SOK plants relative to SO plants. SOK plants showed approximately three-fold higher mAb expression levels than those of SO plants. Consequently, the purified mAb amount per unit of SOK plant biomass was approximately three times higher than that of SO plants. A neutralization assay revealed that both plants exhibited efficient rapid fluorescent focus inhibition test values against the rabies virus relative to commercially available human rabies immunoglobulins. KDEL did not upregulate ER stress-related genes; therefore, the enhanced production of the mAb did not affect plant growth. Thus, KDEL fusion is recommended for enhancing mAb production in plant systems.

Exploratory study on developing a support policy for adolescent parents: focusing on single mothers who become pregnant for the first time as teenage years (청소년부모의 지원정책 개발을 위한 조사연구 -10대에 첫 자녀를 임신한 미혼한부모를 대상으로-)

  • Lee, young ho;Park, ji yoon
    • Journal of Family Resource Management and Policy Review
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    • v.25 no.1
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    • pp.113-132
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    • 2021
  • Despite the diverse system development and improvement initiatives that have been created to improve the environments of child birth and nurturing, the birth rate in Korean society remains low. Some minor teenage single parents give birth and raise children. Teenage single parents are supported by the Single-Parent Family Support Act, but some of their needs are still not being addressed. As each single parent has different backgrounds and socioeconomic characteristics, an investigation is required for developing differentiated support in which they will be considered both parents and children. Therefore, this study identifies the unique problems encountered by teenage parents, focuses on single mothers giving birth, and explores measures that teenage parents can use to be independent members of civil society. Three suggestions are presented for the period from pregnancy and childbearing to parenting. First, there should be an education support plan that will enable them to finish tertiary education, and parent education. Second, measures should be created to initiate a change in direction in indifferent biological(real) fathers: these should enlighten and help them participate in rearing their children. Third, in addition to improvements of the current systems only targeting single parent-family support, which will help differentiate teenage parent support from adolescent single parent-family support, assistance should be given for teenage single parents to grow as a Subject of Rights through tailored independent support programs.

Effects of fungicide tebuconazole on the embryonic development of Korean domestic frogs (Bufo gargarizans, Hyla japonica, and Pelophylax nigromaculatus) (살균제 Tebuconazole이 한국산 개구리류(두꺼비, 청개구리, 참개구리) 배아 발달에 미치는 영향)

  • Lee, Hae-Bum;Ko, Sun-Kun
    • Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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    • v.39 no.3
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    • pp.311-318
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    • 2021
  • In this experiment, we investigated the toxicity of tebuconazole (fungicide) using domestic frog embryos, along the FETAX (Frog Embryo Teratogenesis Assay-Xenopus) protocol. Bufo gargarizans, Hyla japonica, and Pelophylax nigromaculatus embryos were incubated, and investigation of the tebuconazole effect was performed by the probit analysis. As a result, depending on the concentrations of tebuconazole, the mortality and malformation rates were increased and larval body length was decreased. The teratogenic concentrations (EC50) of tebuconazole were 34.4mg L-1, 10.6mg L-1, and 14.9mg L-1, respectively, and the embryo lethal concentrations(LC50) of tebuconazole were 74.7 mg L-1, 38.5 mg L-1, and 39.1 mg L-1, respectively. The teratogenic index (TI) valuesof tebuconazole were 2.19, 3.58, and 2.65; thus, it showed teratogenicity in embryonic development of these three frogs. These results revealed that in this experiment, tebuconazole suppressed the development of embryos at a relatively low concentration. In addition, mortality, malformation ratios, malformation patterns, and growth rates were similar to the results from the other assay systems. Therefore, tebuconazole was thought to have an effect on the embryo development of domestic frogs. In future, it will be necessary to identify species specificity in order to the clarify the causes of differences in mortality, malformation rate, and malformation patterns depending on the species.

Comparative assessment of urban stormwater low impact strategies equipped with pre-treatment zones (침강지 시설이 조성된 LID 시설의 환경적 영향평가)

  • Yano, K.A.V.;Reyes, N.J.D.G.;Jeon, M.S.;Kim, L.H.
    • Journal of Wetlands Research
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    • v.21 no.2
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    • pp.181-190
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    • 2019
  • Recently, Low impact development techniques, a form of nature-based solutions (NBS), were seen cost-efficient alternatives that can be utilized as alternatives for conventional stormwater management practices. This study evaluated the effectiveness of an infiltration trench (IT) and a small constructed wetland (SCW) in treating urban stormwater runoff. Long-term monitoring data were observed to assess the seasonal performance and cite the advantages and disadvantages of utilizing the facilities. Analyses revealed that the IT has reduced performance during the summer season due to higher runoff volumes that exceeded the facility's storage volume capacity and caused the facility to overflow. On the other hand, the pollutant removal efficiency of the SCW was impacted by the winter season as a result of dormant biological activities. Sediment data also indicated that fine and medium sand particles mostly constituted the trapped sediments in the pretreatment and media zones. Sediments in SCW exhibited a lower COD and TN load due to the phytoremediation and microbiological degradation capabilities of the system. This study presented brief comparison LID facilities equipped with pre-treatment zones. The identified factors that can potentially affect the performance of the systems were also beneficial in establishing metrics on the utilization of similar types of nature-based stormwater management practices.