• Current Photovoltaic Research
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.33-38
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• 2022

Planner configuration thin film solar cells (TFSCs) with SnS/CdS heterojunction performed a lower short-circuit current (J_SC). In this study, we have demonstrated a path to overcome deficiency in J_SC by the incorporation of Se in the SnS absorber. We carried out the incorporation of Se in VTD grown SnS absorber by rapid thermal annealing (RTA). The diffusion of Se is mostly governed by RTA temperature (T_RTA), also it is observed that film structure changes from cube-like to plate-like structure with T_RTA. The maximum J_SC of 23.1 mA cm^-2 was observed for 400℃ with an open-circuit voltage (V_OC) of 0.140 V for the same temperature. The highest performance of 2.21% with J_SC of 18.6 mA cm^-2, V_OC of 0.290 V, and fill factor (FF) of 40.9% is observed for a T_RTA of 300℃. In the end, we compare the device performance of Se- incorporated SnS absorber with pristine SnS absorber material, increment in J_SC is approximately 80% while a loss in V_OC of about 20% has been observed.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.23-33
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• 2023

Objectives : Sojadodamgangki-tang and its main components are traditional korean medicinal methods for treatment of cough, sputum and dyspnea. Using a respiratory inflammatory model, we intend to reveal the anti-inflammatory effect and its immune mechanism of Sojadodamgangki-tang. Methods : We used a papain-induced respiratory inflammatory mouse model. 8-week-old female BALB/C mice were divided into 3 groups as follows: the following groups: saline control group, papain treated group (vehicle), papain and Sojadodamgangki-tang(200 mg/kg) treated group (n=4). To evaluate the anti-inflammatory effect of Sojadodamgangki-tang extracts, inflammatory cell infiltration was measured in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and nasal lavage fluid (NALF). In addition, the effects of Sojadodamgangki-tang extracts on Th2 cell population in lung were determined by using flow cytometry. Results : Sojadodamgangki-tang extracts administration reduced inflammatory cell infiltration in BALF and NALF, especially of eosinophils. Furthermore, total immunogloblin (Ig)-E levels was reduced in BALF and serum by drug administration. Interestingly, Sojadodamgangki-tang extracts treatment also decreased the Th2 cell (CD4⁺GATA3⁺) population in lung. Conclusions : Our findings indicate Sojadodamgangki-tang extracts have anti-inflammatory effects by mediating Th2 cell and B cell activation.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.50-60
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• 2024

Objective: Testicular fat deposition has been reported to affect animal reproduction. However, the underlying mechanism remains poorly understood. The present study explored whether sperm meiosis and testosterone synthesis contribute to mouse testicular fat deposition-induced reproductive performance. Methods: High fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity CD1 mice (DIO) were used as a testicular fat deposition model. The serum hormone test was performed by agent kit. The quality of sperm was assessed using a Sperm Class Analyzer. Testicular tissue morphology was analyzed by histochemical methods. The expression of spermatocyte marker molecules was monitored by an immuno-fluorescence microscope during meiosis. Analysis of the synthesis of testosterone was performed by real-time polymerase chain reaction and reagent kit. Results: It was found that there was a significant increase in body weight among DIO mice, however, the food intake showed no difference compared to control mice fed a normal diet (CTR). The number of offspring in DIO mice decreased, but there was no significant difference from the CTR group. The levels of follicle-stimulating hormone were lower in DIO mice and their luteinizing hormone levels were similar. The results showed a remarkable decrease in sperm density and motility among DIO mice. We also found that fat accumulation affected the meiosis process, mainly reflected in the cross-exchange of homologous chromosomes. In addition, overweight increased fat deposition in the testis and reduced the expression of testosterone synthesis-related enzymes, thereby affecting the synthesis and secretion of testosterone by testicular Leydig cells. Conclusion: Fat accumulation in the testes causes testicular cell dysfunction, which affects testosterone hormone synthesis and ultimately affects sperm formation.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.110-113
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• 2024

Numerous studies have indicated that organic fertilizers (OFer) might contain heavy metals (HMs) that present health risks to organic farmers (OFar). This study compared the concentrations of six HMs (Zn, Ni, Cd, Cu, Pb, Cr) in the blood of two distinct groups of farmers: 30 OFar from a designated organic area in eastern Taiwan, and 74 conventional farmers (CFar) from neighboring non-organic designated regions. The findings revealed that the OFar exhibited higher levels of Zn (1202.70 ± 188.74 ㎍/L), Cr (0.20 ± 0.09 ㎍/L), and Ni (2.14 ± 1.48 ㎍/L) in their blood compared to the CFar (988.40 ± 163.16 ㎍/L, 0.18 ± 0.15 ㎍/L, and 0.77 ± 1.23 ㎍/L), respectively. The disparities in Zn, Cr, and Ni levels were measured at 214.3 ㎍/L, 0.02 ㎍/L, and 1.37 ㎍/L, respectively. Furthermore, among the OFar, those who utilized green manures (GM) displayed significantly elevated blood levels of Zn (1279.93 ± 156.30 ㎍/L), Cr (0.24 ± 0.11 ㎍/L), and Ni (1.94 ± 1.38 ㎍/L) compared to individuals who exclusively employed chemical fertilizers (CFer) (975.42 ± 165.35 ㎍/L, 0.19 ± 0.16 ㎍/L, and 0.74 ± 1.20 ㎍/L), respectively. The differences in Zn, Cr, and Ni levels were measured at 304.51 ㎍/L, 0.05 ㎍/L, and 1.20 ㎍/L, respectively. As a result, OFar should be careful in choosing OFer and avoid those that may have heavy metal contamination.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.231-237
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• 2006

Nowadays the teabag is worldwide used for various products including green tea, tea, coffee, etc. since it is convenient for use. In case of outer packaging printed, however, there is a possibility that the plasticizers which is used for improvement in adhesiveness of printing ink may shift to inner tea bag. In this study, in order to monitor residual levels of plasticizers in teabags, we have established the simultaneous analysis method of 9 phthalates and 7 adipates plasticizers using gas chromatography (GC). These compounds were also confirmed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MSD). The recoveries of plasticizers analyzed by GC ranged from 82.7% to 104.6% with coefficient of variation of $0.6\sim2.7%$ and the correlation coefficients of each plasticizer was $0.9991\sim0.9999$. Therefore this simultaneous analysis method was showed excellent reproducibility and linearity. And limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantitation (LOQ) on individual plasticizer were $0.1\sim3.5\;ppm\;and\;0.3\sim11.5\;ppm$ respectively. When 143 commercial products of teabag were monitored, no plasticizers analysed were detected in filter of teabag products. The migration into $95^{\circ}C$ water as food was also examined and the 16 plasticizers are not detected. In addition we carried out analysis of heavy metals, lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As) and aluminum (Al) in teabag filters using ICP/AES. $Trace\sim23{\mu}g$ Pb per teabag and $0.6\sim1718{\mu}g$ Al per teabag were detected in materials of samples and Cd and As are detected less than LOQ (0.05 ppm). The migration levels of Pb and Al from teabag filter to $95^{\circ}C$ water were upto $11.5{\mu}g\;and\;20.8{\mu}g$ per teabag, respectively and Cd and As were not detected in exudate water of all samples. Collectively, these results suggest that there is no safety concern from using teabag filter.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.9
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• pp.1096-1103
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• 2013

Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), which is common in athletes, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease and a long-term consequence of repetitive closed head injuries. CTE is regarded as a chronic brain syndrome due to the effects of repetitive traumatic brain injury (TBI). Because neurotrophic factors are neuroprotective in models of brain and spinal cord injuries, we examined the effects of cerebrolysin, a mixture of various neurotrophic factors, on brain pathology in a mouse model of repetitive mild TBI (rmTBI), which is a good model of CTE. Five groups were created and treated as follows: groups 1 and 2: rmTBI for 4 weeks following cerebrolysin injection for 4 weeks; groups 3 and 4: rmTBI for 8 weeks with or without cerebrolysin injection for 4 weeks; group 5: control. We found that p-tau expression was increased in the pyramidal layer of the cortex and hippocampus, particularly the CA3 region, but not in the CA1 region and the dentate gyrus (DG). Intra-tail vein administration of cerebrolysin ($10{\mu}l$ of 1 mg/ml) after/during rmTBI treatment reduced p-tau expression in both the cortex and hippocampus. Histological analysis revealed mild astrocyte activation (increased expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)) but not microglia activation (ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule 1 (iba-1) expression) and peripheral macrophage infiltration (CD45). Additionally, administration of cerebrolysin after rmTBI resulted in reduced astrocyte activation. These observations in rmTBI demonstrated that cerebrolysin treatment reduces phosphorylation of tau and astrocyte activation, attenuates brain pathology, and mitigates function deficits in TBI. Taken together, our observations suggest that cerebrolysin has potential therapeutic value in CTE.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.492-504
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• 2014

Feral pigeon (Columba livia) has been known as a good indicator for accumulations of chemical pollutants in urban areas. However, it is against the animal rights to kill the indicator species in order to monitor pollutants accumulations in wild birds. Eggs and feathers of birds, therefore, have been used as non-invasive monitoring materials. Even though eggs are a good indicator for accumulations of lipophilic pollutants, but unsuitable for some heavy metals such as lead and cadmium because bird's ovary builds a sort of barrier to inhibit higher accumulations of some heavy metals in the eggs. Therefore, feathers instead of eggs have been used as a non-invasive indicator for accumulations of heavy metals. However, there are few studies of heavy metal accumulations of feral pigeon in Korea. In this study, we characterized the characteristics of heavy metal accumulations of feathers in relation to internal organs (bloods, viscera and bones) in feral pigeons between two sites (Hangang Park representing urban area and Hampyeong Park for rural area). The samples from the Hangang Park showed significantly higher lead (Pb) concentrations in the blood, liver and bone than those from Hampyeong Park. The Pb concentration in the feathers was also significantly higher at Hangang Park than at Hampyeong Park. The analytical result for the breast, wing and tail feathers, and the internal organs (blood, lung, liver, kidney and bone) indicated that the Pb concentrations in the feathers were significantly positively correlated with the levels in the kidney and bone. Overall, feathers of feral pigeon may be candidate for bioindicator to monitor for Pb accumulations in urban areas.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.29-36
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• 2007

A study was conducted to determine the trace minerals (Cu, Fe, Cd, Zn, Mo, Se, Mn, Cr, Co, Ni) levels in pasture soils and forages collected in Jeju area. Chemical characteristics and total or soluble trace minerals levels in 187 pasture soil samples (76 very dark brown and 111 black soils) were measured. Total trace minerals contents in hay samples of 60 Italian ryegrass, alfalfa and mixture grasses each were assessed. The pasture soils of Jeju were characterized to have low pH (5.1) and to contain low levels of available $P_2O_5$ (20.5 mg/kg) and exchangeable Ca, Mg, K, Na (2.6, 0.9, 0.5, 0.2 cmol+/kg, respectively) when comparing to upland soils of Jeju or Korean mainland. All trace elements in total or soluble analysis of pasture soils were detected, and there was a big difference between total and soluble levels. The pasture soils tended to have the higher total Fe, Mn, Ni and Zn contents. Cr in all forages was not detected, but other trace minerals levels showed normal range. The hay samples of Italian ryegrass and mixture grasses produced in Jeju tended to contain higher Mn (105 vs 23 mg/kg) and lower Mo (2.7 vs 4.9 mg/kg) than those of alfalfa hay imported from USA. Results show that trace minerals of pasture soils and forages in Jeju seem to be not deficient, indicating that supplementation of some trace minerals are not always necessary in diets for grazing animals and should be done after careful evaluation of diets with regard to concentrations and biological availability of essential elements.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.114-125
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• 2016

In this study, 165 wastewater discharge facilities in 10 business types were investigated with regard to 24 specific hazardous substances that included heavy metals, VOCs, CN, and phenol in the Gwangju city. Cu in the range from from 0.008 to 35.420 mg/L was detected in all business types and the detection rate was 46.8 %. Other heavy metals, such as Cd, As, Hg, Pb, and Cr⁺⁶ were detected as well. However, their detection rates ranged between 0.6 and 1.8 %. CN and phenol were detected in one and five facilities, respectively. 12 species of VOCs were detected: chloroform 80.6 % (0.42 to 81.60 μg/L), benzene 16.4 % (1.49 to 3.31 μg/L), trichloroethylene 11.5 % (1.78 to 6.02 μg/L), 1,1-dichloroethylene 10.3 % (1.23 to 5.89 μg/L), and dichloromethane 8.5 % (0.28 to 968.86 μg/L) in the detection rate order. The concentration of VOCs was detected in trace amounts, except for dichloromethane that exceeded the effluent quality standard in three business types, namely, metal manufacturing, food industry, and car washing facility. Chloroform was detected in all business types, where 24.88 μg/L were detected in the laundry business and 53.41 μg/L in the water supply business; the mean concentration of chloroform in these two business types was higher than elsewhere. Therefore, for the disposal of non-degradable specific hazardous substances in industrial wastewater, it is necessary to introduce physical and chemical processes, such as activated carbon adsorption, fenton oxidation, ozone treatment, as well as photocatalyst and the UV radiation.

• Journal of Korean Ophthalmic Optics Society
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.87-92
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• 2014

Purpose: Comparison with contrast sensitivity between binocular and monocular of 20s adult was measured by spatial frequency 3.0, 6.0, 12.0 and 18.0 cpd and compares difference between monocular and binocular and difference between male and female. Methods: Topcon CV-3000 Phoroptor was used for full correction of 99 ophthalmic optics students and contrast sensitivity were measured by using Vector Vision CSV-1000E at 2.5 m in photopic condition (100 $cd/m^2$). Results: Photopic condition at 2.5 m, average contrast sensitivity of entire subject was 52.54, 80.40, 36.79 and 13.56 with right eye and 52.33, 81.29, 41.73 and 14.22 with left eye in 3, 6, 12 and 18 cpd. For both eye 65.46, 113.69, 52.04 and 19.44 were measured. The contrast sensitivity of male was 58.22, 83.52, 37.89 and 13.82 with right eye and 56.03, 46.68 and 15.67 with left eye in spatial frequency of 3, 6, 12 and 18 cpd. Both eyes were measured to 70.89, 120.96, 56.56 and 19.89. The contrast sensitivity of female was 46.50, 77.09, 35.61 and 13.28 with left eye and 48.40, 70.43, 36.47 and 12.68 with left eye in spatial frequency of 3, 6, 12, 18 cpd. Both eyes were 59.68, 105.97, 47.23 and 18.95. Conclusions: Contrast sensitivity value of binocular shows higher than monocular to both male and female. Contrast sensitivity of difference between male and female were statistically remarkably higher to male in right eye 3 cpd, left eye 6 cpd, 12 cpd and both eye 3 cpd. In other frequency, there was no statistical significance but male shows higher.