• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.199-204
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• 2006

Objectives: Mercury is a hazardous organ-specific environmental contaminant. It exists in a wide variety of physical and chemical states, each of which has unique characteristics for the target organ specificity. Exposure to mercury vapor and to organic mercury compounds specifically affects the CNS, while the kidney is the target organ for inorganic Hg compounds. Methods: In this study, mercury chloride $(HgCl_2)$ was studied in a renal derived cell system, i.e., the tubular epithelial Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cell line, which has specific sensitivity to the toxic effect of mercury. MDCK cells were cultured for 6-24 hr in vitro in various concentrations (0.1-100 M) of $HgCl_2$, and the markers of apoptosis or cell death were assayed, including DNA fragmentation, caspase-3 activity andwestern blotting of cytochrome c. The influence of the metal on cell proliferation and viability were evaluated by the conventional MTT test. Results: The cell viability was decreased in a time and concentration dependent fashion: decreases were noted at 6, 12 and 24 hr after $HgCl_2$, exposure. The increases of DNA fragmentation were also observed in the concentrations from 0.1 to 10 M of $HgCl_2$ at 6 hr after exposure. However, we could not observe DNA fragmentation in the concentrations more than 25 M because the cells rapidly proceeded to necrotic cell death. The activation of caspase-3 was also observed at 6 hr exposure in the $HgCl_2$ concentrations from 0.1 to 10 M. The release of cytochrome c from the mitochondria into the cytosol, which is an initiator of the activation of the caspase cascade, was also observed in the $HgCl_2-treated$ MDCK cells. Conclusions: These results suggest that the activation of caspase-3 was involved in $HgCl_2-induced$ apoptosis. The release of cytochrome c from the mitochondria into the cytosol was also observed in the $HgCl_2-treated$ MDCK cells. These findings indicate that in MDCK cells, $HgCl_2$ is a potent inducer of apoptosis via cytochrome c release from the mitochondria.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.1222-1229
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• 2012

The total area of a reclaimed tidal soil distributed on the south-west coast is approximately 156,600 ha, and the soil contains high contents of sand and silt as well as highly saline. Most of the reclaimed tidal soils are used as a paddy due to bad permeability and high groundwater table, resulting in easy accumulation of salts on the soil surface by capillary rise. Therefore, resalinization may occur because of rise of groundwater table after desalinization. The researches related to the reclaimed tidal soil mainly focused on desalinazation while most of the researches completed were limited to yields of crop based on desalinazation. pH of old reclaimed tidal soil is neutral or less than 7 while that of newly developed reclaimed tidal soils is greater than 7, that cause N-fertilizer to be volatile as ammonia. Thus, the physical and chemical properties should be investigated to be used as an arable upland instead of a paddy soil due to change in government policy. We need to develop measures to make soils grow crops normally by identifying problems related to reclaimed tidal soils.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.296-301
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• 1998

The physical and chemical characteristics were examined in the southern sea of Korea including the Cheju Strait, and the entrance of the Korea Strait in the period of May 30 to June 8, 1995. The results are as follows. Firstly, the variation ranges of the temperature and salinity at the Cheju Stratit during 24 hours observation were larger in the surface layer than that in the deep layers. Secondly, daily variations of nutrients show that total inorganic nitrogen, phosphate phosphorous, and silicate silicon concentration are higher at night than at day. Thirdly, water temperature and salinity distributions show highest values at the entrance of Korea Strait, which is thought to be influenced directly by Tsushima Warm Current, while they show the lowest values in Cheju Strait. This means that the surface waters in Korea Strait are greatly influenced from the entrance of Korea Strait and bottom waters is greatly influenced from Cheju Strait. Fourthly, nutrients distribution shows highest values in Korea Strait but dissolved oxygen shows lowest values in the area. These seem to be caused by the oxygen consumption used in the inorganization of nutrients to decompose organisms and the liquidation of nutrients.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.441-450
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• 2011

This study investigated potential damages and conservation methods for the ceramics (without glaze) by examination of physical and chemical effects from the burial environments. For this study, pottery samples excavated from Daejeon Hakha, Asan Eumbong, Hwasung Sogeunsan and Kongju Haengbokdosi were examined with released ions and extraction through desalination. The result showed that the ion inflow into the ceramics was dependent upon the porosity and the absorption of ceramics. The high temperature fired ceramics (over $1,000^{\circ}C$) have low porosity and absorption, therefore almost no salt infiltration during the burial period. However, low temperature fired ceramics (under $800^{\circ}C$) have high porosity and absorption, and most of salts were removed during the desalination. The 40 to 60% of salts were removed in two days and 60 to 80% of slats were released in a week. Furthermore, fertilizer residues such as $K_2SO_4$, in soils were detected in the ceramcis. Also the characteristics of buried soil affected ion infiltration into ceramics. Ceramics buried in sandy soil had relatively less ion contents from buried environments than those in clayey soil. Therefore, low temperature fired ceramics could do not only cleaning but also desalination if it is necessary, and the period could be decided to the condition of ceramics.

• Conservation Science in Museum
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• v.19
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• pp.19-40
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• 2018

Most stone monuments in Korea are made from the granitoids found extensively throughout the nation. To identify the provenance of the stone materials, this study carried out comprehensive analyses of the occurrence, physical properties, mineralogy, and chemical composition of Stupa for National Preceptor Wongong at Geodonsa Temple and Five-story Pagoda at Cheonsusa Temple, both located in the Gangwon region. Their features were compared with those of granite from Wonju City near the sites of the two monuments. Stupa for National Preceptor Wongong is composed purely of two-mica granite, whereas Five-story Pagoda was made from both two-mica and biotite granites. The occurrence and magnetic susceptibility of the two granite monuments generally coincide with those of granite from Wonju. When selecting materials for the restoration of stone monuments, it is deemed necessary to carry out a field survey on granite in areas adjacent to the locations of the stone monuments subject to restoration.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.24 no.8
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• pp.1053-1059
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• 2017

Burdock powder (BP) has shown diverse functional activities; thus, it seems a good way to increase its consumption by incorporating BP into suitable food products such as cookies. Studies were carried out on cookies prepared by incorporating BP (2%, 4%, 6%, and 8%) into wheat flour. The cookie dough and cookies were evaluated for their physical, chemical, and sensory characteristics. The pH and density of cookie doughs ranged from 6.70-6.85 and 1.19-1.21, respectively, with no remarkable differences. Moisture content and spread factor of cookies appeared to increase with higher content of BP in the formulation but did not show significant differences (p>0.05). For color values of cookie surface, $L^*$, $a^*$, and $b^*$-values significantly decreased as a result of BP substitution (p<0.05). The cookies became crispier as indicated by the reduction in the breaking strength value from 26.71 to 17.83 N. 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS) radical scavenging activities were significantly increased (p<0.05) with higher substitution of BP, and they were well correlated. Hedonic sensory results indicated that cookies supplemented with 2% BP received the most favorable acceptance scores for all sensory attributes evaluated. Overall, cookies with BP could be developed with improved physicochemical qualities as well as consumer acceptability.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.12 no.2 s.25
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• pp.107-113
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• 2006

Water treatment plant sludge occurred in sedimentation and inverse wash process is generally disposed by ocean dumping or reclamation after dehydration processing using mechanical or natural dry method. Recently, ocean dumping of sludge is limited actually by London Convention. Physical, chemical, and geotechnical characteristics of water treatment plant sludge were analyzed by experiments. The possibilities for recycling of the dehydration sludges as materials for covering sanitary landfill were examined. Experiments performed with sludges mixed with general soil to improved the sludge properties are the hydrometer analysis, the liquid and plastic limit test, the specific gravity test, the compaction test, and the unconfined compression test. The value of ${\gamma}_{dmax}$ is increased and OMC(Optimum Moisture Content) is lessened with mixed sludge. The value of maximum compressive strength and friction angle are increased and the cohesion is decreased with mixed sludge. The ratio between sludge and soil in mixed sludge was 3:7 and the strength of mixed sludge showed $3.6kg/cm^2$. These results satisfy the regulation of U.S. E.P.A regarding materials for covering sanitary landfill.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.1024-1034
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• 2010

In order to select the demonstration farm site for agricultural investment by Korean fund, 14 sites were investigated by soil morphological characteristics and were evaluated by rating method in the Oudomxai province of Laos. Land evaluation was carried out by using eight factors, such as site accessibility, soil erosion susceptibility, easiness of farm mechanization, irrigation water obtainability, suitability of soil physical and chemical properties for crop growth, cost for establishment of farm foundation and land obtainability. In addition, one site to have been highly ranked was soil physico-chemically studied for farm planning. The site of heavy clayey soil has hydraulic conductivity of 26.27~40.64 cm $day^{-1}$, organic content of lower than 14 g $kg^{-1}$, available phosphate content of lower than 3 mg $kg^{-1}$, exchangeable cations of lower than 0.38, 11 and 3.1 cmolc $kg^{-1}$ in K, Ca and Mg, respectively. Major important limitations for establishment of demonstration farm were concluded as heavy soil-texture, high soil erodibility, low organic matter and phosphate contents, and insufficient irrigation water in the Oudomxai province of Laos.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.20 no.7
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• pp.8-15
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• 2019

In this study, we synthesized a calcium sulfonate complex grease and a lithium complex grease to investigate their physical, rheological and tribological properties. The thermal stability of the calcium sulfonate was higher than $300^{\circ}C$ and the lithium complex grease was $245^{\circ}C$ in the dropping point test. In the grease viscosity measurement, the calcium sulfonate complex grease was measured as $7.0Pa{\cdot}s$ and the lithium complex grease was as $4.5Pa{\cdot}s$. Therefore, it was confirmed that the calcium sulfonate complex grease is superior to the lithium complex grease in terms of thermal stability and cohesiveness. In the 4-ball wear test, the calcium sulfonate complex grease was measured to be 0.43 mm and the lithium complex grease to 0.85 mm. In the 4-ball extreme pressure test, calcium sulfonate complex grease was measured as 620 kgf and the lithium complex grease was as 125 kgf. Therefore, it was confirmed that the calcium sulfonate complex grease is superior to the lithium complex grease in abrasion resistance and load-bearing property. It was found that the calcium sulfonate complex grease is more effective than the lithium complex grease in the lubrication at high temperature and high load.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.466-474
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• 2023

In recent years, the government has strongly promoted multi-purpose utilization of paddy field. However, poor drainage causes waterlogging stress in upland crops, requiring subsurface drainage technology, resulting in high installation and management costs. To address this issue, a low-cost and high-efficiency technique was developed that utilizes wasted coir substrates which have characteristics of high porosity and good drainage, for upland crop cultivation in paddy fields. Soybeans were grown in both paddy soil and wasted coir slab with two planting densities (80×20 cm and 60×20 cm). The results showed that the coir substrates had better performance than the paddy soil in terms of soil physical and chemical properties and the growth and yield of upland crops are improved. The treatments using wasted coir substrate showed a 41.4% increase in yield and a 21.3% increase in protein content compared to PS treatment. Our findings demonstrate that recycling waste coir substrates to grow upland crops is a positive cultivation strategy to solve some drainage problems in paddy fields. This approach offers a sustainable solution for upland crop production while also addressing the issue of waste management in agriculture.