• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.9
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• pp.1173-1179
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• 2012

The importance of genetic stability and bio-safety in the environment has recently been recognized for many (genetically modified) GM plants. This study evaluated the GM safety of transgenic rice and its environmental variance. Data on agronomic characters and principal component were collected for vitamin A-enriched GM rice and four check cultivars in a large GM field trial during 2009-2011. The cultivation environment was a large GM field and a greenhouse. In this experiment, there was no significant difference between the agronomic characters of the GM rice and those of a donor plant, 'Nagdong'. In terms of grain characteristics, the appearance and physicochemical characteristics of the GM rice and those of the donor plant were similar. However, the grain of the GM rice developed a white core and a white belly when planted in the greenhouse. The type and distribution of dominant weed species were not different in the GM rice and the 'Nagdong'. In addition, gene flow was not detected in the dominant weed species based on PCR analysis.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.13-29
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• 1988

In order to elucidate the regulatory mechanism of intracellular calcium ion concentrations, contractions or contractures induced by $Na^{+}-removal$, calcium-application or ouabain-treatment as an index of $Na^+/Ca^{2+}$ exchange activity were studied in atrial muscle or vascular smooth muscle (aorta and renal artery) of the rabbit. The magnitude of low sodium contractures in atrial trabeculae increased with sigmoid shape when external sodium concentrations were reduced to sodium-free condition, whereas that of calcium contracture intensified in a parabolic pattern when external calcium concentrations were elevated to 8 mM. $Na^{+}-removal$ contractures were induced in a duration-dependent manner to $K^{+}-free$ exposure and same findings were observed with ouabain treatment. $Na^{+}-free$ contractures were not affected by verapamil treatment, but stimulated by $100{\mu}M\;Mn^{2+}$ and inhibited by high concentrations of $Mn^{2+}\;(2{\sim}8mM)$ in a dose-dependent manner. Ryanodine which is known to suppress the release of calcium from internal store abolished spontaneous twitch contractions induced by $K^{+}-free$ solution, but had no effect on the development $Na^{+}-free$ contractures. Na-free contractures were not always induced in vascular smooth muscle preparations. Contractures by $O\;mM\;Na^+$ were usually seen in aorta, but not often in renal artery.$50\;mM\;K^+$, noradrenaline (NA) and angiotensin II (AII) always evoked very large contraction in all preparations of vascular smooth muscle. Contractures developed by $O\;mM\;Na^+$ were not sensitive to verapamil treatment as in atrial trabeculae, but were abolished by $100{\mu}M\;Mn^{2+}$. In contrast to $Na^{+}-free$ contractures, $Mn^{2+}(100{\mu}M)$ had no effect on the contractures induced by NA or 50 mM$K^+$. Caffeine in the concentration of 10 mM evoked transient contracture in the distal renal artery. The rate of spontaneous relaxation in caffeine contracture was dependent upon the concentrations of external sodium, and had double component of relaxation when the rate of relaxation was plotted in the semilogarithmic scale of relative tension versus time. Especially late components of relaxation had more direct relation to $Na^+$ concentrations. It could be concluded that $Na^+/Ca^{2+}$ exchange mechanism in the heart has a large capacity, inhibited by $Mn^{2+}$ but not by verapamil and ryanodine, while $Na^+/Ca^{2+}$ exchange system in vascular smooth muscle has a very low capacity especially in small artery, inhibited by low concentration of $Mn^{2+}\;(100{\mu}M)$ but not affected by verapamil and ryanodine.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.261-270
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• 2018

In this study, to replace the 'J-slot joint', a joint device between a disposal canister and an emplacement jig in Deep Borehole Disposal process, a novel joint device was designed and tested. The novel joint device was composed of a wedge on top of a disposal canister and a hook box at the end of a winch system. The designed joint device had merits in that it can recombine an emplaced canister freely without the replacement of the joint component. Moreover, it can be applied to various emplacement jigs such as drill pipes, wire-lines, and coiled tubing. To demonstrate the designed joint device, the joint device (${\Phi}110mm$, H 148 mm), a twin canister string (${\Phi}140mm$, H 1,105 mm), and a water tube (${\Phi}150mm$, H 1,500 mm) as a borehole model were manufactured at 1/3 scale. As deployment muds, Na-type bentonite (MX-80) and Ca-type (GJ II) bentonite muds were prepared at solid contents of 7wt% and 28wt%, respectively. The manufactured joint device showed good performance in pure water and viscous muds, with an operation speed of $10m{\cdot}min^{-1}$. It was concluded that the newly developed joint device can be used for the emplacement and retrieval of a deep disposal canister, below 3~5 km, in the future.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.53 no.5
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• pp.535-543
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• 2015

Integrated control strategies are important for sustainable control of schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminthiasis, despite their challenges for their effective implementation. With the support of Good Neighbors International in collaboration with National Institute of Medical Research, Mwanza, Tanzania, integrated control applying mass drug administration (MDA), health education using PHAST, and improved safe water supply has been implemented on Kome Island over 5 years for controlling schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminths (STHs). Baseline surveys for schistosomiasis and STHs was conducted before implementation of any integrated control strategies, followed by 4 cross-sectional follow-up surveys on randomly selected samples of schoolchildren and adults in 10 primary schools and 8 villages, respectively, on Kome islands. Those follow-up surveys were conducted for impact evaluation after introduction of control strategies interventions in the study area. Five rounds of MDA have been implemented from 2009 along with PHAST and improved water supply with pumped wells as other control strategies for complementing MDA. A remarkable steady decline of schistosomiasis and STHs was observed from 2009 to 2012 with significant trends in their prevalence decline, and thereafter infection rate has remained at a low sustainable control. By the third follow-up survey in 2012, Schistosoma mansoni infection prevalence was reduced by 90.5% and hookworm by 93.3% among schoolchildren while in adults the corresponding reduction was 83.2% and 56.9%, respectively. Integrated control strategies have successfully reduced S. mansoni and STH infection status to a lower level. This study further suggests that monitoring and evaluation is a crucial component of any large-scale STH and schistosomiasis intervention.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.35 no.4 s.100
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• pp.295-305
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• 2002

Benthic macro- invertebrates were collected in a 200 m reach located in the $3^{rd}$ order Yangjae Stream, a tributary of the Han River, Seoul, from April 1996 to March 1998. Although species richness was relatively low due to organic pollution, community abundance patterns appeared to be different depending upon location of the sampling sites. At the sample sites in the straight zone with high water velocity and large substrates, species richness was high and species relatively less-tolerant to organic pollution was additionally present. At the sample sites in the pool zone with lower velocity and high sedimentation, species richness was low and a few tolerant species to organic pollution were abundantly collected. The principle component analysis indicated that some sample sites in the straight zone appeared to be related to water velocity and shear velocity, and associated with diverse taxa less tolerant to organic pollution. Additionally the sample site transplanted with large substrates was associated wit]h hydraulic characters such as substrate diversity and roughness, and was related to species indicating partial recovery of water. The sample sites located at the pool zone tended to be associated with organic matter that had sedimented on to the substrates and the taxa tolerant to organic pollution, including Oligochaeta and Chironomus.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.61 no.6
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• pp.716-722
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• 2018

Objective : Lateral interbody fusion (LIF) is attractive as a less invasive technique to address anterior spinal pathology in the treatment of adult spinal deformity. Its own uses and benefits in treatment of adult degenerative scoliosis are undefined. To investigate the radiographic and clinical outcomes of LIF, and staged LIF and posterior spinal fusion (PSF) for the treatment of adult degenerative scoliosis patients, we analyzed radiographic and clinical outcomes of adult degenerative scoliosis patients who underwent LIF and posterior spinal fusion. Methods : Forty consecutive adult degenerative scoliosis patients who underwent LIF followed by staged PSF at a single institution were retrospectively reviewed. Long-standing 36" anterior-posterior and lateral radiographs were taken preoperatively, at inter-stage, 3 months, 1 year, and 2 years after surgery were reviewed. Outcomes were assessed through the visual analogue scale (VAS), 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). Results : Forty patients with a mean age of 66.3 (range, 49-79) met inclusion criteria. A mean of 3.8 levels (range, 2-5) were fused using LIF, while a mean of 9.0 levels (range, 3-16) were fused during the posterior approach. The mean time between stages was 1.4 days (range, 1-6). The mean follow-up was 19.6 months. Lumbar lordosis was significantly restored from $36.4^{\circ}$ preoperatively up to $48.9^{\circ}$ (71.4% of total correction) after LIF and $53.9^{\circ}$ after PSF. Lumbar coronal Cobb was prominently improved from $38.6^{\circ}$ preoperatively to $24.1^{\circ}$ (55.8% of total correction) after LIF, $12.6^{\circ}$ after PSF respectively. The mean pelvic incidence-lumbar lordosis mismatch was markedly improved from $22.2^{\circ}$ preoperatively to $8.1^{\circ}$ (86.5% of total correction) after LIF, $5.9^{\circ}$ after PSF. Correction of coronal imbalance and sagittal vertebral axis did not reach significance. The rate of perioperative complication was 37.5%. Five patients underwent revision surgery due to wound infection. No major perioperative medical complications occurred. At last follow-up, there were significant improvements in VAS, SF-36 Physical Component Summary and ODI scores. Conclusion : LIF provides significant corrections in the coronal and sagittal plane in the patients with adult degenerative scoliosis. However, LIF combined with staged PSF provides more excellent radiographic and clinical outcomes, with reduced perioperative risk in the treatment of adult degenerative scoliosis.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Intelligent Systems
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.722-728
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• 2012

Urban sewer systems has a limitation of capacity of rainwater storage and problem of occurrence of untreated sewage, so adopting a storage facility for sewer flooding prevention and urban non-point pollution reduction has a big attention. The Korea Ministry of Environment has recently introduced a new concept of "multi-functional storage facility", which is crucial not only in preventive stormwater management but also in dealing with combined sewer overflow and sanitary sewer discharge, and also has been promoting its adoption. However, reserving a space for a single large-scale storage facility might be difficult especially in urban areas. Thus, decentralized construction of small- and midium-sized storage facilities and its operation have been introduced as an alternative way. In this paper, we propose a model predictive control scheme for an optimized operation of distributed storage facilities and sewer networks. To this aim, we first describe the mathematical model of each component of networks system which enables us to analyze its detailed dynamic behavior. Second, overflow locations and volumes will be predicted based on the developed network model with data on the external inflow occurred at specific locations of the network. MPC scheme based on the introduced particle swarm optimization technique then produces the optimized the gate setting for sewer network flow control, which minimizes sewer flooding and maximizes the potential storage capacity. Finally, the operational efficacy of the proposed control scheme is demonstrated by simulation study with virtual rainstorm event.

• The Journal of The Korea Institute of Intelligent Transport Systems
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.58-70
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• 2019

In the case of a pedestrian traffic accident, it has a large-scale danger directly connected by a fatal accident at the time of the accident. The domestic ITS is not used for intelligent risk classification because it is used only for collecting traffic information despite of the construction of good quality traffic infrastructure. The CNN based pedestrian detection classification model, which is a major component of the proposed system, is implemented on an embedded system assuming that it is installed and operated in a restricted environment. A new model was created by improving YOLO's artificial neural network, and the real-time detection speed result of average accuracy 86.29% and 21.1 fps was shown with 20,000 iterative learning. And we constructed a protocol interworking scenario and implementation of a system that can connect with the ITS. If a pedestrian accident prevention system connected with ITS will be implemented through this study, it will help to reduce the cost of constructing a new infrastructure and reduce the incidence of traffic accidents for pedestrians, and we can also reduce the cost for system monitoring.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.316-331
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• 2019

Carbon dioxide($CO_2$) emission from rivers to the atmosphere is a key component in the global carbon cycle. Most of the rivers are supersaturated with $CO_2$. At a global scale, the amount of $CO_2$ emission from rivers is reported to be five-fold greater than that from lakes and reservoirs, but relevant data are rare in Korea. The objectives of this study is to estimate the $CO_2$ net atmospheric flux(NAF) from the upstream of Gangjeong-Goryeong Weir(GGW), Dalseong Weir(DSW), Hapcheon-Changnyeong Weir(HCW), and Changnyeong-Haman Weir(CHW) located in Nakdong River South Korea) using field and laboratory experiments and to apply data mining techniques to develop parsimonious prediction models that can be used to estimate $CO_2$ NAF with physical and water quality variables that can be collected easily. As a result, the study sites were all heterotrophic systems that often released $CO_2$ to the atmosphere, except when the algal photosynthesis was active.The median $CO_2$ NAF was minimum $391.5mg-CO_2/m^2$ day at GGW and maximum $1472.7mg-CO_2/m^2$ day at DSW. The $CO_2$ NAF showed a negative correlation with pH and Chl-a since the overgrowth of the algae consumed $CO_2$ in the water and increased the pH. As the parsimonious multiple regression model and random forest model developed, this study showed an excellent performance with the $Adj.R^2$ value higher than 0.77 in all weirs. Thus, these methods can be used to estimate $CO_2$ NAF in the river even if there is no $pCO_2$ measurement data.

• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.9-15
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• 2019

Here, we present a facile route to fabricate a vertically stacked 3D porous structure-based triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) that can be used to harvest energy from the friction in a repetitive contact-separation mode. The unit component of TENG consists of thin Al foil electrodes integrated with microstructured 3D foams such as Ni, Cu, and polyurethane (PU), which provide advantageous tribo-surfaces specifically to increase the friction area to the elastomeric counter contact surfaces (i.e., polydimethylsiloxane, PDMS). The periodic contact/separation-induced triboelectric power generation from a single unit of the 3D porous structure-based TENG was up to $0.74mW/m^2$ under a mild condition. To demonstrate the potential applications of our approach, we applied our TENGs to small-scale devices, operating 48 LEDs and capacitors. We envision that this energy harvesting technology can be expanded to the applications of sustainably operating portable electronic devices in a simple and cost-effective manner by effectively harvesting wasted energy resources from the environment.