• Publications of The Korean Astronomical Society
• /
• v.17 no.1
• /
• pp.23-40
• /
• 2002

The spatial distribution of meteoroids or cometary debris along the orbit of the Earth is investigated by analyzing the meteoric records in the Chronicle of the Koryo dynasty (918-1392) which is called Koryosa. Sporadic meteors in this period show the seasonal variation in number, which is similar to the current meteors. We also found that there are a few spikes showing large accumulation of records around the same dates. We regard these spikes as meteor showers in the Koryo period. We compared the dates of meteor showers with those compiled from the historical records around the world including Korea, Japan, China, Arab, and European countries. We discovered three prominent showers and four weak showers. The prominent ones are the Leonids, the Perseids, and the Aquarids and the Orionids pair. The last pair is the remnants of Halley's comet. The astronomical records written in the history book of the Koryo dynasty are turned out to be accurate and written in a steady manner. We can also see that those records can be useful to contribute the development of modern astronomy and astrophysics.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.53 no.2
• /
• pp.101-112
• /
• 2002

Background : Toluene diisocyanate(TDI) is a leading cause of occupational asthma. However, the pathogenesis of TDI-induced asthma is largely unknown because there is no suitable animal model. Materials and Methods : We developed a murine model of TDI-induced asthma by performing two sensitization with 3% TDI and one challenge with 1% TDI using ultrasonic nebulization. Results : Similar to occupational asthma in humans, murine TDI-induced asthma includes findings 1) increased inflammatory cells, including neutrophils and eosinophils, 2) histologic changes, including infiltration of inflammatory cells around bronchioles, thickened airway epithelium, contraction of bronchioles, and accumulation of mucus and debris in the bronchioles, 3) increased MMP-9 activity in inflammatory cells in the airway lumen, 4) airway hyperrespnosiveness. Administraion of an MMP inhibitor, MMPI-I, remarkably reduced all these pathophysiological findings. Conclusion : Therefore, we conclude that TDI-induced occupational asthma is associated with the induction of MMP-9 in inflammatory cells, and the inhibition of MMP-9 may be a good therapeutic strategy.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
• /
• v.56 no.12
• /
• pp.837-844
• /
• 2023

Small and medium-sized mountain rivers that flow through steep, confined valleys carry large amounts of coarse-grained sediment and woody debris during floods. It causes an increase in flood water level by aggrading the riverbed and the cross-section blockage due to driftwood accumulation during flooding. However, the existing flood level calculation in the river basic plan does not consider these changes. In this study, using the Typhoon Hinnamnor flood in September 2022 as an example, we performed numerical simulations using the HEC-RAS model, taking into account the blockage of a cross-section at the bridge and changes in riverbed elevation that occurred during floods, and analyzed the flood level to predict flood risk. This study's results show that flooding occurs if more than 30% of the cross-section is blocked. The rise of flood water levels corresponds to that of the riverbed due to sediment deposition. These results can be used as basic data to prevent and effectively manage flood damage and contribute to establishing flood defense measures that consider actual phenomena.

• Research in Plant Disease
• /
• v.10 no.4
• /
• pp.231-240
• /
• 2004

In the year of 2002 annual nationwide survey of virus diseases occurring in the pepper fields and greenhouses in Korea, the distribution and the incidence of viral diseases was investigated. The pepper samples from both greenhouses (155 samples) and open fields (227 samples) were collected and further analyzed to detect eleven different viruses by RT-PCR. The results indicate that no sample collected from both greenhouse and open field seems to be infected by TMV, RMV, PVY, AMV, and TSWV. On the other hand, CMV, BBWV2, PepMoV, PMMoV, TMGMV and ToMV are readily identified from greenhouse and open field samples by RT-PCR. The infection rates of the collected samples between greenhouse and open field are largely different. Comparing with 10% of virus-infected pepper samples grown in greenhouse, approximately one third of pepper samples collected from open field are infected. The mixed-infection rates in the virus-infected greenhouse and open field samples are 16% and 61%, respectively. The dominant virus occuring in greenhouse is PMMoV, indicating that virus-infected seed stocks and infected plant debris in the growing area may be important sources of inocula. On the other hand, both CMV and BBWV2 are dominant viruses in open field. This may indicate that the migration of viruliferous insect vectors into pepper fields may be the most important source of inoculum. Also, the survey shows that BBWV2 is newly immerging virus to be controlled in Korea. The discrepancies on the distribution and the occurrence of viral diseases between field and greenhouse may provide a fact that the accumulation and distribution of inoculum by successive cultivation and the migration of viruliferous vectors into growing areas are likely to be important factors to determine the incidence of viral diseases. Therefore, the further studies on epidemiology and the consideration of new breeding program of pepper are essential to minimize virus diseases.