• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.231-236
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• 2004

An imaging plate(IP) detector, a two-dimensional digital radiation detector that can acquire image of radioactivity distribution in a sample, has been applied in many fields; for industrial radiography, medical diagnosis, X-ray diffraction test, etc. In this study, the possibility of IP detector to be used lot measuring radioactivity of sample is explored using its high sensitivity, higher spatial resolution, wider dynamic range and screen uniformity for several kinds radiations. First, the IP detector is applied to measure the surface uniformity for area source. Surface uniformity is measured rapidly and nondestructively by measuring the radioactivity distribution of common standard area source$(^{241}Am)$. Next, the IP is employed to study the possibility of measuring an extremely low-level activity of environmental sample. For this study the screen uniformity, shield effect of background radiation, linear dynamic range and fading effect of the IP detector is investigated. The potato, banana, radish and carrot samples are chosen to measure ultra low-level activity of $^{40}K$ isotope. The efficiency calibration of IP detector is carried out using the standard source.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.313-320
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• 2011

The oxidative stress level and antioxidant activities in two green algae (Ulva pertusa and Ulva linza), two brown algae (Agarum cribrosum and Dictyota dichotoma), and three red algae (Grateloupia lanceolata, Carpopeltis affinis, and Gracilaria verrucosa) collected from intertidal regions of Korea were assessed. In the two green algae, although the total glutathione content was not as high as that of the brown algae, the glutathione pool was extremely reduced, and the glutathione reductase (GRd)/glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity ratio was high, which apparently plays an important role for protection against oxidative damage, as manifested by low lipid peroxidation. In the brown algae, which exhibited a low lipid peroxidation level that was comparable to the green algal species, the highest glutathione content, together with high GPx activity, appears to be the most important factor in their antioxidant protection. The red algal species exhibited extremely high lipid peroxidation levels. They also contained the lowest and most oxidized glutathione among the species, as well as the lowest GRd activity. In spite of the marked difference in the glutathione content, the significant difference in the activity of ${\gamma}$-glutamylcysteine ligase, the rate limiting enzyme for glutathione synthesis, among the species was not exhibited. Our results suggest that there is a significant difference in the levels of oxidative stress and antioxidant capacity among the algal species, and that the glutathione system, especially the efficiency of glutathione recycling, plays a vital role in antioxidative protection in algal species.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.32 no.5 s.92
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• pp.506-514
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• 2006

The objectives of this study were to evaluate personal exposure estimated using a time activity pattern and microenvironmental model. The study was carried out for 44 children attending a primary school nearby the lines (school A) and 125 children attending a school away from 154 kV power lines (school B). For children attending school A, the estimated personal level was a little weak correlated with the measured level($Pearson\;r\;=0.34{\sim}0.35$). For children attending school B, the correlation was very low ($Pearson\;r\;=\;0.09{\sim}0.16$) using the TW A Model II, otherwise, TWA Model II-I which considered the average residential MF level according to the distance from the power line and home explained $39{\sim}53%$ of the correlation in MF personal exposures. The estimated personal exposure level was very well represented by the measured exposure level using TWA Model II-2 which consisted on spot and 24 h stationary measurements at subject's home ($Pearson\;r\;=\;0.65{\sim}0.85$). In conclusion, personal magnetic field expsoure estimated using a TWA Model II-2 should be provided for a reasonable estimate of measured exposure in schoolchildren living near the power line.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.497-506
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• 1989

To investigate the effect of levels of dietary protein and age on bone metabolism 40% and 5% casein were fed to the rats of 2 & 13 months of age for 12 weeks. High protein groups showed higher bone weight and Ca content than low protein groups and urinary Ca loss was increased in high protein groups but the difference disappeared gradually. A significant increase in urinary hydroxyproline excretion was noted in high protein groups of both age. Another short term study was undertaken to study if the above effect was related with renal function or PTH. Extremely high and low protein diets(60%, 6%) were fed to the rats of different ages(6wks, 6mos.) for 2 weeks, Urinary Ca excretion was significantly increased in high protein groups of young and aged rats and GFR was increased as well. There was no difference in serum iPTH levels between low and high protein groups, but it was elevated in aged rats. Alkaline phosphatase activity was higher in young rats, reflecting faster bone formation. The observed hypercalciuria in high protein groups, especially in aged rats, seems to be related to higher GFR, and PTH dose not appear to be a major mediator.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.58-64
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• 2007

The previous study reported the biological effect of magnetic field exerted by acting on endocrine and anti-oxidant system. The present study aims to study whether ELF-MF (extremely low frequency magnetic field) affects the physiological endocrine systems such as thyroid and whether ELF-MF affects the defense system against oxidative stress when it alters the function of thyroid. Finally, we correlate the effects of MF on oxidative stress, and adrenal and thyroid with an environmental stress factor. We exposed sham or MF to rats for 5 or 25 days. After the exposure, we determined pain sensitivity, level of TSH, $T_3$ and free $T_4$ in plasma. We also assayed in whole brain, lipid peroxidation, the activity of enzymatic anti-oxidant defense including superoxide dismutase(SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and non enzymatic defense such as reduced or oxidized glutathione contents. MF induced the hypersensitivity to thermal stimuli with the reduction of latency. $T_3$ and $T_4$ levels were also increased by the exposure of MF. In addition, we observed the rise of MDA level in rat brain by MF although the MF did not change superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activity. The effect of MF on both reduced and oxidized glutathione results in decrease in reduced or oxidized glutathione in whole brain. In every experiment, there was no significant difference in MF influence between short term (5 days) and long term (25 days) exposure. Taken together, MF exposure affects the thyroid hormonal control in brain. The elevated thyroid hormone acts on brain, leading to hyper-utilization of oxygen. This phenomenon may be correlated with oxidative stress resulting from MF exposure. In conclusion, we suggest that MF exposure may be an environmental stress by exerting oxidative stress.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.77-85
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• 2005

Purpose: This study was to determine the effects of calcium intake on bone mineral density (BMD) in pre and post menopause women and to provide basic data for enhancing bone health of middle aged women. Methods: A total of 700 middle-aged women living in Seoul and Geonggi Province were interviewed during the period from June 2003 through January 2004 to investigate their social. demographic and physiological characteristics, health and daily activity performance, and their dietary patterns, and bone mineral density was measured. The survey of dietary intake was 24 hour recalls, and the individual calcium intake was calculated using food frequency. Data of 618 subjects was used for the analysis. Of the calcium intake levels, BMD values of the subjects of 20% of high level. 60% of middle level and 20% of low level were analyzed and compared. Results: The level of calcium intake according to general characteristics of the subjects was significantly related to age (p=0.001), education levels (p=.003) and marital status (p=.001). The BMD of the lumbar vertebrae and femur of the subjects taking a high level of calcium showed significantly higher than that of the subjects taking a middle level and low level of calcium. Femoral T-score was also significantly higher in subjects taking a high level of calcium than that of those taking a middle level and lower levels of calcium. Lumber spine T-score was higher in the high level group than that of the middle level group. Conclusion: The study revealed that women taking a high level of calcium had better bone health. Therefore. calcium intake is extremely important in daily dietary intake so that the intake of calcium-rich foods is highly recommended.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.570-576
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• 2014

Studies have demonstrated that electromagnetic waves, as the one of the most important physical factors, may alter cognitive and non-cognitive behaviors, depending on the frequency and energy. Moreover, non-ionizing radiation of low energy waves e.g. very low frequency waves could alter this phenomenon via alterations in neurotransmitters and neurohormones. In this study, short, medium, and long-term exposure to the extremely low frequency electromagnetic field (ELF-EMF) (1 and 5 Hz radiation) on behavioral, hormonal, and metabolic changes in male Wistar rats (250 g) were studied. In addition, changes in plasma concentrations for two main stress hormones, noradrenaline and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) were evaluated. ELF-EMF exposure did not alter body weight, and food and water intake. Plasma glucose level was increased and decreased in the groups which exposed to the 5 and 1Hz wave, respectively. Plasma ACTH concentration increased in both using frequencies, whereas noradrenaline concentration showed overall reduction. At last, numbers of rearing, sniffing, locomotor activity was increased in group receiving 5 Hz wave over the time. In conclusions, these data showed that the effects of 1 and 5 Hz on the hormonal, metabolic and stress-like behaviors may be different. Moreover, the influence of waves on stress system is depending on time of exposure.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.916-920
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• 2005

Acetohydroxy acid synthase catalyzes the first common step in the biosynthesis of branched chain amino acids. AHAS plays two distinct metabolic roles, and is designated as anabolic AHAS and catabolic AHAS, depending on its function. Anabolic AHAS is FAD-dependent, while its catabolic counterpart is not. In this work, a conserved motif was identified in the $\beta$-domain of anabolic AHASs, but not in catabolic AHAS ($_{372}RFDDR_{376}$). In order to determine the functions of this motif, we replaced the motif with the corresponding sequence in FAD-independent AHAS, SPVEY. None of these three mutants (SPV, SPVE, and SPVEY) was detected with bound FAD. However, two of these mutants (SPVE and SPVEY) were active at a low level of specific activity. Although they exhibited pyruvate- and ThDP- dependent characteristics, the activity of the two active mutants appears to be FAD-independent. The SPVEY mutant was completely insensitive to the three tested herbicides, even at extremely high concentrations and is also somewhat more thermolabile than the wild type enzyme. The data provided in this work suggest that the RFDDR motif is a possible determinant of the FAD-dependent and herbicide-resistant properties of tobacco AHAS. The SPVEY mutant appears to exhibit catabolic AHAS-like activity.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.289-297
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• 2004

In this study, membranes were coupled to a sequencing batch reactor for simultaneous removal of organic matter and nitrogen, and the influences of MLSS (mixed liquor suspended solid) concentration and the sludge loading rate on membrane fouling and bioactivity were investigated. The amount of membrane fouling slightly increased with MLSS concentration at both non-aeration and aeration conditions, but effect of MLSS concentration was more significant at aeration condition. Although the effect of MLSS concentration on membrane fouling was found to be insignificant at low concentration level, extremely low sludge loading, which were generated by the maintenance of large amount of biomass in the reactor, caused severe membrane fouling, and air scouring effect decreased significantly in this condition. Specific bioactivity was constantly reduced as sludge loading rate decreased. In spite of high MLSS concentration over 17,000 mg/L, the activity of the reactor decreased at extremely low sludge loading rate presumably due to the lower oxygen transfer and the competition of biomass to deficient substrate.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.334-345
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• 2006

The objectives of this study were to analyze and compare 24 hrs personal exposure levels of MF at microenvironments such as home, school, educational institute, internet pc game room, transportation, and other places according to time activity patterns using various metrics for children attending the primary schools located near and away from the power lines, and to characterize the major microenvironments and impact factors attributed personal exposure level. The study was carried out for 44 children attending a primary school away from the lines(school A) and 125 children attending a school away from 154 kV power lines(school B), all who aged 12 years and were 6 grade, from July 2003 to December 2003. All participants filled in a questionnaire about characteristics, residence, use of electrical appliances and others. Children wore a small satchel in which EMDEX II and Lite (Enertech, Co. Ltd) and a diary of activity list for period of registration in 20 minutes blocks. All statistical calculations were made with the SAS System, Releas 6.12. The summary of results was presented below. First, about the characteristics of subjects, there no differences between two groups. The subject almost spent about 56 % of their time at home and about 20~25 % of their time at school. Fifty percent of children spent 2 hours at private educational institutes. Second, the personal exposure measurements of children in school B was statistically higher than those of children in school A by various metrics such as arithmetic mean, geometric mean, percentile(5, 25, 50, 75, 95), maximum, rate of change metric, constant field metric. The arithmetic and geometric mean magnetic fields during the time the children were at school B were 0.98 and $0.86{\mu}T$ and were about 23 times higher than those of children were at school A. In conclusion, the significant major determinants of personal exposure level is the distance from the power line to microenvironments.