• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.564-570
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• 2007

This study investigated the treatment of liquid waste containing highly concentrated iron(III)-ethylenediaminetetraaceticacid (Fe(III)-EDTA) of 70,000 mg/L by an underwater electrical discharge process using low voltage and high current. When AC voltage is applied to the discharging electrode with the other electrode grounded, the temperature of the liquid waste around the discharging electrode rapidly increases, and at the same time, hydrogen and oxygen gases are formed at the electrode as a result of electrochemical reactions. Ultimately, gases formed by vaporization of water and electrochemical reactions cover the electrode. Since the liquid waste is electrically conductive, it elongates the ground electrode up to the border of the gas layer, where electrical discharge occurs. Without hydrogen peroxide, electrical discharge was able to remove about 50% of Fe(III)-EDTA. As the concentration of hydrogen peroxide added increased, the removal efficiency of Fe(III)-EDTA increased. When the molar ratio of hydrogen peroxide to the initial Fe(III)-EDTA was higher than 24.7, more than 80 g of Fe(III)-EDTA was removed with an energy of 1 kWh. A comparison between tungsten and steel electrodes showed that electrode material did not affect the Fe(III)-EDTA removal. In the present underwater electrical discharge process, the removal of Fe(III)-EDTA was completed within 30 min at molar ratios of hydrogen peroxide to the initial Fe(III)-EDTA higher than 24.7.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.311-319
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• 2018

Mitochondrial calcium overload is a crucial event in determining the fate of neuronal cell survival and death, implicated in pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. One of the driving forces of calcium influx into mitochondria is mitochondria membrane potential (${\Delta}{\psi}_m$). Therefore, pharmacological manipulation of ${\Delta}{\psi}_m$ can be a promising strategy to prevent neuronal cell death against brain insults. Based on these issues, we investigated here whether nobiletin, a Citrus polymethoxylated flavone, prevents neurotoxic neuronal calcium overload and cell death via regulating basal ${\Delta}{\psi}_m$ against neuronal insult in primary cortical neurons and pure brain mitochondria isolated from rat cortices. Results demonstrated that nobiletin treatment significantly increased cell viability against glutamate toxicity ($100{\mu}M$, 20 min) in primary cortical neurons. Real-time imaging-based fluorometry data reveal that nobiletin evokes partial mitochondrial depolarization in these neurons. Nobiletin markedly attenuated mitochondrial calcium overload and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in glutamate ($100{\mu}M$)-stimulated cortical neurons and isolated pure mitochondria exposed to high concentration of $Ca^{2+}$ ($5{\mu}M$). Nobiletin-induced partial mitochondrial depolarization in intact neurons was confirmed in isolated brain mitochondria using a fluorescence microplate reader. Nobiletin effects on basal ${\Delta}{\psi}_m$ were completely abolished in $K^+-free$ medium on pure isolated mitochondria. Taken together, results demonstrate that $K^+$ influx into mitochondria is critically involved in partial mitochondrial depolarization-related neuroprotective effect of nobiletin. Nobiletin-induced mitochondrial $K^+$ influx is probably mediated, at least in part, by activation of mitochondrial $K^+$ channels. However, further detailed studies should be conducted to determine exact molecular targets of nobiletin in mitochondria.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.188-193
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• 1998

The authors examined the variations of environmental factors, the distributions of cyanobacteria, heterotrophic bacteria, and microorganisms that inhibit the growth of Anabaena cylindrica according to development and extinction of cyanobacterial bloom at a site in Daechung Dam reservoir. And certified the relationship between each other. Water temperature variated in a typical pattern. pH and concentrations of dissolved oxygen and chlorophylla was high in bloom period, and lowered with the decline of bloom. Phosphorus played as a growth-limiting factor at this study site. Total nitrogen concentration increased during blooming period, which indicated that nitrogen has been fixed by aquatic organisms such as cyanobacteria. Cyanobacteria distributed from June 17, and such cyanobacterial species as Anabaena spp., Aphanizomenon spp., Microcystis spp., Oscillatoria spp. and Phormidium spp. was detected during study period. Anabaena spp. distributed relatively highly distributed from July 23 to September 22, and disappeared completely at September 29. Heterotrophic bacterial and cyanobacterial populations varied inverse-proportionally. There was a relevancy between the variations of Anabaena spp., heterotrophic bacteria, and microorganisms that inhibit the growth of Anabaena cylindrica. Microorganisms that inhibit the growth of Anabaena cylindrica distributed from early growth phase of Anabaena spp. population to immediately after the extinction of Anabaena spp. With the population of Anabaena cylindrica growth-inhibiting microorganisms decreasing, increases of heterotrophic bacterial population followed it. Thease results indicate that microorganisms have a part in the extinction of cyanobacterial bloom, especially at its destroying period.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.411-419
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• 2003

Dredged material during Masan Bay cleaning in 1990-1994 was deposited in Gapo area. The site provides an ideal experimental condition to monitor environmental remediation and benthic ecosystem stabilization processes after the disturbance. Sea water samples were taken during one tidal cycle in one hour interval from Oct. 2001 to Apr. 2002 (4 times) to estimate the organic matter and nutrient fluxes in Gapo area. Hourly material fluxes were estimated from the water balance estimated from 3 dimensional topography of Gapo area and from material concentration. Net material fluxes were estimated from the difference between total influx and total outflux during one tidal cycle. Chemical oxygen demand showed net outflux in Nov. 2001, Dec. 2001 and Apr. 2002 (2.2∼3.9 g m$\^$-2/ h$\^$-1/) and showed net influx in Mar. 2002 (1.4 g m$\^$-2/ h$\^$-1/). Ammonium showed net outflux during the study (0.1∼118 mg m$\^$-2/ h$\^$-1/m-2h-I). According to this investigation, Gapo area was a source rather than a sink of organic matter. However, the variability of the material fluxes was high so that a long term study may be required.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.627-639
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• 2014

In respect of the nutrients cycling in coastal environment, regeneration in bottom layer is one of major source of nutrients. We analyzed the bottom water quality at the 14 stations during 9 years from 2004 to 2012 to investigate the characteristics of nutrients at bottom layer in Jinhae Bay. Concentrations of DIN, DIP and DSi showed the large seasonal variation and were higher in summer. Especially, average concentrations of these nutrients were two times higher in hypoxic season than in normoxic season. In summer, high concentrations of DIN, DIP and DSi caused by regeneration were common feature, but spatial distribution of DSi differ from that of DIN and DIP. DIN and DIP were higher in Masan Bay, while DSi was higher in Masan Bay as well as in center of Jinhae Bay. In comparison with DIN and DIP, DSi was significantly affected by nutrients regeneration at bottom layer in whole season. According to time series analysis, DIN concentration was decreased from approximately $14{\mu}M$ to $6{\mu}M$. This result induce that Si:N ratio at bottom layer in Jinhae Bay changed from approximately 1 to 3.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.43-52
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• 2020

As the membrane gas separation technology grows, various models were developed by numerous researchers to describe the separation process. In this work, the counter-current model was compared thoroughly with experimental data. Experimentally, hollow fiber membrane using CA module was prepared for the separation of biogas. The pure gas permeation properties of membrane module for methane, nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon dioxide were measured. The permeance of CO2 and CH4 were 25.82 GPU and 0.65 GPU, respectively. The high CO2/CH4 selectivity of 39.7 was obtained. the separation test for three different simulated mixed gases were carried out after pure gas test, and the gas concentration of the permeate at various stage-cut were measured from CA membrane module. Results showed that the experimental data agreed with the numerical simulation. A mathematical model has implemented in this study for the separation of biogas using a membrane module. The finite difference method (FDM) is applied to calculate the membrane biogas separation behaviors. Futhermore, the counter-current model can be considered as a convenient model for biogas separation process.

• Journal of Marine Life Science
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.58-65
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• 2021

As aging progresses, reactive oxygen species (ROS) reduces skin moisturization and collapses skin barrier function. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of skin moisturizing and skin barrier function enhancement by extracts from halophytes using HaCaT cells. Spartina anglica (S. anglica; SAE) and Calystegia soldanella (C. soldanella; CSE), a kind of halophytes, were collected from Dongmak beach in Incheon, and extracted with 70% ethanol. At the first, we evaluated the cytotoxicity of extracts in HaCaT cell using WST-8 Kit. As a result, the other experiment was conducted by setting the concentration at which the cell viability was 90% or more. SAE and CSE showed high radical scavenging activity through ABTS assay. Expression levels of genes related to skin moisturizing and skin barrier functions, were analyzed by real-time qPCR. As a result, it showed that the expression of aquaporin 3, hyaluronan synthase 2, and transglutaminase 1 was increased by SAE treatment but not changed by CSE. Activation of extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and p38 mitogen activated protein kinase was induced by SAE. These results suggest that SAE can be used as functional materials for cosmetics for skin moisturizing and barrier function enhancement.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.19-35
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• 2024

Background: This study investigated a safe and effective bolus dose and lockout time for patient-controlled sedation (PCS) with dexmedetomidine for dental treatments. The depth of sedation, vital signs, and patient satisfaction were investigated to demonstrate safety. Methods: Thirty patients requiring dental scaling were enrolled and randomly divided into three groups based on bolus doses and lockout times: group 1 (low dose group, bolus dose 0.05 ㎍/kg, 1-minute lockout time), group 2 (middle dose group, 0.1 ㎍/kg, 1-minute), and group 3 (high dose group, 0.2 ㎍/kg, 3-minute) (n = 10 each). ECG, pulse, oxygen saturation, blood pressure, end-tidal CO₂, respiratory rate, and bispectral index scores (BIS) were measured and recorded. The study was conducted in two stages: the first involved sedation without dental treatment and the second included sedation with dental scaling. Patients were instructed to press the drug demand button every 10 s, and the process of falling asleep and waking up was repeated 1-5 times. In the second stage, during dental scaling, patients were instructed to press the drug demand button. Loss of responsiveness (LOR) was defined as failure to respond to auditory stimuli six times, determining sleep onset. Patient and dentist satisfaction were assessed before and after experimentation. Results: Thirty patients (22 males) participated in the study. Scaling was performed in 29 patients after excluding one who experienced dizziness during the first stage. The average number of drug administrations until first LOR was significantly lower in group 3 (2.8 times) than groups 1 and 2 (8.0 and 6.5 times, respectively). The time taken to reach the LOR showed no difference between groups. During the second stage, the average time required to reach the LOR during scaling was 583.4 seconds. The effect site concentrations (Ce) was significantly lower in group 1 than groups 2 and 3. In the participant survey on PCS, 8/10 in group 3 reported partial memory loss, whereas 17/20 in groups 1 and 2 recalled the procedure fully or partially. Conclusion: PCS with dexmedetomidine can provide a rapid onset of sedation, safe vital sign management, and minimal side effects, thus facilitating smooth dental sedation.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.31-38
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• 2024

In this study, vinyl waste, which is the cause of environmental pollution, is recycled via an electrospinning method and applied as a separator that can be employed for energy storage devices. In detail, vinyl wastes are dissolved in a solution containing p-xylene and cyclohexanone, followed by electrospinning to obtain a vinyl waste-derived separator(VWS), and then the hydrophilic functional groups on the surface of VWS are introduced using a plasma treatment to improve wettability. Scanning electron microscopy analysis have verified that the shape and thickness of as-spun VWS vary depending on the concentration of vinyl waste. The surface hydrophility of VWS is modified by plasma treatment with applied powers ranging from 80 to 120W. The lowest contact angle is observed when the 100W power is applied to VWS(VWS-100W). In electrochemical analysis, the VWS-100W-based supercapacitor device shows the highest specific capacitance of 57.9 F g^-1. This is ascribed to the high porosity achieved by electrospinning as well as the introduction of hydrophilic functional groups by the oxygen plasma treatment. In conclusion, vinyl waste is successfully recycled into separators for energy storage devices, suggesting a new way to reduce environmental pollution.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.36 no.4 s.105
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• pp.455-462
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• 2003

This study evaluated the change of water quality and chlorophyll - a at the birth stage of a large reclaimed estuarine lake (Lake Hwaong) of which the dike was finally constructed in March, 2002. Physico -chemical parameters and chlorophyll - a were investigated along a longitudinal transect, including 3 in-lake sites and 1 out-lake site from June to November, 2002. Salinity at all in-lake sites was over 21 psu during the study period, indicating that lake is still in the seawater phase. Salinity was periodically diluted at times when precipitation was high, especially in August. Chemocline was established in July near the dam site, and correspondingly vertical profile of dissolved oxygen was very clear during that Period. Total nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations at all lake sites were in the eutrophic range, and they were especially high at the stream inlet site. Nutrients concentration was not much varied vertically but significantly varied temporally, and correlated significantly with precipitation and chlorophyll-a concentration, indicating that inflowing water from the watershed seemed not to improve lake water by dilution but cause eutrophication of the lake, and thereby stimulate phytoplankton development. Based on the analyses of nutrient ratio (N/P) and trophic state deviation, both phosphorus and nitrogen appeared to limit phytoplankton growth in the lake. Phosphorus limitation appeared to be probable at all in-lake sites with being most severe at the stream inlet site. Nitrogen limitation seemed to occur at both in-lake and out-lake sites. These results indicate that in Lake Hwaong experiencing the very early stage of a reclaiming lake, water quality and phytoplankton development appear to be affect-ed largely by salinity and hydrology and nutrients from the inflowing water. Lake biogeochemistry is still very unstable, and thus further long-term study is necessary to understand the effects of seawater to freshwater conversion on lake biology and water chemistry.