• Journal of Climate Change Research
• /
• v.9 no.3
• /
• pp.209-221
• /
• 2018

The characteristics of heat wave events in Seoul are analyzed using weather station data from Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) and European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecast (ECMWF) ERA-Interim reanalysis data from 1979 to 2016. Heat waves are defined as events in the upper 10th percentile of the daily maximum temperatures. The associated synoptic weather patterns are then classified into six clusters through Self-Organizing Map (SOM) analysis for sea-level pressure anomalies in East Asia. Cluster 1 shows an anti-cyclonic circulation and weak troughs in southeast and west of Korea, respectively. This synoptic pattern leads to southeasterly winds that advect warm and moist air to the Korean Peninsula. Both clusters 2 and 3 are associated with southerly winds formed by an anti-cyclonic circulation over the east of Korea and cyclonic circulation over the west of Korea. Cluster 4 shows a stagnant weather pattern with weak winds and strong insolation. Clusters 5 and 6 are associated with F?hn wind resulting from an anti-cyclonic circulation in the north of the Korean Peninsula. In terms of long-term variations, event frequencies of clusters 4 and 5 show increasing and decreasing trends, respectively. However, other clusters do not show any long-term trends, indicating that the mechanisms that drive heat wave events in Seoul have remained constant over the last four decades.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.27 no.11
• /
• pp.1315-1323
• /
• 2017

Turmeric is a rhizomatous herbaceous perennial plant (Curcuma longa (CL)) of the ginger family, Zingiberaceae. A yellow-pigmented fraction isolated from the rhizomes of CL contains curcuminoids belonging to the dicinnamoyl methane group. Curcumin is an important active ingredient responsible for the biological activity of CL. However, CL is not usually used as a food source due to its bitter taste. The present study was designed to determine the effect of the CL fermented by Rhizopus oryzae (FCL) on pro-inflammatory factors such as nuclear factor ${\kappa}B$ ($NF-{\kappa}B$), tumor necrosis factor alpha ($TNF-{\alpha}$), interleukin-6 (IL-6), nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW 264.7 cell line. The cell viability was determined by MTT assay. To evaluate the anti-inflammatory effect of FCL 80% EtOH extracts, IL-6 and $TNF-{\alpha}$ were measured by ELISA kit. Also, the amount of $NO/PGE_2/NF-{\kappa}B$ was measured using the $NO/PGE_2/NF-{\kappa}B$ detection kit and the iNOS/COX-2 expression was measured by Western blotting. The results showed that the FCL reduced NO, $PGE_2$, iNOS, COX-2, $NF-{\kappa}B$, IL-6 and $TNF-{\alpha}$ production without cytotoxicity. These results suggest that FCL extracts may be a developed the functional food related to anti-inflammation due to the significant effects on inflammatory factors.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.29 no.9
• /
• pp.1280-1286
• /
• 2016

This study was aimed to evaluate the in vitro effects of medicinal herb extracts (MHEs) on ruminal fermentation characteristics and the inhibition of protozoa to reduce methane production in the rumen. A fistulated Hanwoo was used as a donor of rumen fluid. The MHEs (T1, Veratrum patulum; T2, Iris ensata var. spontanea; T3, Arisaema ringens; T4, Carduus crispus; T5, Pueraria thunbergiana) were added to the in vitro fermentation bottles containing the rumen fluid and medium. Total volatile fatty acid (tVFA), total gas production, gas profiles, and the ruminal microbe communities were measured. The tVFA concentration was increased or decreased as compared to the control, and there was a significant (p<0.05) difference after 24 h incubation. pH and ruminal disappearance of dry matter did not show significant difference. As the in vitro ruminal fermentation progressed, total gas production in added MHEs was increased, while the methane production was decreased compared to the control. In particular, Arisaema ringens extract led to decrease methane production by more than 43%. In addition, the result of real-time polymerase chain reaction indicted that the protozoa population in all added MHEs decreased more than that of the control. In conclusion, the results of this study indicated that MHEs could have properties that decrease ruminal methanogenesis by inhibiting protozoa species and might be promising feed additives for ruminants.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.31 no.10
• /
• pp.1635-1642
• /
• 2018

Objective: This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of Rhus succedanea extract addition on in vitro ruminal fermentation and microbial growth. Methods: Two ruminally-fistulated steers consuming 600 g/kg timothy- and 400 g/kg cracked corn-based concentrate with free access to water and mineral block were used as rumen fluid donors. In vitro batch fermentation, with timothy as a substrate, was conducted for up to 72 h, with Rhus succedanea extracts added to achieve final concentrations of 0, 10, 30, 50, 70, and 90 mg/L. Results: Effective dry matter (DM) degradability rate linearly decreased (p = 0.046) depending on extract dosing levels. Total gas production after 24 to 72 h incubation tended to decrease following extract addition, beginning with 50 mg/L starting dose (significance of quadratic effects: p = 0.006, p<0.001, and p = 0.008 for 24, 48, and 72 h, respectively). Methane production decreased depending on dosing levels following 24 h (p<0.05) and 48 h (p<0.005) incubations and was the lowest with the 50 mg/L dose. The Rhus succedanea extracts increased the abundance of Fibrobacter succinogenes (p<0.05) and Ruminococcus flavefaciens (p = 0.0597) and decreased the abundance of methanogenic archaea (p<0.05) following 24 h incubation. Conclusion: Rhus succedanea was shown to reduce methane production and increase cellulolytic bacteria without any signs of toxic effects and with a minor effect on DM degradability.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
• /
• v.38 no.6
• /
• pp.839-850
• /
• 2018

The flood damage in urban areas due to torrential rain is increasing with urbanization. For this reason, accurate and rapid flooding forecasting and expected inundation maps are needed. Predicting the extent of flooding for certain rainfalls is a very important issue in preparing flood in advance. Recently, government agencies are trying to provide expected inundation maps to the public. However, there is a lack of quantifying the extent of inundation caused by a particular rainfall scenario and the real-time prediction method for flood extent within a short time. Therefore the real-time prediction of flood extent is needed based on rainfall-runoff-inundation analysis. One/two dimensional model are continued to analyize drainage network, manhole overflow and inundation propagation by rainfall condition. By applying the various rainfall scenarios considering rainfall duration/distribution and return periods, the inundation volume and depth can be estimated and stored on a database. The Rainfall-Duration-Flooding Quantity (RDF) relationship curve based on the hydraulic analysis results and the Self-Organizing Map (SOM) that conducts unsupervised learning are applied to predict flooded area with particular rainfall condition. The validity of the proposed methodology was examined by comparing the results of the expected flood map with the 2-dimensional hydraulic model. Based on the result of the study, it is judged that this methodology will be useful to provide an unknown flood map according to medium-sized rainfall or frequency scenario. Furthermore, it will be used as a fundamental data for flood forecast by establishing the RDF curve which the relationship of rainfall-outflow-flood is considered and the database of expected inundation maps.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.85 no.4
• /
• pp.341-348
• /
• 2022

Background: An accurate diagnosis in patients with interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) by multidisciplinary discussion (MDD) based on histopathologic information is essential for optimal treatment. Transbronchial lung cryobiopsy (TBLC) has increasingly been used as a diagnostic alternative to surgical lung biopsy. This study aimed to evaluate the appropriate methods of TBLC in patients with ILD in Korea. Methods: A total of 27 patients who underwent TBLC were included. TBLC procedure details and clinical MDD diagnosis using TBLC histopathologic information were retrospectively analyzed. Results: All procedures were performed under general anesthesia with the fluoroscopic guidance in the operation room using flexible bronchoscopy and endobronchial balloon blocker. The median procedure duration was less than 30 minutes, and the median number of biopsies per participant was 2. Most of the bleeding after TBLC was not severe, and the rate of pneumothorax was 25.9%. The most common histopathologic pattern was alternative (48.2%), followed by indeterminate (33.3%) and usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP)/probable UIP (18.5%). In the MDD after TBLC, the most common diagnosis was idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (33.3%), followed by smoking-related ILD (25.9%), nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (18.6%), unclassifiable-ILD (14.8%), and others (7.4%). Conclusion: This first single-center experience showed that TBLC using a flexible bronchoscopy and endobronchial balloon blocker with the fluoroscopic guidance under general anesthesia may be a safe and adequate diagnostic method for ILD patients in Korea. The diagnostic yield of MDD was 85.2%. Further studies are needed to evaluate the diagnostic yield and confidence of TBLC.