• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.73-81
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• 2014

Salsola collina, also known as Russian thistle, is widely distributed in and around waste facilities, roadsides, and drought and semi-drought areas, and is used as a traditional folk remedy in Chinese medicine for the treatment of hypertension. In this study, we have evaluated the anti-oxidative and anti-cancer activities of the ethanol extract of S. collina Pall. (EESC), and the molecular mechanisms of its anti-cancer effects on human colon carcinoma HT29 cells. EESC exhibited anti-oxidative activity through DPPH radical scavenging capacity and showed cytotoxic activity in a dose-dependent manner in HT29 cells. After EESC treatment, HT29 cells altered their morphology, becoming smaller and irregular in shape. EESC also induced cell accumulation in the G2/M phase in a dose-dependent manner, accompanied by a decrease of cell population in the G1 phase. The G2/M arrest by EESC was associated with the increased expression of cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitor p21 and Wee1 kinase, which phosphorylates, or inactivates, Cdc2. EESC treatment induced the phosphorylation of Cdc2 and Cdc25C, and inhibited cyclin A and Cdc25C protein expression. In addition, S arrest was induced by the highest concentration of EESC treatment, associated with a decrease of cyclin A and Cdk2 expression. These findings suggest that EESC may possess remarkable anti-oxidative activity and exert an anti-cancer effect in HT29 cells by cell cycle regulation.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.170-176
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• 2014

In this study, the anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activities of Euptelea pleiosperma ethanol extract (EPEE) were evaluated using in vitro assays and cell culture model systems. EPEE possessed a more potent scavenging activity against 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl than the ascorbic acid used as a positive control. EPEE effectively suppressed lipopolysaccharide (LPS), in addition to hydrogen peroxide induced reactive oxygen species on RAW 264.7 cells. Furthermore, EPEE induced the expression of the anti-oxidative enzyme heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) and its upstream transcription factor, nuclear factor-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), dose and time dependently. The modulation of HO-1 and Nrf2 expression might be regulated by mitogen-activated protein kinases and phosphatidyl inositol 3 kinase/Akt as their upstream signaling pathways. On the other hand, EPEE inhibited LPS induced nitric oxide (NO) formation without cytotoxicity. Suppression of NO formation was the result of the down regulation of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) by EPEE. Suppression of NO and iNOS by EPEE may be modulated by their upstream transcription factor, nuclear factor ${\kappa}B$, and AP-1 pathways. Taken together, these results provide important new insights into E. pleiosperma, namely that it possesses anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activities, indicating that it could be utilized as a promising material in the field of nutraceuticals.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.61-71
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• 2000

When irradiate the power ultrasound into the aqueous solutions, water vapor is decomposed by the heat of very high temperature in the cavitation bubble to produce OH (hydroxyl radical) and H (hydrogen radical), and these radicals play a role in decomposing the substances in aqueous solution by oxidation and/or reduction, and in producing the hydrogen peroxide. Accordingly it is possible to predict that the quantity of hydrogen peroxide produced may correlate with the sonolysis mechanism of the substance in aqueous solution. Thus to confirm this prediction, the quantities of hydrogen peroxide produced from each of the air saturated distilled water and three aqueous solutions of TCE, benzene, and 2,4-DCP that are prepared by dissolving them into distilled water are measured. As a result, it showed that the quantity of hydrogen peroxide produced from the distilled water and three aqueous solutions are increased in order of distilled water>TCE solution>2,4-DCP solution>benzene solution, and decrease with decrease in concentration of organic substance, which coincide with the sonolysis mechanisms reported that TCE in aqueous solution is decomposed directly by the pyrolysis in and around the cavitation bubbles when its concentration is high and by the radical reaction when low, however, benzene and 2,4-DCP are decomposed not only by the pyrolysis but also by the radical reactions. Effects of such experimental parameters as the acoustic frequency and power and as the concentration showed that the higher the acoustic frequency and the lower the acoustic power, the less the quantity of hydrogen peroxide was produced. This result coincide with the theory of ultrasound for the relation between the cavitation that is the energy source of the power ultrasound in aqueous solution and these experimental parameters.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.33 no.11
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• pp.812-820
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• 2011

This study was conducted to characterize $CO_2$ biomineralization on several minerals (i.e., CaO, MgO, $SiO_2$) by bottle test in an aqueous solution and solidified sludge using different aerobic bacterial strains like Bacillus megaterium and Bacillus pasteurii by batch test. These bacteria promote the formation of microenvironments that facilitate the precipitation of mineral phases that were unsaturated in the bulk solution. For one type of mineral solely amended, the $CO_2$ was reduced at the highest of 4.0 mmol for MgO while it was not that much lower for CaO and $SiO_2$ showing 1.1 and 0.3 mmol $CO_2$2, respectively. For two types of minerals simultaneously amended, the $CO_2$ was reduced at the greater extent for both Ca + Mg and Mg + Si showing 2.7 and 2.3 mmol, respectively whereas it was less for Ca + Si at 1.8 mmol. For solidified sludge, the $CO_2$ reduction rate changed depending on the volume of solidified sludge placed in the medium and the input $CO_2$ concentration.. The reduction rate of $CO_2$ was increased with increasing the volume of solidified sludge. Results of XRD analysis indicate that $CaCO_3$ (Calcite) was dominantly formed among others (e.g., Aragonite, Dolomite). SEM analysis showed that the sample with Bacillus pasteurii, could more form minerals rather than control. As demonstrated in this study, $CO_2$ would be effectively sequestered in biomineralization process.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.333-340
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• 2010

Wastewater treatment using algal communities and biodiesel production from wastewater-cultivated algal biomass is a promising green growth technology. In literature, there are many studies providing information on algal species producing high content of lipid. However, very little is known about adaptability and wastewater treatability of such high-lipid algal species. In this study, we attempted to characterize algal biomass production and wastewater treatability of high-lipid algal species under municipal wastewater condition. For this, four known high-lipid algal strains including Chlorella vulgaris AG 10032, Ankistrodesmus gracilis SAG 278-2, Scenedesmus quadricauda, and Botryococcus braunii UTEX 572 were individually inoculated into municipal wastewater where its indigenuous algal populations were removed prior to the inoculation, and the algae-inoculated wastewater was incubated in the presence of light source (80${\mu}E$) for 9 days in laboratory batch reactors. During the incubations, algal biomass production (dry weight) and the removals of dissolved organics (COD), nitrogen and phosphorous were measured in laboratory batch reactors. According to algal growth results, C. vulgaris, A. gracilis and S. quadricauda exhibited faster growth than indigenuous wastewater algal populations while B. braunii did not. The wastewater-growing strains exhibited efficient removals of total-N, ${NH_4}^+$-N, Total-P and ${PO_4}^{3-}$-P which satisfy the Korea water quality standards for effluent from municipal wastewater treatment plants. A. gracilis and S. quadricauda exhibited efficient and stable treatability of COD but C. vulgaris showed unstable treatability. Taken together with the results, A. gracilis and S. quadricauda were found to be suitable species for biomass production and wastewater treatment under municipal wastewater condition.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.32 no.10
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• pp.986-993
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• 2010

In this study, sorption characteristics of thermally treated activated alumina (AA) for fluoride were investigated. Sorption experiments have been conducted in equilibrium and kinetic batch conditions. Also, effects of solution pH and anions on fluoride removal have been observed. The properties of thermally treated ( $700^{\circ}C$) activated alumina (AA700) and untreated activated alumina (UAA) were compared using field-emission scanning electron microscope, energy-dispersive spectrometry, X-ray diffractometer (XRD) analysis, and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis. From the experiments using AA thermally treated at different temperatures (100, 300, 500, $700^{\circ}C$), it was found that at high fluoride concentrations (50, 100, 200 mg/L) the sorption capacity of thermally treated AA increased with increasing thermal treatment temperature. At an initial fluoride concentration of 200 mg/L, the sorption capacity of AA700 was 3.67 times greater than that of UAA. The BET analysis showed that the specific surface area of UAA was about 2 times larger than that of AA700. The XRD analysis indicated that UAA was composed of both boehmite (AlOOH) and bayerite ($Al(OH)_3$) while AA700 was $Al_2O_3$. The reason that fluoride sorption capacity of AA700 increased despite of decrease in specific surface area compared to UAA could be attributed to the change of crystal structure. The kinetic sorption test showed that fluoride sorption to AA700 arrived at equilibrium after 24 h. The equilibrium test demonstrated that the maximum sorption capacity of AA700 was 5.70 mg/g. Additional batch experiments indicated that fluoride sorption to AA700 was the highest at pH 7, decreasing at both acidic and basic solution pHs. Also, fluoride sorption to AA700 decreased in the presence of anions such as phosphate, nitrate, and carbonate. This study demonstrated that thermal treatment of AA at high temperature could increase its sorption capacity for fluoride.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.31 no.7
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• pp.505-514
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• 2009

Aqueous potassium salt of serine was proposed as an alternative $CO_2$ absorbent to monoethanolamine (MEA) and its $CO_2$ absorption characteristics were studied. The experiment has been conducted using screening test equipment with NDIR type gas analyzer and vapor-liquid equilibrium apparatus. $CO_2$ absorption/desorption rate and net amount of $CO_2$ absorbed in cyclic process are the criteria to assess the $CO_2$ absorption characteristics in this study. Effective $CO_2$ loading of potassium salt of serine and MEA are 0.425 and 0.230 respectively. Cyclic capacities are 0.354 and 0.298 for potassium salt of serine and MEA. The absorption rate of the potassium serinate decreased sharply at $CO_2$ loading is 0.1 and were maintained approximately at half of MEA. To enhance the absorption rate of aqueous potassium salt of serine, small quantities of rate promoters, namely piperazine and tetraethylenepentamine were blended, so that rich $CO_2$ loading were increased by 13.7% and 18.7% respectively. The rich $CO_2$ loading of potassium salt of serine was 29.2% and 35.0% higher than those of aqueous sodium and lithium salt of serine, respectively. The absorption rate of potassium salt of valine and isoleucine which have similar molecular structures to serine were lower than that of serine because of the presence of bulky side group. Precipitation phenomena during $CO_2$ absorption were discussed by the aid of literatures.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.421-428
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• 2014

For the analysis of water supply network, demand-driven and pressure-driven analysis methods have been proposed. Of the two methods, demand-driven analysis (DDA) can only be used in a normal operation condition to evaluate hydraulic status of a pipe network. Under abnormal conditions, i.e., unexpected pipe destruction, or abnormal low pressure conditions, pressure-driven analysis (PDA) method should be used to estimate the suppliable flowrate at each node in a network. In order to carry out the pressure-driven analysis, head-outflow relationship (HOR), which estimates flowrate at a certain pressure at each node, should be first determined. Most previous studies empirically suggested that each node possesses its own characteristic head-outflow relationship, which, therefore, requires verification by using actual field data for proper application in PDA modeling. In this study, a model pipe network was constructed, and various operation scenarios of normal and abnormal conditions, which cannot be realized in real pipe networks, were established. Using the model network, data on pressure and flowrate at each node were obtained at each operation condition. Using the data obtained, previously proposed HOR equations were evaluated. In addition, head-outflow relationship at each node was analyzed especially under multiple pipe destruction events. By analyzing the experimental data obtained from the model network, it was found that flowrate reduction corresponding to a certain pressure drop (by pipe destruction at one or multiple points on the network) followed intrinsic head-outflow relationship of each node. By comparing the experimentally obtained head-outflow relationship with various HOR equations proposed by previous studies, the one proposed by Wagner et al. showed the best agreement with the exponential parameter, m of 3.0.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.18-29
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• 2010

Offshore subsurface storage of $CO_2$ is regarded as one of the most promising options to response severe climate change. Marine geological storage of $CO_2$ is to capture $CO_2$ from major point sources, to transport to the storage sites and to store $CO_2$ into the offshore subsurface geological structure such as the depleted gas reservoir and deep sea saline aquifer. Since 2005, we have developed relevant technologies for marine geological storage of $CO_2$. Those technologies include possible storage site surveys and basic designs for $CO_2$ transport and storage processes. To design a reliable $CO_2$ marine geological storage system, we devised a hypothetical scenario and used a numerical simulation tool to study its detailed processes. The process of transport $CO_2$ from the onshore capture sites to the offshore storage sites can be simulated with a thermodynamic equation of state. Before going to main calculation of process design, we compared and analyzed the relevant equation of states. To evaluate the predictive accuracies of the examined equation of states, we compare the results of numerical calculations with experimental reference data. Up to now, process design for this $CO_2$ marine geological storage has been carried out mainly on pure $CO_2$. Unfortunately the captured $CO_2$ mixture contains many impurities such as $N_2$, $O_2$, Ar, $H_{2}O$, $SO_{\chi}$, $H_{2}S$. A small amount of impurities can change the thermodynamic properties and then significantly affect the compression, purification and transport processes. This paper analyzes the major design parameters that are useful for constructing onshore and offshore $CO_2$ transport systems. On the basis of a parametric study of the hypothetical scenario, we suggest relevant variation ranges for the design parameters, particularly the flow rate, diameter, temperature, and pressure.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.493-502
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• 2011

We study the deep structure of Korean Peninsula by estimating Moho depth and crustal thickness from using land and oceanic topography and free-air gravity anomaly data. Based on Airy-Heiskanen isostatic hypothesis, the correlated components between the terrain gravity effects and free-air gravity anomalies by wavenumber correlation analysis(WCA) are extracted to estimate the gravity effects that will be resulted from isostatic compensation for the area. With the resulting compensated gravity estimates, Moho depth that is a subsurface between the crust and mantle is estimated by the inversion in an iterative method with the constraints of 20 seismic depth estimates by the receiver function analysis, to minimize the uncertainty of non-uniqueness. Consequently, the average of the resulting crustal thickness estimate of Korean Peninsula is 32.15 km and the standard deviation is 3.12 km. Moho depth of South Korea estimated from this study is compared with the ones from the previous studies, showing they are approximately consistent. And the aspects of Moho undulation from the respective study are in common deep along Taebaek Mountains and Sobaek Mountains and low depth in Gyeongsang Basin relatively. Also, it is discussed that the terrain decorrelated free-air gravity anomalies inferring from the intracrustal characteristics of the crust are compared to the heat flow distributions of South Korea. The low-frequency components of terrain decorrelated Free-air gravity anomalies are highly correlated with the heat flow data, especially in the area of Gyeongsang basin where high heat flow causes to decrease the density of the rocks in the lower crust resulting in lowering the Moho depth by compensation. This result confirms that the high heat sources in this area coming from the upper mantle by Kim et al. (2008).