• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.389-397
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• 2015

Dongchun, one of the representative streams in urban area, is a downstream that is connected to Hogyechun, Bujeonchun, Jeonpochun, Danggamchun, and Gayachun as its upstream. Hogyechun has been mostly covered with concrete structures for decades, causing sewage pollution from the upstream, overflow of the downstream region and other serious pollution that gave rise to many civil complaints from the residents nearby. In this study, we analyzed 3 stations, including control station for water quality and malodor changes of Hogyechun after applying the microbial augmentation (BM-2) for a few months including the rainy season. Amounts (g/h) of DO in the middle site (Middle) and the downstream site (Borim) increased by 1.7 times compared with the upstream site (Chuhae) after augmentation for about 2 months. Amounts (g/h) of COD and $NO_3{^-}N$ decreased by 2 and 1.7 times, respectively, in the middle and downstream sites while SS increased by 7.5 and 22 times in the middle and downstream sites, respectively. Moreover, odor removal efficiencies at the middle and downstream sites were 65% and 19%, respectively, indicating the microbial activity in reduction of malodor in the polluted stream. The dominant microbial species of the sampling sites were Hydrogenophaga caeni, Sphaerotilus natans, Acidovorax radicis, Acidovorax delafieldii, and Cloacibacterium rupense. Densities of the two species Sphaerotilus natans and Acidovorax delafieldii were significantly increased in the middle site after augmentation which possessed potential odor removal and denitrification activity, respectively. Potential pathogens (e.g., Arcobacter cryaerophilus) were also removed from the middle site after the implementation.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.1-14
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• 2007

Backgrounds : Rheumatoid Arthritis(RA) is known as the chronic inflammatory diseasethat induces persistent inflammation in the joint cavity. The destruction of cartilage occurs as the result of bones destoyed by pannus, several influential cytokines induced by the synovial capsulitis, varieties of proteinases, $O_2$ radicals, and the secondary degenerative changes of articular cartilage. The type 2 collagen-induced arthritis model is used in recent experimental research on rheumatoid arthritis. Cervus elaphus sibiricus (Nockyong) has the effect of relieving pain by nourishing the muscles, joints, and bones. It is also known to be efficacious in promoting and enhancing the immune system. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of Cervus elaphus sibiricus herbal acupuncture to inhibit the generation of proinflammatory enzyme on type 2 collagen-induced arthritis. I investigated the inhibition of mRNA transcription of MIF(macrophage migration inhibitory factor), $TNF-{\alpha}$(Tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$) and MMP-9 (matrix metalloproteinase-9) of Cervus elaphus sibiricus herbal acupuncture using an in vitro test. Also investigated was the inhibition of differentiation of Th 1 cells and activation of cytokines(MIF, $TNF-{\alpha}$, IL-6, MMP-9), which are known to cause initial RA ,and are also related to the morphology of the synovial membranes of the joint capsule, by an in vivo test, using CIA(collagen induced arthritis) model mice. Materials & methods : The laboratory animals used in this experiment were 4 week-old DBA female mice, weighing approximately 20 grams, and adjusted to the laboratory environment. The experiment was divided into the normal group(NOR)-no treated group, control group(CON)-CIA induced group, and sample group(SAM)-Cervus elaphus sibiricus herbal acupuncture treated group. RA was induced in the mice via injection of $50{\mu}{\ell}$ C II mixed CFA. The Cervus elaphus sibiricus herbal acupuncture solution was applied on $GB_{35}$(陽陵泉) for 26 days from the 3rd day of RA inducement. The concentration of the solution was determined via a MTT assay. To research the effect on the expression of MIF, $TNF-{\alpha}$ and MMP-9 mRNA, RT-PCR was performed on synovial membrane cells from the knee joint of CIA mice. C II induced RA knee joint's histo-chemical synovial membrane was observed using a specimen model via the Hematoxilin and Eosin dying technique. Results : The expression of mRNA of RA-related cytokines such as MIF, $TNF-{\alpha}$, and MMP-9 dosedependently decreased in the cell from the synovial membranes of the joint, which is treated with Cervus elaphus sibiricus herbal acupuncture solution. In mice treated with Cervus elaphus sibiricusherbal acupuncture, the damage of synovial membranes of the joint was lessened, and differentiation of Th 1 cells was suppressed. The activation of RA-related cytokines such as MIF was suppressed, and the generation of $TNF-{\alpha}$ and MMP-9 showed a statistically significant decreas. Conclusions : It is speculated that Cervus elaphus sibiricus herbal acupuncture has the therapeutic effect of palliating the damage of the tissue impaired by RA by inhibition of the initial RA progression and by regulating excessive differentiation of Th 1 cell as it suppresses the generation of RA-related cytokines during the highest stage of RA by acting on pro-inflammatory enzymes.

• The Journal of the Acoustical Society of Korea
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• v.20 no.2E
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• pp.30-45
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• 2001

This study considers the environmental factors affecting propagation loss and sonar performance in the continental regions of the East Coast Sea of Korea. Water mass distributions appear to change dramatically in a few weeks. Simple calculation with the case when the NKCW (North Korean Cold Water) develops shows that the difference in propagation loss may reach in the worst up to 10dB over range 5km. Another factor, an eddy, has typical dimensions of 100-200km in diameter and 150-200m in thickness. Employing a typical eddy and assuming frequency to be 100Hz, its effects on propagation loss appear to make lower the normal formation of convergence zones with which sonars are possible to detect long-range targets. The change of convergence zones may result in 10dB difference in received signals in a given depth. Thermal fronts also appear to be critical restrictions to operating sonars in shallow waters. Assuming frequency to be 200Hz, thermal fronts can make 10dB difference in propagation loss between with and without them over range 20km. An observation made in one site in the East Coast Sea of Korea reveals that internal waves may appear in near-inertial period and their spectra may exist in periods 2-17min. A simulation employing simple internal wave packets gives that they break convergence zones on the bottom, causing the performance degradation of FOM as much as 4dB in frequency 1kHz. An acoustic experiment, using fixed source and receiver at the same site, shows that the received signals fluctuate tremendously with time reaching up to 6.5dB in frequencies 1kHz or less. Ambient noises give negative effects directly on sonar performance. Measurements at some sites in the East Coast Sea of Korea suggest that the noise levels greatly fluctuate with time, for example noon and early morning, mainly due to ship traffics. The average difference in a day may reach 10dB in frequency 200Hz. Another experiment using an array of hydrophones gives that the spectrum levels of ambient noises are highly directional, their difference being as large as 10dB with vertical or horizontal angles. This fact strongly implies that we should obtain in-situ information of noise levels to estimate reasonable sonar performance. As one of non-stationary noise sources, an eel may give serious problems to sonar operation on or under the sea bottoms. Observed eel noises in a pier of water depth 14m appear to have duration time of about 0.4 seconds and frequency ranges of 0.2-2.8kHz. The 'song'of an eel increases ambient noise levels to average 2.16dB in the frequencies concerned, being large enough to degrade detection performance of the sonars on or below sediments. An experiment using hydrophones in water and sediment gives that sensitivity drops of 3-4dB are expected for the hydrophones laid in sediment at frequencies of 0.5-1.5kHz. The SNR difference between in water and in sediment, however, shows large fluctuations rather than stable patterns with the source-receiver ranges.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.213-220
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• 2015

After oil outlow accident of Hebei spirit in December 7, 2007, the motality of manila clam, Ruditapes philippinarum in the west coast of South Korea, was significantly increased from 9.2% in April, 2007 to 22.4% in April 2008. Although the mortality was about 10% in the tidal flat of Geunso Bay and Cheonsu Bay, Incheon and Gyeonggi-do, the values was significantly high about 30% in water coast of Taean, Boryeong and Seosan in where the spilled oil was getting into fishery zone. However, the mortality in water coast of Taean, Boryeong and Seosan was decreased from 22.4% in 2008 to 6.0% in 2009. Also, we found that the mortality in contaminated and non-contaminated water zones was both slightly increased from 6.0 in 2009 to 8.6% in 2010, Therefore, these results are indicating that the significant high mortality observed in water coast of Taean, Boryeong and Seosan at April, 2008 was due to the crude oil accident outflow from tanks of Hebei spirit. Although the mortality of manila clam was significantly decreased in middle west coast of South Korea after the accident of Hebei spirit in December, 2007, the annual production of manila clam in South Korea was sustainedly from 27,459 ton in 2007, 36,302 ton in 2008, 40,392 ton in 2009, to 36,248 ton in 2010. In the production of manila clam by regional groups, the amount in sea coast of Chungnam, where was damaged by crude oil, was significantly decreased from 10,598 ton in 2007 to 5,048 ton in 2008, but then was significantly increased to 7,065 ton in 2009, and to 12,921 ton in 2010. However, in sea coast of Jeonnam that was not damaged by crude oil, the amount was significantly increased from 1,252 ton in 2007 to 12,248 ton in 2008, but then was significantly decreased to 9,566 ton in 2009, and to 2,770 ton in 2010. Therefore the results are suggesting that a increasing of the total annual production of manila clam in South Korea in 2008 when was 1 year after the oil accident of Hebei spirit was due to increasing of clam production in a coast of Jeonnam in where was not damaged by crude oil.

• Clean Technology
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.124-133
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• 2011

In addition to six substances regulated in EU RoHS including lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyls (PBB) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE), priority substances are identified in new RoHS II as hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD), dibutyl phthalate (DBP), butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP) and diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP). In this study, 20 plastic samples were collected from 12 domestic electrotechnical companies and levels of four restricted substances were determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, Among 20 parts that compose washer, refrigerator or microwave oven, HBCDD was detected in three samples of NBR material with the amount of 42~381 mg/kg while DBP and BBP was not detected in any samples collected respectively, implying that these substance may not be used widely in plastic materials for EEE. However, DEHP was detected in all samples of NBR, PP, PBT, EPDM and PVC materials with the amount of 42 up to 59,400 mg/kg that exceeds the limit value of 0.1 wt% (1,000 mg/kg). Presence of a restricted substance in polymer material makes a great negative influence on a number of final product. To cope with coming RoHS II as well as REACH, action not to use DEHP in plastic material or the relevant notification in case of REACH seems to be needed. Screening test of Arsenic compounds such as diarsenic pentaoxide, diarsenic trioxide, lead hydrogen arsenate, triethyl arsenate that are included in REACH SVHC was done by ICP measurement Arsenium was detected in four samples made of NBR and PBT materials in the level of 15~700 mg/kg. By considering the screening method used in this study, the amount of arsenium compounds in the thermistor made of PBT material has a high chance of exceeding the regulated limit value.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.191-198
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• 2005

The present study was attempted to examine the patient satisfaction factors for dental services of several dental clinics to enhance their satisfaction and to provide information that will help dental clinics to have competitive edge over others. This study was conducted an on-site survey to the outpatients of a dentist at Jeollabuk-do, from March 23 to April 10, 2003. The results were as follows: 1. In the event of dental hygienists, their satisfaction with dental hygienists was statistically significantly different according to their occupation. The company employees(4.30) and self-employed people(4.36) were more satisfied with dental hygienists, and the government workers(3.86) were pleased with them the least. 2. Their satisfaction level with internal environments was statistically significantly different according to their age, educational background and occupation. Those who were in their 50s and up(4.23), who received middle-school or lower education(4.11), who were retired or unemployed (4.31), and who were self-employed(4.11) were most pleased with internal environments. 3. Their satisfaction level of external environments varied statistically significantly with their occupation. Those who were retired or jobless (3.57) expressed the most satisfaction, and the government workers(2.83) were pleased the least. 4. Their satisfaction level with treatment process differed statistically significantly with their occupation. Those who were self-employed(3.97) and who were retired or unemployed(3.89) were more pleased, and the public officials(3.34) and professionals(3.54) were satisfied the least. 5. As to satisfaction level with medical bills, those who were in their 50s and up(3.95), who received high-school education(3.80), who were self-employed(3.98), and whose monthly mean income was three million won or more(3.99) expressed the biggest satisfaction. 6. What factors affected their overall satisfaction level with treatment after receiving it was investigated, and it's found that their overall satisfaction level was under the statistically significant influence of dentists, dental hygienists, treatment process and medical bills.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.89-97
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• 2007

A three-dimensional (3D) magnetotelluric (MT) survey has been carried out to delineate subsurface structures and possible fractures, for development of low-temperature geothermal resources in Pohang, Korea. Quite good quality MT data could be obtained throughout the survey region by locating the remote reference in Kyushu, Japan, which is ${\sim}480\;km$ from the centre of the field site. 3D modelling and inversion are performed taking into account the sea effect in MT measurements near the seashore. The nearby sea in the Pohang area affects MT data at frequencies below $1\;Hz{\sim}0.2\;Hz$, depending on the distance from the seashore. The most severe sea effects were observed in the south-east parts of the survey area, closer to Youngil Bay. 3D inversion with and without the seawater constraint showed very similar results at shallow depths, roughly down to 2 km. At greater depths, however, a strong sea effect seems to form a fictitious conductive structure in ordinary 3D inversion, especially in the south-eastern part of the survey region. Comparison between drilling results and the resistivity profiles from inversions showed that five layered structures can be distinguished the subsurface beneath the target area. They are: (a) semi-consolidated mudstones with resistivity less than $10\;{\Omega}m$, which are ${\sim}300\;m$ thick in the northern part and ${\sim}600\;m$ thick in the southern part of the survey area; (b) occasional occurrence of trachybasalt and lapilli tuff within the mudstone layer has resistivity of a few tens of${\Omega}m$, (c) intrusive rhyolite ${\sim}400\;m$ thick has resistivity of several hundreds of ${\Omega}m$, (d) alternating sandstone and mudstone down to 1.5 km depth shows resistivity of ${\sim}100\;{\Omega}m$, (e) a conductive structure was found at a depth of ${\sim}3\;km$, but more geological and geophysical study should be carried out to identify this structure.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2009

For HDR intracavitary brachytherapy with ovoids and a tandem, we compared the dose discrepancy of treatment plans using two different Ir-192 sources (microSelectron, Varian) and generated on two different treatment planning systems (PLATO, BrachyVision). The treatment plans of ten patient treated from Oct. 2007 to Jan. 2008 were selected for these comparisons. For the comparison of dose calculation using different sources, the average discrepancies were $-0.91{\pm}0.09%$, $-0.27{\pm}0.07%$, $0.22{\pm}0.39%$, and $0.88{\pm}0.37%$ in total treatment time and at B-point and ICRU bladder and rectum reference point, respectively. Comparing the two systems, the average dose discrepancies between treatment planning programs were $-0.22{\pm}0.42%$, $-0.25{\pm}0.29%$, $-0.23{\pm}0.63%$, and $-0.17{\pm}0.76%$, and the average dose discrepancies between positioning methods (PLATO with film and BrachyVision with digitial image) were $-0.61{\pm}0.59%$, $-0.77{\pm}0.45%$, $-0.72{\pm}1.70%$, and $0.35{\pm}2.82%$ at A-point, B-point, and ICRU bladder and rectum reference points, respectively. The rectal dose discrepancies between two systems were reached 5.87%. The difference in the dwell position expected by each TPS are mainly affected by the differences in the positioning method in TPSs and have an effect on dose calculations of rectal and bladder located in AP direction.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.366-372
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• 2009

In the course of screening of useful enzyme-producing microorganisms from marine sedimentary layers, we isolated 2 amylase producing strains and tested their amylase producing activities. Analyses of 16S rDNA sequences and biochemical methods (BIOLOG) of two isolates showed that they were confirmed to be a gram positive Bacillus sp. and gram negative Pseudoalteromonas sp., respectively. Excellent amylase producing strains were termed Bacillus sp. ST-63 and Pseudoalteromonas sp. ST-140, and further studies were conducted on their amylase producing characteristics. Optimum conditions for cell growth in amylase activity were obtained when the isolate (Bacillus sp. ST-63 and Pseudoalteromonas sp. ST-140) was cultured at $30^{\circ}C$ and pH $7{\sim}8$.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.131-139
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• 2011

Bisphenol A (BPA) is mainly used in the production of epoxy resins and polycarbonate plastics, which is a known endocrine disruptor and acutely toxic to aquatic organisms. In this study, estrogenic effect of BPA was investigated on hybrid between Oryzias dancena and O. javanicus (ODJ). ODJ were exposed to BPA of various concentrations (eg. 2.5 mg/L, 5.0 mg/L and 10.0 mg/L) for 56 days. The growth rate, abnormality and the ratio of female and male were observed in test group and control group. As a result, the growth was $14.7{\pm}2.0$ mm in total length (TL) in 2.5 mg/L, $13.7{\pm}2.5$ mm in 5.0 mg/L, $12.8{\pm}2.5$ mm in 10.0 mg/L in test group while it was $18.0{\pm}1.2$ mm in TL in control group which was not treated with bisphenol A. The result showed that the growth decreased as the concentration of BPA increased. The abnormality rate was 13.6% in control group, 65.4% in 2.5 mg/L, 81.3% in 5.0 mg/L and 98.1 % in 10.0 mg/L which showed increase in abnormality as an increase of BPA concentration. As a result of analyzing ratio of sex in the test group and control group, 6.0% was examined to be interspecific in controls, 76.9% in 2.5 mg/L and 100.0% in 5.0 mg/L and 10.0 mg/L. In conclusion, these results suggest that BPA has estrogenic effect on ODJ.