• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.525-528
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• 2001

This study was conducted to estimate the contents of heavy metals in some health foods available on Korean markets. The samples were digested with microwave system, then analyzed using GF-AAS for the contents of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd) and arsenic (As). The contents of mercury (Hg) were determined using a mercury analyzer. The average values of Hg, Pb, Cd and As in calcium (Ca) health foods were 0.007, 1.08, 0.02 and 0.48 mg/kg respectively. Those values in chitosan health foods were 0.001, 0.36, 0.01 and 0.03 mg/kg respectively. Those values in propolis health foods were 0.013, 4.96, 0.01 and 0.13 mg/kg, respectively. The health foods that contained cow bone powders had the highest lead contents. Based on the variation in lead contents of those products, it could be possible that they might be contaminated through raw materials and/or manufacuring process. Some propolis products were also very high in lead contents. There could be risks for some population, especially the aged who overtake those health foods, to have heavy intake of lead. Therefore, we established the lead standards of 3.0, 2.0 and 5.0mg/kg less than for Ca, chitosan and propolis health foods respectively, based on the Codex method.

• BMB Reports
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.467-474
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• 2007

Autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD) is one of the important genetic disorders in pediatric practice. Mutation of the polycystic kidney and hepatic disease gene 1 (PKHD1) was identified as the cause of ARPKD. The gene encodes a 67-exon transcript for a large protein of 4074 amino acids termed fibrocystin, but its function remains unknown. The neoplastic-like in cystic epithelial proliferation and the epidermal growth factor/epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF/EGFR) axis overactivity are known as the most important characteristics of ARPKD. Since the misregulation of $Ca^{2+}$ signaling may lead to aberrant structure and function of the collecting ducts in kidney of rat with ARPKD, present study aimed to investigate the further mechanisms of abnormal proliferation of cystic cells by inhibition of PKHD1 expression. For this, a stable PKHD1-silenced HEK-293T cell line was established. Then cell proliferation rates, intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentration and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) activity were assessed after treatment with EGF, a calcium channel blocker and agonist, verapamil and Bay K8644. It was found that PKHD1-silenced HEK-293T cell lines were hyperproliferative to EGF stimulation. Also PKHD1-silencing lowered the intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ and caused EGF-induced ERK1/2 overactivation in the cells. An increase of intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ in PKHD1-silenced cells repressed the EGF-dependent ERK1/2 activation and the hyperproliferative response to EGF stimulation. Thus, inhibition of PKHD1 can cause EGF-induced excessive proliferation through decreasing intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ resulting in EGF-induced ERK1/2 activation. Our results suggest that the loss of fibrocystin may lead to abnormal proliferation in kidney epithelial cells and cyst formation in ARPKD by modulation of intracellular $Ca^{2+}$.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Building Construction
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.11-21
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• 2024

This research elucidates the fundamental properties of carbon dioxide (CO₂)-cured mortar as influenced by varying substitution rates of blast furnace slag fine powder. The findings indicate that CO₂ curing enhances the formation of calcium carbonate (CaCO₃), contributing to pore reduction and the early development of strength. While calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)₂) plays a more pivotal role in the primary development of strength compared to CaCO₃, an increase in the substitution rate of blast furnace slag fine powder results in reduced production of Ca(OH)₂. Nonetheless, the maintenance of strength through CaCO₃ formation is observed even after the depletion of Ca(OH)₂, suggesting that the required performance can be sustained post-exposure to the atmosphere following CO₂ curing. It is noted that substitution rates exceeding 50% lead to performance deterioration due to CO₂, highlighting the necessity for careful adjustment of the substitution ratio.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.51-64
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• 1988

It has been suggested that calcium is only one of many metals that compete with toxic metals in the body. Therefore, this study was carried out to determine the influence of water hardness on accumulation of heavy metals in rats. The seventy-five rats were divided into control and case groups. Case group was subdivided into four subgroups in proportion to the concentration of water hardness respectively, such as, 0, 250, 500, 1000ppm. Control group was fed on only deionized water, but case groups were fed on hard water with ionized heavy metals (Cd 150mg + Pb 300mg + Cu 300mg/l) for 20, 40, 60 days. The concentrations of cadmium, lead and copper were measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry (Perkin Elmer 2380) in livers and kidneys. The results of the study are summarized as following 1. The concentration of cadmium accumulation showed the tendency of decrease in proportion to water hardness in both livers and kidneys of rats having been fed for only 60 days, respectively. 2. In only livers of rats having been fed for 60 days, essential metal, copper had the tendency of decrease according as hardness in water. 3. It was impossible to compare case with control about the tendency of lead accumulation because there was no difference between the two in livers and kidneys respectively.

• Journal of the Korean institute of surface engineering
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.225-233
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• 2007

Effects of alloying elements on the corrosion layer formation of Pb-grid/active materials interface has been researched for improvement of corrosion resistance of Pb-Ca alloy. For this research, various amounts of alloying elements such as Sn, Ag and Ba were added to the Pb-Ca alloys and investigated their corrosion behaviors. Batteries fabricated by using these alloys as cathode grids were subjected to life cycle test. Overcharge life cycle test was carried out at $75^{\circ}C$, 4.5 A, for 110 hrs. with KS standard (KSC 8504). And then, after keeping the battery with open circuit state for 48 hr, discharge was carried out at 300A for 30 sec. Corrosion morphology and interface between Pb-grid and active materials were investigated by using ICP, SEM, WDX, and LPM. Corrosion layer of Pb-Ca alloy got thicken with increasing Ca content. For Pb-Ca-Sn alloy, thickness of corrosion layer decreased as Sn and Ag content increased gradually. In case of Pb-Ca-Sn-Ba alloy, thickness of corrosion layer decreased up to 0.02 wt% Ba addition, whereas, it was not changed in case of above 0.02 wt% Ba addition.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.158-165
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• 2000

The purity of gypsum and quantitation of impurities of flue gas gypsum will not only play an important role in deciding of the optimal condition during a trial run of FGD (flue gas desulfurization), but also can be utilized in quality control of gypsum. The purity of gypsum can be determined from combined water, sulfur trioxide and calcium concentration. We found that the thermal analysis by TGA (thermogravimetric analysis) was the most accurate and convenient method to determine the purity of gypsum. This method will be done in a hour and the results were reproducible. On the other hand, the best way of the analysis of impurities in gypsum was fusion method using $LiBO_2$ as a fusion agent. We also determined the amount of $CO_2$ gas to analyze magnesium carbonate and calcium carbonate contents. The analyses of combined water by TGA, fusion method followed by ICP-AES (inductively coupled plasmaatomic emission spectroscopy) and determination of $CO_2$ amount can lead to more accurate and convenient method for gypsum analysis.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.157-162
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• 2013

The need for lead-free piezoceramics has caused a renewal of interest in $BaTiO_3$-based systems. Recently, it was found that ceramics in the $(Ba,Ca)(Zr,Ti)O_3$ system have properties comparable to those of $Pb(Zr,Ti)O_3$. However, these ceramics require rather high sintering temperatures of $1450-1550^{\circ}C$. In this work, the effect of $TiO_2$ and CuO addition on the sintering behavior, microstructure, dielectric and piezoelectric properties of $(Ba_{0.85}Ca_{0.15})(Zr_{0.1}Ti_{0.9})O_3$ (BCTZ) ceramics will be discussed. BCTZ ceramics were prepared by the mixed oxide route and 1 mol % of $TiO_2$ or CuO was added. Undoped and doped ceramics were sintered at $1350^{\circ}C$ for 1-5 h. CuO was found to be a very effective sintering aid, with samples sintered for 1 h at $1350^{\circ}C$ having a bulk density of 95% theoretical density; however the piezoelectric properties were greatly reduced, probably due to the small grain size.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.745-749
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• 1994

Animal experiments were conducted to confirm the suppressive effect of green tea on the intestinal absorption and tissue accumulation of toxic heavy metals in rats. When drinking water contaminated with 500 and 5000 times level of water quality standard for lead or cadmium was administrated to rats for 3 weeks, feed intake and body weight gain were not significantly differrent among all groups except for high cadmium group. In the relative weights of target organs, kidney and femur showed a significant difference by heavy metal administration and green tea did not influence on the weights. Green tea showed a suppressing effect on the accumulation of heavy metals in target organs, in which the reducing effect in femur was $25{\sim}45%$ for lead, and 42% for cadmium. As calcium content of femur decreased by heavy metal administration was increased in green tea group, it was concluded that heavy metal accumulation in femur was interrupted by tea beverage.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.397-403
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• 2012

The vitality of immature tooth could be lost by dental caries, trauma and fracture of malformed tooth. The vitality loss might lead to halt of the development of the root. The recommended endodontic treatment for a non-vital immature permanent tooth is apexification. Apexification is a method of inducing apical closure through the formation of mineralized tissue in the apical pulp region. Calcium hydroxide is the material of choice for apexification. Long-term exposure to calcium hydroxide may form the apical hard tissue, but weaken the dentin due to its alkaline nature and thus make the roots more susceptible to fracture. It is important to preserve any weakened tooth, so a permanent restoration is needed to reinforce teeth that are prone to fracture. The purpose of this case report was to describe the treatment for reinforcing immature teeth treated with long-term calcium hydroxide. In these cases, the apexes of teeth were sealed with MTA plugs and the root canals were restored with composite resin and fiber post.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.96-104
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• 2006

Experiments from several groups Including ours have demonstrated that $Ca^{2+}$ can enhance the inactivation of N-type calcium channels. However, it is not clear if this effect can be ascribed to a 'classic' $Ca^{2+}$-dependent inactivation (CDI) mechanism. One method that has been used to demonstrate CDI of L-type calcium channels is to alter the intracellular and extracellular concentration of $Ca^{2+}$. In this paper we replaced the external divalent cation to monovalent ion ($MA^+$) to test CDI. In the previous paper, we could separate fast (${\tau}{\sim}150ms$) and slow (${\tau}{\sim}2,500ms$) components of inactivation in both $Ba^{2+}$ and $Ca^{2+}$ using 5-sec voltage step. Lowering the external divalent cation concentration to zero abolished fast inactivation with relatively little effect on slow inactivation. Slow inactivation ${\tau}$ correspond very well with provided the $MA^+$ data is shifted 10 mV hyperpolarized and slow inactivation ${\tau}$ decreases with depolarization voltage in both $MA^+\;and\;Ba^{2+}$, which consistent with a classical voltage dependent inactivation (VDI) mechanism. These results combined with those of our previous paper lead us to hypothesize that external divalent cations are required to produce fast N-channel inactivation and this divalent cation-dependent inactivation is a different mechanism from classic CDI or VDI.