• Journal of Life Science
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.37-47
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• 2024

FUN14 domain-containing protein 1 (FUNDC1), an outer mitochondrial membrane protein, contributes to removal of damaged mitochondria through mitophagy. In this study, to elucidate the role of the FUNDC1 in the amyloid beta peptide (A_β)-induced neuropathy, changes in the degree of mitochondrial dysfunction and cell injury caused by A_β treatment were examined in the HT-22 neuronal cells in which the FUNDC1 expression was transiently silenced or overexpressed. We found that A_β treatment causes a time-dependent decrease of the FUNDC1 expression. In the A_β-treated cells, there were a drop in MTT reduction ability, depletion of cellular ATP, disruption of mitochondrial membrane potential, stimulation of cellular ROS production, and increased mitochondrial Ca²⁺ load. Activation of caspase-3 and induction of apoptotic cell death were also observed. Transient silencing of the FUNDC1 expression by transfection with the FUNDC1 small interfering RNA per se caused mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptotic cell death like the effect of A_β treatment. Conversely, in cells in which the FUNDC1 was transiently overexpressed by FUNDC1-Myc transfection, overexpression itself had no effect on the mitochondrial functional integrity and cell survival but showed a significant prevention effect against mitochondrial and cell injury caused by A_β treatment. Overall, these results suggest that the FUNDC1 is importantly involved in the A_β-induced mitochondrial dysfunction and cell injury in the HT-22 neuronal cells.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.29-35
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• 2024

This is an analytical study to confirm the passive resistance effect before post-tensioning of steel bar anchors. When using a steel bar as a permanent anchor, if displacement occurs within the slope even before the head load is applied, the displacement is suppressed by the passive resistance caused by the interaction between the steel bar, grout, and surrounding soil. Accordingly, the shape of the failure surface and changes in the safety factor were examined using limit equilibrium analysis and finite element analysis targeting sites where steel bar anchors were actually applied. It was found that the safety factor of the slope reinforced with steel bar anchors is 2.02 using finite element analysis, which is about 5.9% smaller than 2.14 using limit equilibrium analysis. Also, the location of the failure surface was found to be deeper compared to the unreinforced slope. Likewise, the factor of safety has a 153% and 163% increase using finite element method and limit equilibrium analysis, respectively. In addition, the maximum displacement occurs in the lower unreinforced section within the slope, and the displacement is found to be reduced by 42 to 83% at the location where the steel bar anchors are installed.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.355-358
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• 2013

BACKGROUND: Water-born pollution loads by agricultural non-point source (NPS) pollution are expected to become intensified due to ongoing precipitation change. Therefore, it is essential to develop a best management practice (BMP) that is suitable to agricultural environments in Korea. This study aimed to develop an environmental-friendly BMP to reduce NPS pollution load by agricultural activities. An eco-friendly way, small drainage pond, was suggested in this study to avoid direct drainage of agricultural runoffs and eventually reduce the amount of pollutants discharged into the surrounding aqua-environment. METHODS AND RESULTS: A small pond ($12m^2$) was constructed at the corner of a rice paddy field ($1,715m^2$) located in Suwon, Korea. Water was allowed to drain only via a small drainage pond. Sampling was repeatedly made at two locations, one from an entrance and the other from an exit of a pond, during the rice cultivation period (May to October, 2012). Generally, sampling was made only when runoff water drained through a pond, such as during and/or after rain (irrigation). The water quality analysis showed that all quality parameters (SS, $COD_{Mn}$, T-N, and T-P) were improved as water passed through the pond. The amount of runoff water was reduced by 96~100%. Suspended solids and COD concentrations was reduced by 79.3% and 45.6%, respectively. In case of T-N and T-P concentrations, the reduction rates were 52.2% and 60.5%, respectively and the amount of T-N and T-P were reduced by 16.3~73.0% and 15.4~70.1%, respectively. CONCLUSION(S): Our data implies that agricultural NPS pollution from rice paddy fields can be effectively managed when an appropriate drainage water management practice is imposed. In this paper, it was suggested that an installation of a small drainage pond can be effective to prevent not only the nutrient loss from rice fields but also pollutant discharge to surrounding water environments.

• Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.327-340
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• 2017

This article reviews the papers published in the Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering during 2016. It is intended to understand the status of current research in the areas of heating, cooling, ventilation, sanitation, and indoor environments of buildings and plant facilities. Conclusions are as follows. (1) The research works on the thermal and fluid engineering have been reviewed as groups of flow, heat and mass transfer, the reduction of pollutant exhaust gas, cooling and heating, the renewable energy system and the flow around buildings. CFD schemes were used more for all research areas. (2) Research works on heat transfer area have been reviewed in the categories of heat transfer characteristics, pool boiling and condensing heat transfer and industrial heat exchangers. Researches on heat transfer characteristics included the results of the long-term performance variation of the plate-type enthalpy exchange element made of paper, design optimization of an extruded-type cooling structure for reducing the weight of LED street lights, and hot plate welding of thermoplastic elastomer packing. In the area of pool boiling and condensing, the heat transfer characteristics of a finned-tube heat exchanger in a PCM (phase change material) thermal energy storage system, influence of flow boiling heat transfer on fouling phenomenon in nanofluids, and PCM at the simultaneous charging and discharging condition were studied. In the area of industrial heat exchangers, one-dimensional flow network model and porous-media model, and R245fa in a plate-shell heat exchanger were studied. (3) Various studies were published in the categories of refrigeration cycle, alternative refrigeration/energy system, system control. In the refrigeration cycle category, subjects include mobile cold storage heat exchanger, compressor reliability, indirect refrigeration system with $CO_2$ as secondary fluid, heat pump for fuel-cell vehicle, heat recovery from hybrid drier and heat exchangers with two-port and flat tubes. In the alternative refrigeration/energy system category, subjects include membrane module for dehumidification refrigeration, desiccant-assisted low-temperature drying, regenerative evaporative cooler and ejector-assisted multi-stage evaporation. In the system control category, subjects include multi-refrigeration system control, emergency cooling of data center and variable-speed compressor control. (4) In building mechanical system research fields, fifteenth studies were reported for achieving effective design of the mechanical systems, and also for maximizing the energy efficiency of buildings. The topics of the studies included energy performance, HVAC system, ventilation, renewable energies, etc. Proposed designs, performance tests using numerical methods and experiments provide useful information and key data which could be help for improving the energy efficiency of the buildings. (5) The field of architectural environment was mostly focused on indoor environment and building energy. The main researches of indoor environment were related to the analyses of indoor thermal environments controlled by portable cooler, the effects of outdoor wind pressure in airflow at high-rise buildings, window air tightness related to the filling piece shapes, stack effect in core type's office building and the development of a movable drawer-type light shelf with adjustable depth of the reflector. The subjects of building energy were worked on the energy consumption analysis in office building, the prediction of exit air temperature of horizontal geothermal heat exchanger, LS-SVM based modeling of hot water supply load for district heating system, the energy saving effect of ERV system using night purge control method and the effect of strengthened insulation level to the building heating and cooling load.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.170-176
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• 1998

Nitrogen and phosphorus loads from an agricultural watershed of the Yulmun-chon tributary in the Buk-Han River Basin were quantified based on total amounts of water stream flow. The water quality and soil loss were estimated. Levels of the stream were recorded automatically using the water level meter. The flow velocities, along with the cross-sectional areas of the riverbed, were measured to estimate total amounts of water flow at three monitoring sites in this tributary. Water samples were collected at nine sites with two weeks interval from May to August and analyzed for the water quality parameters. Amounts of soil loss were estimated by the USLE. The size of the Yulmunchon watershed was 3,210 ha, of which paddy and upland soil areas were composed about 41%. The total amounts of soil loss from the watershed areas were estimated to be $13,273Mg\;year^{-1}$, showing 53%, 46% and 0.7% of the soil loss ratio from upland, forest, and paddy areas, respectively. Electrical conductivities and Nitrogen concentrations of the stream water were higher in the lower watershed area than in the upper area. Increments of N were higher for $NO_3-N$ than $NH_4-N$. Nitrate nitrogen was the major N form to pollute the water due to the agricultural activity. Total runoff was about 72% of the total precipitation in the watershed. The maximum loads of T-N and T-P due to the runoff were estimated to be 1,500 and $5kg\;day^{-1}$, respectively. Concentrations of $NO_3-N$ and $NH_4-N$ in the runoff were 13.5 and 1.8 times higher than those in precipitation. The N loads were mainly from soil loss, application of fertilizer, and livestock wastes, which were 52% of total N load. Results demonstrated that reduction of fertilizer use and the soil loss would be essential for water quality protection of the agricultural watershed.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.14-34
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• 1985

One of the techniques for altering the properties of wood that has received considerable attention in the last twenty years is the formation of a wood-polymer composite (WPC) by irradiation and heat-catalyst polymerization of a monomer incorporated into the wood matrix. Wood-polymer composites are the new products having the superior mechanical and physical properties and the combinated characteristics of wood and plastic. The purpose of this experiment was to obtain the basic data for the improvement of wooden materials by manufacturing WPC and Staypak. The species examined was Hyunsasi-Namoo (Populus alba ${\times}$ P. glandulosa) which had not been utilized yet. Methylmethacrylate (MMA) as monomer, benzoyl peroxide (BPO) as initiator and methyl alcohol as bulking agent were used. The monomer containing BPO was impregnated into wood pieces by the dipping and the vacuum process for 2 hours. After impregnation, the treated samples were polymerized on the hot press with pressure and heat-catalyst methods. The results obtained were summarized as follows 1. The monomer loading into wood by the dipping process was 12.13 percent and 29.99 percent by the vacuum. The polymer loading into wood by the dipping process was 6.79 percent and 15.44 percent by the vacuum. 2. Comparing with Staypak, antishrink efficiency (ASE) of WPC was 12.5 to 13.6 percent on the radial direction and 14.70 to 18.63 percent on the tangential. Antiswelling efficiency (AE) was 14.40 to 17.22 percent on the radial direction and 17.18 to 42.1 8 to 42.14 percent on the tangential. Reduction in water absorptivity (RWA) was 8.19 to 15.5 percent. As a whole, the vacuum process was better than the dipping. 3. The specific gravity of control, Staypak and WPC were 0.44, 0.66 and 0.61 to 0.62, respectively. 4. In the bending strength test, the strength in case that the load direction is on the radial surface was greater than that which the load direction is on the tangential. 5. Increasing rate of stress at proportional limit in compression perpendicular to grain was 72.26 percent in case of WPC by the dipping process, 78.93 percent by the vacuum and 99.09 percent in case of Staypak.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.35 no.11
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• pp.795-802
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• 2013

According to the increase of impervious area due to the town development, the rate of infiltration generally lessens and that of runoff rises during wet weather events. And it is concerned that its impacts on water quality for the downstream water bodies due to the change of rainfall runoff patterns may also increase. To cope with these issues, LID (Low Impact Development) techniques which try to maintain the characteristics of rainfall runoff regardless of the town development have been introduced actively. However, the behaviors of each LID technique for rainfall runoff and pollutant loads is not understood sufficiently. In this study, considering the applications of some LID techniques, several sets of simulations using a distributed rainfall runoff model, SWMM-LID, have been conducted for D town whose development is progressing. As the results of the simulations, the rates of infiltration/storage have been decreased from 78% in the case before the town development to 15% after the development and increased again by 24% with LID techniques such as porous pavement, rain barrel and rain garden. The rates of runoff have been increased more than three times from 20% in the case before the development to 74% after the development, and they have also been decreased to 66% by the adoption of LID techniques. It has been simulated that porous pavement is more effective than others in the view point of the reduction of runoff and rain barrel is more attractive for the management of pollutant loads (TSS, BOD, COD, T-N and T-P). Therefore, if some LID techniques should be selected for the a new town, it could be concluded that some techniques with better infiltration functions are recommendable for the control of runoff, and ones with larger storage functions for the management of pollutant loads.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.199-206
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• 2009

Purpose: To analyze the clinical spectrum of posttransplantation lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) after liver transplantation in children. Methods: From January 1988 to June 2009, we retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 8 PTLD cases among 148 pediatric patients underwent liver transplantation. The age at transplantation, time of presentation after transplantation, clinical manifestations, histologic diagnosis, results of EBV (Epstein-Barr virus) assessments, managements and outcomes of PTLD were investigated. Results: The prevalence of PTLD in liver transplant pediatric recipients was 5.4% (8 of 148). The mean age of patients was 25.4${\pm}$21.3 months (range 10 to 67 months). Seven of 8 patients (87.5%) underwent liver transplantation before 1 year of age. The common clinical presentations were persistent fever (8 of 8, 100%) and bloody diarrhea (6 of 8, 75%). PTLD was diagnosed with gastrointestinal endoscopic biopsies in five patients and surgical biopsies in three. Histologic findings showed early lesion in three patients, polymorphic in two, and monomorphic in three. Burkitt lymphoma and lymphoblastic lymphoma were found in two of 3 monomorphic patients. Seven of 8 patients were found with EBV-positive. Eight patients were treated with dose reduction of immunosuppressants and infusion of ganciclovir. Rituximab was added to four patients. PTLD were successfully managed in all patients except one who died of sepsis during chemotherapy. Conclusion: Major risk factor of PTLD was to undergo liver transplantation before 1 year of age. Continuous monitoring for EBV viral load and gastrointestinal endoscopic biopsy may be useful to early detection of PTLD.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.316-323
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of different thread designs on the marginal bone stresses around dental implant. Materials and methods: Standard ITI implant(ITI Dental Implant System; Straumann AG, Waldenburg, Switzerland), 4.1 mm in diameter and 10 mm in length, was selected as control. Test implants of four different thread patterns were created based on control implant, i.e. maintaining all geometrical design of control implant except thread pattern. Four thread designs used in test implants include (1) small V-shape screw (model A), (2) large V-shape screw (model B), (3) buttress screw (model C), and (4) trapezoid screw (model D). Surface area for unit length of implant was 14.4 $mm^2$ (control), 21.7 (small V-shape screw), 20.6 (large V-shape screw), 17.0 (buttress screw) and 28.7 $mm^2$ (trapezoid screw). Finite element models of implant/bone complex were created using an axisymmetric scheme with the use of NISA II/DISPLAY III (Engineering Mechanics Research Corporation, Troy, MI, USA). A load of 100 N applied to the central node on the crown top either in parallel direction or at 30 degree to the implant axis (in order to apply non-axial load to the implant NKTP type 34 element was employed). Quantification and comparison of the peak stress in the marginal bone of each implant model was made using a series of regression analyses based on the stress data calculated at the 5 reference points which were set at 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8 and 1.0 mm from implant wall on the marginal bone surface. Results: Results showed that although severe stress concentration on the marginal bone cannot be avoided a substantial reduction in the peak stress is achievable using different thread design. The peak marginal bone stresses under vertical loading condition were 7.84, 6.45, 5.96, 6.85, 5.39 MPa for control and model A, B, C and D, respectively. And 29.18, 26.45, 25.12, 27.37, 23.58 MPa when subject to inclined loading. Conclusion: It was concluded that the thread design is an important influential factor to the marginal bone stresses.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.30 no.3A
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• pp.201-209
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• 2010

Generally, PSC girder bridge uses total gross cross section to resist applied loads unlike reinforced concrete member. Also, it is used as short and middle span (less than 30 m) bridges due to advantages such as ease of design and construction, reduction of cost, and convenience of maintenance. But, due to recent increased public interests for environmental friendly and appearance appealing bridges all over the world, the demands for longer span bridges have been continuously increasing. This trend is shown not only in ordinary long span bridge types such as cable supported bridges but also in PSC girder bridges. In order to meet the increasing demands for new type of long span bridges, PSC hollow box girder with H-type steel as compression reinforcements is developed for bridge with a single span of more than 50 m. The developed PSC girder applies compressive prestressing at H-type compression reinforcements using unbonded PS tendon. The purpose of compressive prestressing is to recover plastic displacement of PSC girder after long term service by releasing the prestressing. The static test composed of 4 different stages in 3-point bending test is performed to verify safety of the bridge. First stage loading is applied until tensile cracks form. Then in second stage, the load is removed and the girder is unloaded. In third stage, after removal of loading, recovery of remaining plastic deformation is verified as the compressive prestressing is removed at H-type reinforcements. Then, in fourth stage, loading is continued until the girder fails. The experimental results showed that the first crack occurs at 1,615 kN with a corresponding displacement of 187.0 mm. The introduction of the additional compressive stress in the lower part of the girder from the removal of unbonded compressive prestressing of the H-type steel showed a capacity improvement of about 60% (7.7 mm) recovery of the residual deformation (18.7 mm) that occurred from load increase. By using prestressed H-type steel as compression reinforcements in the upper part of cross section, repair and rehabilitation of PSC girders are relatively easy, and the cost of maintenance is expected to decrease.