• Journal of Marine Life Science
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.145-153
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• 2022

Mercury (Hg) is a major concern in marine environment because of their bioaccumulation and biomagnification properties, and adverse effects to aquatic organisms at even a trace amount. However, little information on the effects of Hg, compared to other heavy metals, is available in marine small crustaceans. Here, we investigated the transcriptional modulation of metabolism-related genes in the brackish water flea, Diaphanosoma celebensis after exposure to sublethal concentration (0.2, 0.4, 0.8 ㎍/l) of HgCl₂ for 48 h. Relative mRNA expression levels of five detoxification enzyme-coding genes (cytochrome P450; cyp360A1, cyp361A1, cyp4AP3, cyp4C122, and cyp370C5) and six digestive enzyme-coding genes [alpha amylase (AMY), alpha amylase related protein (AMY-like), trypsin (TRYP), chymotrypsin-like protein (CHY), lipase (LIP), pancreatic lipase-related protein (PLRP)] were analyzed using quantitative real time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). As results, Hg increased the mRNA level of cyp370C5 (clan2) and cyp4AP3 (clan4) in a concentration dependent manner. A significant increase in TRYP mRNA was also concentration-dependently observed after exposure to Hg. These findings suggest that cyp370C5 and cyp4AP3 play a key role in Hg detoxification in D. celebensis, and Hg can affect energy metabolism by modulating the transcription of digestive enzyme. This study will provide better understanding the molecular effects of Hg in marine small crustacean.

• Journal of Korea Society of Industrial Information Systems
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.21-28
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• 2022

Fine dust enters the lungs or blood vessels through the respiratory tract through the air. Recently, due to the fine dust problem, the demand for air purifiers in Korea is also increasing rapidly. Moss is the oldest terrestrial plant, and it is known that it has the property of adsorbing and decomposing heavy metals and fine dust. To compare the effect of reducing fine dust between moss and the existing chemical filter (Hepa), a cube of 1 m³ was manufactured and the amount of fine dust reduction under a controlled environment was compared. Under the fine dust conditions, an umbrella moss filter, rat tail moss filter, feather moss filter, and silk moss filter were inserted for a total of 40 experiments, 10 times each in 4 different situations. The difference between the amount after 30 minutes was statistically significant for all filters. However, as a result of the test, it was confirmed that there was no statistically significant difference between filters for fine dust, mixed gas, CO₂, and O₂. In particular, it was confirmed that the previously claimed effect of oxygen generation was almost nonexistent. Through this result, it was confirmed that the reduction of fine dust is effective regardless of the species view of moss, and it is expected to replace or supplement the chemical filter of the existing air purifier through future improvement.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.55 no.4
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• pp.389-398
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• 2022

Many studies have been conducted to accurately predict the correlations between As and heavy metals content in contaminated soil and cultivated crops; however, due to the low correlation between the two, few clear results were obtained to date. This study aimed to create statistical models that predict the As content transferred from soil to polished rice, considering the physicochemical properties of the soil, as well as the total content and the single-extracted content of As in the soil. Predictive models were derived through regression analysis while sequentially classifying soil samples according to pH, soluble As content by single extraction, and organic matter content of the soil. The correlation coefficients between the As content in 80 polished rice and total As content and Mehlich soluble As content in the soil were low, 0.533 and 0.493, respectively. However, the models derived after sequential classification of the soil by pH, a ratio of total As content to Mehlich soluble As content, and organic matter content greatly increased the predictive power; ① 0.963 for 13 soils with a pH higher than 6.5, ② 0.849 for 15 soils with pH lower than 6.5 and a high ratio of As_Tot/As_Mehlich, ③ 0.935 for 30 soils with pH lower than 6.5, a high ratio of As_Tot/As_Mehlich, and organic matter content lower than 8.5%. The suggested prediction model of As transfer from soil to polished rice derived by soil classification may serve as a statistically significant methodology in establishing a rice cultivation standard for arsenic-contaminated soil.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.32 no.12
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• pp.997-1004
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• 2022

To verify the nutritional superiority and safety of Protaetia brevitarsis larvae fed a food source containing soybean curd cake, the nutrients and harmful substances of larvae reared only with fermented oak sawdust and a food source containing soybean curd cake were comparatively analyzed. The crude protein content was 50.0% in the larvae fed with a food source containing soybean curd cake (SCC), which was 1.1 times higher than that of the larvae fed with fermented oak sawdust (FOS) at 44.7%. Potassium, which showed the highest content among macrominerals, was 2.5 times higher in SCC (3,169.6 mg/100 g) than in FOS (1,245.9 mg/100 g). Among trace minerals, zinc showed 12.6 times higher content than FOS (8.2 mg/100 g) in SCC (103.0 mg/100 g). As a result of the analysis of harmful substances, all heavy metals met the edible insect control standards, and pathogenic microorganisms, such as E. coli and Salmonella spp, were not detected. According to the above study, the larvae of P. brevitarsis fed soybean curd cake contain various nutrients, and safety has also been confirmed, so it is judged to be suitable for use as food.

• CELLMED
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.21.1-21.9
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• 2021

Background: Unani System of Medicine (USM) has its origin to Greece. To ensure and develop the quality, authenticity of Unani drugs, standardization on modern analytical parameter is essential requirement for drugs. Objectives: The aimed of the present study was to develop a standard profile of "Qurṣ-e-Mafasil" by systematic study through authenticated ingredients, pharmacognostic identification followed by physicochemical, TLC, HPTLC fingerprinting analysis as per standard protocol. Material and Methods: In this study three batches of "Qurṣ-e-Mafasil" QM were prepared by standard method as per UPI had been followed by organoleptic properties of formulation such as appearance, color, odor, taste. Powder Microscopy and physicochemical studies were carried out such as Uniformity of weight, Friability, Disintegration time, hardness, LOD, ash vales and extractive values in like aqueous, alcohol & hexane. Further qualitative tests such as Thin-Layer Chromatography (TLC), and High-Performance Thin Layer Chromatography (HPTLC) studies were also carried out to develop fingerprint pattern of the alcoholic solvent extract of QM. Phytochemical screening was carried out in different solvent extracts such as alcoholic, aqueous and chloroform extracts to detect the presence phytoconstituents in the formulation QM. Heavy metals, Microbial Load Contamination and pesticidal residues were also determined. Results: Qurṣ-e-Mafasil showed tablet-like appearance, light brown colour, mild pungent odour and acrid taste. Uniformity of weight (mg), friability (rpm), and hardness (kg/cm) and disintegration time was ranged between (500 to 503), (0.0340 to 0.038), (8.40 to 8.67) and (4-5 minutes) respectively for the three batches. Loss in weight on drying at 105℃ was ranged between (8.3425 to 8.7346). Extracted values were calculated in distilled water ranged between (30.9091 to 31.4358), hexane (1.1419 to 1.4281), and alcohol (3.3352 to 3.3962). The ash values recorded were ranged between (3.7336 to 3.8378), and acid insoluble ash (0.5859 to 0.6112).

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.56 no.2
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• pp.182-187
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• 2023

Fifteen samples of dried laver Pyropia tenera were collected from markets and processing plants in Korea for an assessment of their microbial and chemical hazards, in accordance with the Korean food code. The contamination levels of total viable bacteria, coliforms, Escherichia coli, and nine other pathogenic bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella spp., Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Clostridium perfringens, Listeria monocytogenes, Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli, Yersinia enterocolitica, Bacillus cereus, and Campylobacter jejuni) were evaluated The concentrations of heavy metals (lead, cadmium, total mercury, and total arsenic) and radioactive isotopes (¹³¹I, and ¹³⁴Cs+¹³⁷Cs) in the laver samples were also determined. The total viable count of bacteria was 2.62±0.80 (1.48-4.45) CFU/g. The contamination levels of lead, cadmium, total mercury, and total arsenic were 0.024±0.005 (0.018-0.035), 0.090±0.038 (0.041-0.146), 0.008±0.005 (0.003-0.018) and 1.315±0.372 (0.814-1.930) mg/kg, respectively. All samples tested negative for significant levels of radioactivity, the nine pathogenic bacteria, coliforms, and E. coli (<1.00 CFU/g). We assume that ensuring the microbiological and chemical safety of dried laver can increase the demand for its exportation. The present study may serve as a basis for microbiological and chemical hazard assessment of dried lavers.

• Journal of the Korean Geosynthetics Society
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.87-95
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• 2023

Recently, redevelopment of the original downtown area is underway, the necessity of construction in adjacent location is increasing. However, excavations in dense urban areas are prone to ground problems due to various causes, so it is necessary to use materials and methods that can minimize such problems. As a general earth retaining method, various methods such as diaphragm wall and CIP method are applied using cement. However, since a large amount of cement is used for the installation of earth retaining method, it is necessary to conduct research on the development of new cement substitute materials to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In this study, we utilized the hardening reaction of blast furnace slag powder, desulfurized gypsum and high calcium fly ash by alkali activation and applied it to the SCW method. As a result, it was analyzed that the compressive strength of solidified soil using development solidification material was 96.2 ~ 106.3% of OPC at 28 days of curing. In addition, the strength increment ratio was 2.06 for sandy soil and 2.41 for clayey soil, which was higher than 1.85 of OPC. It seems an advantageous in terms of long-term strength. In addition, from the environmental point of view, it was analyzed that there is no elution of heavy metals and that greenhouse gas emissions can be dramatically reduced. Therefore, if further studies are conducted, it can be applied to the SCW method.

• Clean Technology
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.102-108
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• 2023

This study applied a hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) method to carbonize sewage sludge in order to satisfy the criteria of the Waste Management Act for recycled products and to explore the possibility of recycling sludge into modification blocks. Cement was mixed with carbonized sludge generated at the optimal temperature and reaction time during HTC. After that, the compressive strengths of the modification blocks were measured by conducting both a performance and leaching test. The results of the leaching test showed that heavy metals were not detected, and the specific gravity and absorption rates were less than 1.7 and 10%, respectively, indicating that all species satisfied the criteria. The results of the compressive strength test showed that a mixing ratio of 5% and 7% with cement cured for 28 days satisfied the criteria of A, B, and C type blocks but a mixing ratio of 3% with cement did not satisfy the criteria of A type blocks after 28 days. However, after additional curing for 42 days, the mixing ratio of 3% also satisfied the A type block criteria. Therefore, the optimal mixing ratio of carbonized sludge and cement was considered to be between 3% and 5% and confirmed that the modified blocks could be utilized as aggregates.

• Journal of Marine Life Science
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.79-87
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• 2016

Heavy metals such as cadmium (Cd) are highly toxic to aquatic organisms and human, even at trace concentration. Herein we investigated the effect of Cd on the gene expression of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters and glutathione S-transferase (GST) in marine ciliate Euplotes crassus. Seven ABC transporters and one GST genes were partially cloned and sequences, and thereafter, transcriptional modulation of these genes after exposure to Cd for 8 h was investigated using quantitative real time RT- PCR (qRT-PCR). As results, sequence analysis and phylogenetic study revealed that E. crassus ABCs are likely typical ABC transports, in particular, B/C family, and GST gene may be similar to GST theta isoform. A significant increase in the expression of ABCs, except for ABCB21 was observed in a concentration dependent manner after exposure to Cd (0.1 and 0.5 mg/l) for 8 h. The GST mRNA level was the highest at 0.5 mg/l Cd and then reduced until control level. These findings suggest that ABCs and GST may be involved in a protective mechanism against Cd-mediated toxicity in E. crassus.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.54-60
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• 2023

In this study, microstructure and basic property analysis of DG (Desulfurization gypsum) and CCMs (Carbondioxide conversion capture materials) made by reacting CO₂ with DG were conducted to analyze applicability as a cement admixture. The main crystalline phases of DG were CaO and CaSO₄, and CCMs were CaSO₄, CaCO₃, Ca(OH)₂ and CaSO₄·H₂O. As a result of particle size analysis, the difference in average particle sizes between the two materials was about 7 ㎛. No major heavy metals were detected in the CCMs, and as a result o f TGA, the CO₂ decomposition of CCMs was more than twice as high as that of DG. Therefore, it was judged that CCMs could be used as a cement admixture through optimization of manufacturing conditions. As a results of measuring the strength behavior of DG and CCMs mixture ratios, the long-term strength of CCMs-mixed mortar was higher, and this is due to the filler effect of CaCO₃ in CCMs.