• Dementia and Neurocognitive Disorders
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.59-70
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• 2022

Background and Purpose: Neurofilament light chain (NfL) has been considered as a biomarker for neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's disease (AD). We measured plasma NfL levels in older adults with cognitive complaints and evaluated their clinical usefulness in AD. Methods: Plasma levels of NfL, measured by using the single molecule array method, were acquired in a total of 113 subjects consisting of subjective cognitive decline (SCD; n=14), mild cognitive impairment (MCI; n=37), or dementia of Alzheimer type (DAT; n=62). Plasma NfL level was compared among three groups, and its association with cognitive and functional status was also analyzed. Results: After adjusting for age, plasma NfL level was higher in subjects with DAT (65.98±84.96 pg/mL), compared to in subjects with SCD (16.90±2.54 pg/mL) or MCI (25.53±10.42 pg/mL, p=0.004). NfL levels were correlated with scores of the mini-mental state examination (r=-0.242, p=0.021), clinical dementia rating (CDR) (r=0.291, p=0.005), or CDR-sum of boxes (r=0.276, p=0.008). Just for participants who performed amyloid positron emission tomography (PET), the levels were different between subjects with PET (-) (n=17, 25.95±13.25 pg/mL) and PET (+) (n=16, 63.65±81.90 pg/mL, p=0.010). Additionally, plasma NfL levels were different between vascular dementia and vascular MCI, and between Parkinson's disease- dementia and no dementia. Conclusions: This pilot study shows that in subjects with DAT, plasma NfL levels increase. Plasma NfL level correlated with cognitive and functional status. Further longitudinal studies may help to apply the plasma NfL levels to AD, as a potential biomarker for the diagnosis and predicting progression.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.963-974
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• 2005

This study was conducted to examine the growth performance, carcass characteristics, physico-chemical properties and fatty acid composition of muscle tissues of Hanwoo steers when they were fed diets containing four levels of E. ulmoides leaves. Steers were allotted to one of four dietary treatments, which were designed to progressively substitute Eucommia ulmoides for 0, 3, 5 and 10% of the rice straw in the basal diet. Seventy two Hanwoo steers (321±13kg) were used. Average daily gain (0.81-0.86kg) and feed conversion (10.05-10.59) were not changed by feeding E. ulmoides leaves. Emission of fecal ammonia gas was decreased by increasing substitution levels of E. ulmoides leaves. Emission of ammonia gas in feces of steers were significantly (p<0.05) decreased in the 5% and 10% treatments at 40℃ compared with in control (30.6ppm) and 3% treatment (29.8ppm), respectively 20.3 and 21.6ppm. Back fat thickness was higher (p<0.05) in steers fed control diet (15.0mm) than 5 and 10% E. ulmoides diets (10.2 and 10.5mm respectively). The grade ‘A’ appearances of meat yield of steers were increased up to 20% by the 3% substitution of E. ulmoides leaves, and the grades ‘1+’ and ‘1’ appearances of meat quality were significantly improved (p<0.05) by the 5 and 10% Eucommia ulmoides feeding. There was no statistical difference in meat color of loin and top round among all treatments. It appeared that the 5% and 10% E. ulmoides leaves feeding affected (p<0.05) a increase in oleic acid concentration in loin and top round muscles. The concentration of serum cholesterol was lower (p<0.05) in steers fed 10% E. ulmoides (53.3mg/100g) than that of the other treatments (55.7-57.0mg/100g). The diarrhea incidence was about 20.26% in control, while it was lower (p<0.05) in the 5 and 10% E. ulmoides leaves treatments (10.4-12.5%) than control. There was no statistical difference in the occurrences of respiratory disease among all treatments. It is concluded that E. ulmoides leaves should be a prospective feed additive because it contains various functional substances. It is likely that air-dried E. ulmoides leaves can reduce the back fat thickness of Hanwoo steers and the occurrences of diarrhea. Therefore, the 5 and 10% substitution of E. ulmoides for roughage are highly recommended to be used in practice.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.8
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• pp.776-780
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• 1998

Background: In patients with coronary artery disease, dysfunctional hypoperfused myocardium at rest may represent either nonviable or viable hibernating myocardium. Two-dimensional echocardiography can detect regional wall motion abnormalities resulting from myocardial ischemia by dobutamine infusion. The purpose of the present study was to identify the prediction of improvement of regional left ventricular(LV) function after surgical revascularization. Materials and methods: Sixteen patients with chronic regional LV dysfunction underwent dobutamine stress echocardiography(DSE) (dobutamine: baseline, 5, 10, 20$\mu$g/kg/min) before coronary artery bypass grafting(CABG) and underwent echocardiography at least 2 months after CABG. Results: All patients were male with mean age of 58 years ranging from 42 to 73 years. The mean LV ejection fraction was 41.8% with a range from 19% to 55%. During DSE, there were no complications, also, there were no operative morbidities or mortalities. Improvement of wall motion within the dysfunctional myocardium was found in 8(50%) of 16 patients in DSE. Among them, 6 patients(75%) showed functional recovery after CABG. Another 8 patients did not show improvement of wall motion in DSE. But among them, 3 patients(38%) showed functional recovery after CABG. 84 dysfunctional segments were found in 256 segments of 16 patients. Improvement of wall motion was found in 34 of 84 segments in DSE. Among them, 23 segments(74%) showed functional recovery after CABG. Another 53 segments did not show improvement of wall motion in DSE. But among them, 12 segments(23%) showed functional recovery after CABG. The sensitivity and specificity of DSE for the prediction of postoperative improvement of segmental wall motion were 66% and 84%, respectively. The positive and negative predictive value of DSE were 74% and 77%, respectively. In patients with chronic regional LV dysfunction, think that DSE is a good predictor of the improvement of dysfunctional segments after CABG.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.529-536
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• 2003

A total of 72 finishing pigs(L${\times}$Y${\times}$D; 80kg of initial body weight) were employed for 5 weeks to investigate the effects of feeding mushroom substrate waste(MSW) treated with pleurotus ostreatus and probiotics on productivity, carcass traits, nutrient digestibility and emissions of harmful gases and malodor in manure. Treatments were Control(C: basal diet), T1(3% MSW) and T2(3% MSW+ 0.1% probiotics). Average daily gain(ADG) was lower(p<0.05) in pigs fed a T1 diet than those fed a C diet, however, there was no difference in ADG of pigs fed diets between C and T2. Similar trends were found in feed/gain(F/G) among treatments, though feed intake was not different. No differences were found in back fat thickness among treatments, but carcass dressing percentage was significantly(p<0.05) improved in pigs fed a T2 diet compared to C or T1 diets. Nutrient digestibilities including dry matter, crude protein, energy and crude fiber were lower(p<0.05) in T1 than C or T2. $NH_3$ and $H_2S$ gas emissions were reduced(p<0.05) or not produced in pig manure from T2 as compared to C or T1. In conclusion, the present result shows that feeding MSW with probiotics is desirable for finishing pigs in terms of productivity, carcass traits and nutrient digestibility. It also appears that the emission of harmful gases and malodor in manure can be reduced by the inclusion of probiotics in the diet.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.315-321
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• 2017

The present experiment was designed to investigate the effects of extruded linseed supplementation on methane production in Holstein steers. Four Holstein steers fitted with permanent cannulas were assigned to two dietary treatments in a duplicated $2{\times}2$ Latin square design: a control diet consisting of tall fescue straw (65%) and concentrate (35%), and a treatment diet supplemented with 3.8% extruded linseed by replacing a part of ingredients in the concentrate of the control diet. The concentrates of the control and the treatment diet were isoenergetic and isonitrogenous. Extruded linseed supplementation did not affect dry matter intake but significantly (P<0.05) increased the intake of lipid. Rumen pH was significantly (P<0.05) lower for control than for treatment. Although there was no significant difference between treatments, the concentration of total VFA in control was 21% higher than in treatment. The concentrations of acetic acid, propionic acid and butyric acid were not different between treatments. Extruded linseed supplementation significantly (P<0.05) reduced methane output(g/d) and emission factor. Methane conversion rate was lower for treatment than for control but no significant difference was found. The results of the present study showed that extruded linseed supplementation in the diet of Holstein steers could reduce methane output.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.151-160
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• 2021

This study was conducted to determine the concentrations of particulate matter (PM) and NH3 emissions from different types of laying hens poultry houses during spring. The concentrations of PM and NH3 were measured three times (2-week intervals; March to May) in Floor-pen-, Aviary-, and Cage-type poultry houses. Overall, PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 concentrations were found to be low from 22:00 to 04:00. The PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 concentrations in Floor-pen and Cage houses were similar with no significant daily deviation. NH₃ concentrations measured over 24 h at the center and end of Floor-pen house were relatively constant. Irrespective of measurement location, NH₃ concentrations were the lowest in Floor-pen house. Moreover, NH₃ concentrations were higher at the end of Floor-pen and Aviary houses than that at the center; however, lower concentrations of NH₃ were detected at the end of Cage house. The concentrations of PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 around the poultry houses were 57.5 and 34.0 ㎍/m³, respectively, with the daily average PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 concentrations (4,730 and 447.7 ㎍/m³, respective) being the highest in Aviary house. The concentrations of NH₃ at the center and end of Cage house were the highest at 12.0 and 9.31 ppm, respectively. Furthermore, in Cage house, the emission factor of NH₃ was the lowest, whereas there was no significant difference on that of NH₃. In conclusion, among the three types of poultry houses assessed, PM (PM₁₀, PM_2.5) concentrations were higher in Aviary house, whereas NH3 concentrations were higher in Cage house.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.110 no.3
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• pp.393-405
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• 2021

With increasing anthropogenic emission sources, air pollutants are emerging as a severe environmental problem worldwide. Accordingly, the importance of landscape trees is emerging as a potential solution to reduce air pollutants, especially in urban areas. This study quantified and compared NO₂ and SO₂ reduction abilities of ten major landscape tree species and analyzed the relationship between reduction ability and physiological and morphological characteristics. The results showed NO₂ reduction per leaf area was greatest in Cornus officinalis (19.81 ± 3.84 ng cm^-2 hr^-1) and lowest in Pinus strobus (1.51 ± 0.81 ng cm^-2 hr^-1). In addition, NO₂ reduction by broadleaf species (14.72 ± 1.32 ng cm^-2 hr^-1) was 3.1-times greater than needleleaf species (4.68 ± 1.26 ng cm^-2hr^-1; P < 0.001). Further, SO₂ reduction per leaf area was greatest in Zelkova serrata (70.04 ± 7.74 ng cm^-2 hr^-1) and lowest in Pinus strobus (4.79 ± 1.02 ng cm^-2 hr^-1). Similarly, SO₂ reduction by broadleaf species (44.21 ± 5.01 ng cm^-2 hr^-1) was 3.9-times greater than needleleaf species (11.47 ± 3.03 ng cm^-2 hr^-1; P < 0.001). Correlation analysis revealed differences in NO₂ reduction was best explained by chlorophyll b content (R² = 0.671, P = 0.003) and SO₂ reduction was best described by SLA and length of margin per leaf area (R² = 0.456, P = 0.032 and R² = 0.437, P = 0.001, R² = 0.872, P < 0.001, respectively). In summary, the ability of trees to reduce air pollutants was related to photosynthesis, evapotranspiration, stomatal conductance, and leaf thickness. These findings highlight effective reduction of air pollutants by landscaping trees requires comprehensively analyzing physiological and morphological species characteristics.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.10 no.8
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• pp.201-210
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• 2012

Because sensing odor varies depending on each person, even if the odor is released in line with the legal emission permission concentration levels, it can still become a social issue if a civil complaint is made. The purpose of this research is to study the possibility of putting Mn-Cu metallic oxide catalysts into practical use to economically eliminate acetaldehyde which produces a odor in the industrial process. An optimal operating parameter to eliminate acetaldehyde was deduced through a performance evaluation in the research laboratory and the performance was verified by applying the parameter into an actual facility as an on-the-site experiment through a Scale-up of pilot size. The operating temperature of the metallic oxide catalysts researched so far was at the minimum close to $220^{\circ}C$, and the $220^{\circ}C$ elimination efficiency was 50% or below. However, having experimented by using a Mn-Cu metallic oxide catalyst in this research, optimum elimination efficiency showed when space velocity (GHSV) was equal to or below 6,000 $hr^{-1}$. The average elimination efficiency was 61.2% when the catalyst controlling temperature was $120^{\circ}C$, 93.3% when the catalyst controlling temperature was $160^{\circ}C$, and 94.9% when catalyst controlling temperature was $180^{\circ}C$, thereby reflecting high elimination efficiency. The specific surface area of the catalyst was $200m^2/g$ before use, however, was reduced to $47.162m^2/g$ after 24 months and therefore showed that despite the decrease in specific surface area as time passed, there was no significant influence on the performance. Having operated Mn-Cu metallic oxide catalyst systems for at least two years on a site where there was no inflow of toxins like sulfur compounds and acidic gases, we were able to confirm that elimination efficiency of at least 90% was maintained.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.5-11
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• 2016

$MWCNT-TiO_2$ nano composites and $Ag-MWCNT-TiO_2$ nano composites were prepared from Multi-Walled Carbon NanoTube (MWCNT), titanium (IV) butoxide (TNB) solution and silver nitrate ($AgNO_3$) by the sol-gel method. The dispersion and structure of Ag in the synthesized composites was observed by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Field Emission Transmission Electron Microscopy (FE-TEM). X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) patterns of the composites showed that the composites contained an anatase phase. The Energy Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) showed the presence of C, O, Ti and Ag peaks. The $TiO_2$ particles were distributed uniformly in the MWCNT network, and Ag particles were virtually fixed on the surface of the tubes. Also decomposition of the methylene blue was investigated according to UV radiation times for study photocatalytic activity. $Ag-MWCNT-TiO_2$ nano composites show high photodegradation than $MWCNT-TiO_2$ nano composites. The results indicate that the high conductivity of Ag improved the photoactivity of the $MWCNT-TiO_2$ composite.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.457-468
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• 2018

To improve understanding of the physico-chemical characteristics of aerosols in the national park and comparing the air pollution between national park and the urban area nearby national park, the aerosol characterization study was conducted in Bukhansan National Park, Seoul, from July through September 2017. Semi-continuous measurements of $PM_{2.5}$ using PILS (Particle Into Liquid System) coupled with IC (Ion Chromatography) and TOC (Total Organic Carbon) analyzer allowed quantification of concentrations of major ionic species($Cl^-$, $SO_4{^{2-}}$, $NO_3{^-}$, $Na^+$, $NH_4{^+}$, $K^+$, $Mg{^{2+}}$ and $Ca{^{2+}}$) and water soluble organic carbon (WSOC) with 30-minute time resolution. The total mass concentration of $PM_{2.5}$ was measured by T640 (Teledyne) with 5-minute time resolution. The black carbon (BC) and ozone were measured with a minute time resolution. The timeline of aerosol chemical compositions reveals a strong influence from urban area (Seoul) at the site in Bukhansan National Park. Inorganic aerosol composition was observed to be dominated by ammoniated sulfate at most times with ranging from $0.1{\sim}32.6{\mu}g/m^3$ (6.5~76.1% of total mass of $PM_{2.5}$). The concentration of ammonium nitrate, a potential indicator of the presence of local source, ranged from below detection limits to $20{\mu}g/m^3$ and was observed to be highest during times of maximum local urban (Seoul) impact. The total mass of $PM_{2.5}$ in Bukhansan National Park was observed to be 10~23% lower than the total mass of $PM_{2.5}$ in urban area (Gireum-dong and Bulgwang-dong, Seoul). In general, ozone concentration in Bukhansan National Park was observed to be similar or higher than urban sites in Seoul, suggesting additional biogenic VOCs with $NO_x$ from vehicle emission were to be precursors for ozone formation in Bukhansan National Park.