• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
• /
• v.17 no.3
• /
• pp.285-292
• /
• 1999

Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is a plasticizer known as one of endocrine disruptors. The present study was carried out to investigate the alterations of function and ultrastructure in rat testes after oral intubation of DEHP in dosages of 1g/kg/day, 2 g/kg/day or 3 g/kg/day in 0.5 ml of corn oil for 15 days. DEHP reduced the growth of body and testes, inhibited apermatogenesis and induced structural changes on various cell types of the rat testis. Leydig cells, Sertoli cells and the developing germ cells seemed to be impaired their differentiations in terms of the structural changes of cell organelles. The increase of heterochromatin in amount were common features in all 3 cell types. In addition, the Leydig cells were characterized by the swelling of smooth endoplasmic reticulum and perinuclear space, the increases in number and size of Iysosomes. The Sertoli cells became irregular in nuclear envelope and the number of Iysosomes and vacuoles seemed to be increased. There were some indications of necrosis of the germ cells, such as vacuolized nucleus and segregated nucleolus. And also, DEHP lowered the level of testosterone in experimental rat serum. DEHP suppressed apermatogenesis decreasing developing germ cells and these effects of DEHP on the rat testis were dose dependent. The detrimental effect of DEHP on apermatogenesis and ultrastructure of rat testes seems to be derived from the decreased level of testosterone by Leydig cells, followed by the abnomalities of Sertoli cells and the germ cells.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
• /
• v.17 no.3
• /
• pp.359-364
• /
• 1999

The effect of Salicylic acid (SA) on the leaf growth, chlorophyll content, photosynthesis, stomatal conductance in Commelina communis L. was investigated. C. communis which was grown in Hoagland solution containing 1 mM SA during 3 weeks resulted in a significant reduction of leaf length, width and area. 1 mM SA reduced about 10% of the leaf area at 1 week and 2 weeks, but inhibited 22% of the leaf area at 3 weeks. SA also showed great effect on the reduction of chlorophyll content. SA reduced 47% and 53% of chlorophyll content each at 2 weeks and 3 weeks when it was compared with the control. Chlorophyll a/b ratio in SA treated sample was increased at 3 weeks representing that SA was sensitive to chlorophyll b. The treatment of SA did not inhibit the activity of PSII＋PSI, PSII and PSI. This result indicates that SA did not show direct effect oil the photosynthetic electron transport activity. However, when C. communis was grown in Hoagland solution containing I mM SA fer long period, SA showed clear inhibition of photosyhthesis in intact leaves. The treatment of SA for 3 weeks showed about 23~65% inhibition of photosynthetic activity at various light intensity (100~1000$\mu$mo1 m­$^2$S­$^1$). Similar effect was found on stomatal conductance. The treatment of SA caused an almost closure of stomata. Similar effects of stomatal conductance at various light intensity indicate a loss of normal control on stomatal mechanism. These results indicate that the effect of SA on photo-synthetic activity was not by SA itself but by indirect metabolic pathway.

• Journal of Energy Engineering
• /
• v.24 no.4
• /
• pp.124-129
• /
• 2015

An experimental study was performed estimating COP(Coefficient of Performance) of air-conditioning cycle using inverter scroll compressor with and without $Al_2O_3$ nano particle. All experiments were done for various compressor speeds from 1000~4000 rpm and used the inverter controller called CANDY to change the compressor rpm. The air-conditioning cycle components in the apparatus were used as same with components of YF hybrid car. To estimate the COP, this study measured the temperature and pressure at inlets and outlets of compressor, condenser, and evaporator. And also measured the compressor input power using Powermeter. Through the experiments, the maximum error to estimate COP was shown about ${\pm}6.09%$ at 3500rpm. The COP of refrigeration cycle with $Al_2O_3$ nano-particle was similar with that of the base cycle without nano-particle between 1000~3000 rpm of the compressor speed. But, This study showed that the COP of the cycle with $Al_2O_3$ over 3000 rpm of the compressor speed was higher than that of the base cycle due to the higher heat transfer rate increased in the evaporator from the higher oil flow rate inside the cycle as well known. Those results can be used the basic and fundamental data to design the air-conditioning cycle using inverter scroll compressor with $Al_2O_3$ nano particle.

• Journal of Energy Engineering
• /
• v.18 no.4
• /
• pp.246-257
• /
• 2009

Regarding climate change, the most significant challenge the world faces is achieving the goal of stabilizing the global concentration of greenhouse gases. However, this cannot be accomplished by greenhouse gas reduction efforts of developed countries alone. In this context, a "sectoral approach" has been brought up as a way to overcome the limit of the Kyoto Protocol and induce the participation of developing countries. This paper focuses on the different types of sectoral approaches that have been suggested so far, and their criteria, scope and effectiveness. It therefore explores the potential each approach has as a policy alternative under the post-2012 scheme. On top of that, with the possibility of these sectoral approaches becoming strong future policy alternatives in mind, this paper also analyzes their applicability to the Korean industry. For the steel, petrochemical and oil industries - in which energy efficiency exceeds the world average- a technology-based approach is proposed as an alternative. For the cement, paper and power generation industries - in which energy efficiency is about the same as the global average - a sectoral crediting mechanism or an index-based approach or a sector-wide transnational approach are proposed as alternatives. Lastly, this paper suggests a future research direction for their adoption and implementation.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
• /
• v.20 no.4
• /
• pp.497-507
• /
• 2011

This research studied human health risk assessment of benzene from industrial complexes of Chungcheong Province (Seosan industrial complex) and Jeonla Province (Iksan industrial complex and Yeosoo industrial complex). The residents near the industrial complexes areas can be often exposed to volatile organic compounds (e.g., benzene, toluene, xylenes) through a number of exposure pathways, including inhalation of the organic pollutant via various environmental matrices (air, water and soil), contaminated water, and soil intake. Benzene is well known to be a common carcinogenic and toxic compound that is produced from industrial and oil refinery complexes. In this study, a number of samples from water, air, and soil were taken from the residential settings and public school zones located near the industrial complex sites. Based on the carcinogenic risk assessment, the risk estimates were slightly above $10{\times}10^{-6}$ at all three industrial sites. According to deterministic risk assessment, inhalation was the most important route. The distribution of benzene in the environment would be dependent on vapor pressure, and the physical property influencing the extent of the potential risks. Non-carcinogenic risk assessment of benzene shows that the values of Hazard Index(HI) were much lower than 1.0 at all industrial complexes. Therefore, benzene was not a cause of concern in terms of non-carcinogenic risk posed to the residents near the sites. When compared to probabilistic risk assessment, the CTE(central tendency exposure) cancer risk values of deterministic risk assessment were close to the mean values predicted by the probabilistic risk assessment. The RME(reasonable maximum exposure) values fell within the range of 95% to 99.9% estimated by the probabilistic risk assessment. Since the values of carcinogenic risk assessment were higher than $10{\times}10^{-6}$, further detailed monitoring and refined risk assessment for benzene may be warranted to estimate more reliable and potential inhalation risks to receptors near the industrial complexes.

• Applied Microscopy
• /
• v.29 no.3
• /
• pp.343-351
• /
• 1999

The structures of the fertilized egg envelope from three species, three-spot gourami (Trichogaster trichopterus), pearl gourami (Trichogaster leeri) and marble gourami (Trichogaster trichopterus trichopterus) belong to Belontiidae were observed, utilizing light, scanning and transmission electron microscopes. In all three species, the fertilized eggs were the colorless, transparent, spherical, adhesive and pelagic type. A large oil droplet was located in vitelline membrane of the fertilized egg. The egg envelopes have a single micropyle, which is thought to the pathway of sperm in the area of the animal pole. Specially, the micropyle of three-spot gourami was similar to that of marble gourami which is subspecies of three-spot gourami. An outer surface of the fertilized egg envelope was arranged by grooves in all three species. The fertilized egg envelopes consists of two distinct layers; an adhesive outer layer and an inner layer with high electron density. In conclusion, the morphological similarity of the fertilized egg, micropyle, outer surface and transverse section of the fertilized e9g envelope seems to be an indication of the Belontiidae.

• Applied Microscopy
• /
• v.29 no.3
• /
• pp.353-362
• /
• 1999

Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is a plasticize. known as one of endocrine disruptors. The present study was carried out to investigate the ultrastructural changes of prepubertal rat testis after oral administration of DEHP in dosages of 1 g/kg, 3 g/kg or 5g/kg in 0.5 ml of corn oil daily for a week. This study revealed the DEHP inhibited the development of seminiferous tubules and induced structural changes on various cell types of the rat testis. Leydig cells, Sertoli cells and the developing germ cells seemed to be impaired their differentiations in terms of the structural changes of cell organelles. The increase of heterochromatin in amount were common features in all 3 cell types. In addition, the Leydig cells were characterized by the increases in number and size of lysosomes and the scantiness of smooth endoplasmic reticulum. The Sertoli cells became irregular in nuclear envelope and the cytoplasm decreased, but the number of lysosomes and vacuoles seemed to be increased. There were some indications of necrosis of the germ cells, such as vacuolized nucleus and segregated nucleolus. These detrimental effects of DEHP on the rat testis were dose dependent and suppressed spermatogenesis decreasing developing germ cells in number and appearances. The effect of DEHP on ultrastructure of rat testis, as its known physiological functions, seems come from the decreased level of testosterone by Leydig cells, followed by the abnomalities of Sertoli cells and the germ cells.

• Applied Microscopy
• /
• v.40 no.2
• /
• pp.101-108
• /
• 2010

Vitex negundo is an aromatic plant which releases a unique scent due to the presence of essential oil stored presumably within glandular trichomes. The focus of this research was to study developmental patterns of glandular trichomes in Vitex negundo leaves using electron microscopy. There are two types of glandular trichomes which develop on the leaf epidermis of Vitex negundo, peltate glandular type (PT) and capitate glandular type (CT). Structural features differ significantly depending on size and density, formation of secretory cavity, plastid, etc during developmental stages. In young leaves, undifferentiated PTs are densely distributed in the upper epidermis, but are not externally exposed in the lower epidermis because they are covered by non-glandular simple trichomes. Upon leaf development, PTs and CTs show clear structural differentiation in the upper and lower epidermis. PTs are composed of up to eight head cells (ca. 35~40 ${\mu}m$) and one stalk cell (ca. 5 ${\mu}m$), while CTs are composed of four head cells (ca. 10~15 ${\mu}m$) and 1~2 stalk cells (ca. 10 ${\mu}m$). Although secretory cavities develop on the secretory head cells, their size, structure, and formation proceed very differently depending on trichome type. In early development of PT, a large cavity with numerous secretory vesicles form rapidly from the head cells. In CT, however, only a small secretory cavity is formed, slowly relative to PT, without secretory vesicles. The PTs are considered to play an important role in releasing the aromatic components of Vitex negundo.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
• /
• v.11 no.1
• /
• pp.15-26
• /
• 1996

This study was conducted to improve the in vitro maturation(JVM), in vitro fertilization (IVF) and in vitro developmental capacity of oocytes derived from slaughtered Korean native cattle. The recoverd oocytes, obtained from a local slaughter house, were used completely surrounded by at least 3 layers of cumulus cells in combination with a homogeneous cytoplasmic pigmentation. In vitro maturation was induced in TCM-199 or Ham's F-10 supplemented with LH(1O $\mu$g/rnl), FSH(35 $\mu$g/ml), estradiol-17$\beta$(1 $\mu$g/ml) at 39$^{\circ}C$ under 5% $CO_2$ in air for 24 hours. Sperm from caudal epididyrnis and previously matured cumulus-oocytes complexes were cultured for 24 hours in 100 $\mu$l droplets of fertilization media under paraffin oil. The zygotes were cultured with media(TCM-199 with bovine oviductal epithelial cells or CRlaa) for 7 to 10 days. The cleavage rate of IVM-IVF oocytes was significantly (P<0.05) higher following maturation using Ham's F-10 (59.9%) than TCM-199 (51.6%). Development to the blastocysts among cleaved embryos was not signficantly different between maturation media: Ham's F-10 (16.0%) and TCM-199(11.9%). However, the hatching rate was affected significantly (P<0.05) on rnaturation media as 62.9% in Ham's F-10, compared with 41.2% in TCM-199. The cleavage rate of IVM-IVF oocytes was significantly (P<0.05) higher following IVF using m-TALP medium (80.1%) than BO medium (51.6%). The percentage of in vitro developed blastocysts among cleaved embryos was not signficantly different between fertimization media: BO (11.7%) and m-TALP (17.6%). The cleavage and the developmental rate to the blastocysts after IVF in m-TALP or condition medium(CM) with or without oviduct epithelial cell monolayer(OECM) was similar(80.1% and 17.6% in m-TALP, 83.8% and 19.4% in M-TALP with OECM. 82.9% and 18.9% in CM, 87.6% and 16.0% in CM with OECM, respectively). The percentage of in vitro developed blastocysts among cleaved embryos was significantly (P<0.05) higher in TCM-199 medium co-cul tured with bovine oviduatal epithelial cell monolayers(35.2%) than CRlaa medium(1.9%). These results stggest that the most transferable IVF embryos could be produced from Ham's F-10, m-TALP and TCM-199 medium with bovine oviductal epithelial cell monolayers for IVM, IVF and IVC, respectively.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
• /
• v.9 no.3
• /
• pp.179-186
• /
• 1989

According to the results from the experiments of selecting a suitable variety of forage rape and comparing productivity and nutrient quality between forage rape and oil seed rape, Velox appeared to be the most suitable variety in terms of productivity and nutrient quality at the southern area of Korea among the varieties used in the experiments. Consequently, Velox was grown under two different cultural methods, individual culture and population culture, and productivity and variation of nutrient quality during the growth period were observed and compared between the cultural methods. The results from the experiment are summarized as follows: 1. Although variations were great in plant fresh weight and plant dry matter weight among plants, individual culture showed significantly higher value in these characters at the 1 % level than population culture. Plant fresh weight and plant dry matter weight were largely dependent upon the amount of branches in case of individual culture. However, in population culture, they were equally dependent upon the amount of branches and main stem. There was no significant difference in dry matter percentage between cultural methods, and main stem showed highest dry matter percentage. 2. Content of crude protein was decreasing gradually as plants continued to grow. Individual culture showed higher content of crude protein than population culture from 90 to 120 days after sowing but vice versa from 180 days after sowing to flowering stage. Contents of fiber such as NDF, ADF, cellulose and lignin was low at the early stage of growth. It was increasing gradually as plants grew older and at the latter stage of growth plants under individual culture showed higher values in contents of fiber. 3. In vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) of both stems and leaves was decreasing gradually as plants grew older. Plants under individual culture showed higher IVDMD of stems than plants under population culture, but no significant difference in IVDMD of leaves was observed between cultural methods.