• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.108-121
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• 2008

On January 1, 2005, the Korean Ministry of Environment put into operation a comprehensive program, so called 'Blue Sky 21' project, for the improvement of air quality in greater Seoul metropolitan area. This program was legally based on the 'Special Act on Metropolitan Air Quality Improvement' for Greater Seoul area, which was established in 2003, and should be updated every 10 years. The principal objective of this program is to improve the air quality in Seoul and surrounding area by 2014 to the levels of air quality in Tokyo and Paris, with particular emphases on reducing the concentrations of nitrogen dioxide and $PM_{10}$. Any regulation of the emission of toxic air pollutants in general, and $NO_2$ and $PM_{10}$ in particular, should be based on human exposure levels and consequential health effects. In this article, the contents and feasibility of the special program were critically evaluated with respect to the reduction of health risks. Important issues for improving not only air quality but public health are discussed, and future requirements for the success of the special program are suggested.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.143-164
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• 2008

Concern about perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) is growing nationally as well as globally. PFCs could be considered emerging POPs due to their environmentally persistent, bioaccumulative, and potentially harmful properties. Moreover. perfluoroalkylates (PFAs) such as PFOS and PFOA are reported to experience long-range transport (LRT) to the Arctic in spite of their low volatility and strong solubility. The possible pathways contributing to LRT have been proposed but are still in debate in combination with unclear source definition and uncertain physico-chemical properties. The environmental fate of PFCs is more complicated because of the presence of precursors that are degraded to PFAs and are extremely different from their daughters, PFAs. in physico-chemical properties. To what extent and through what pathways are human and wildlife exposed is determined by the environmental fate and distribution of PFCs. To define uncertainties in fate and distribution thus is critical to prevent erroneous policy and/or determination related with exposure and risk reduction. This article aimed to review controversy and/or uncertain issues for the environmental fate and distribution of PFCs and to prospect research topics necessary to dissolve uncertainties.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Building Construction
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.59-65
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• 2018

Radon gas is a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas that occurs when uranium, a natural radioactive material in rocks and soils, collapses. 85% of the annual radiation exposure of the human body is due to natural radiation, of which 50% is radon. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) survey, 62 out of 1,000 smokers and 7 out of 1,000 nonsmokers are exposed to lung cancer when exposed to radon gas for a long time. In order to reduce the risk of radon gas, activate carbon was used to fabricate matrix, and the pore properties and radon reduction properties were investigated. When the activate carbon was used, the radon gas concentration was drastically reduced and the graph was changed as the measurement period became longer. The pore distribution and microporous properties, which are one of the material properties of activate carbon, can be grasped.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.84.1-84.1
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• 2013

We present a python-based data reduction pipeline for the Immersion GRating INfrared Spectrograph (IGRINS). IGRINS covers the complete H- and K-bands in a single exposure with a spectral resolving power of greater than 40,000. IGRINS is designed to be compatible with telescopes of diameters ranging from 2.7-m (the Harlan J. Smith telescope at McDonald Observatory) to 8-10m. Commissioning and initial operation will be on the 2.7-m telescope from late 2013. The pipeline package is a part of the IGRINS software and designed to be compatible with other package that maneuvers the spectrograph during the observation. This package provides high-quality spectra with minimal human intervention and the processes of order extraction, distortion correction, and wavelength calibration can be automatically carried out using the predefined functions (e.g. echellogram mapping and 2D transform). Since the IGRINS is a prototype of the Giant Magellan Telescope Near-Infrared Spectrometer (GMTNIRS), this pipeline will be extended to the GMTNIRS software.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.157-164
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• 2004

DA-3711 is a novel anti-wrinkle agent containing growth factors derived from culture medium of artificial human skin. Photoprotective effect by DA-3711 against chronic UVB (ultraviolet B)-induced skin damage was investigated in hairless mice model. Methods: After hairless mice were irradiated to induce photodamage for 8 weeks with UVB, grouped mice were treated topically once a day with lotion base, DA-3711 (30% or l5%), Cylasphere retinol$^{\circed{R}}$ (2500 I.U.), NouriCel$^{\circed{R}}$ along with concomitant exposure to UVB for further 8 weeks. Then mice were sacrificed to assess photodamage-protective effect by replica analysis, biochemistry and histology. DA-3711 of 30% lotion significantly reduced UVB radiation-induced wrinkling, histological alterations and increased collagen contents. Whereas DA-3711 of l5% lotion and NouriCel$^{\circed{R}}$ treatment showed a partial protective effect on skin wrinkle, epidermal and dermal thickness, and collagen content, Cylasphere retinol$^{\circed{R}}$ showed no protective effects. These results demonstrate that topical application of DA-3711 can alleviate UVB-induced photodamage and potentially be used for reduction of UVB-induced photodamage.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.23-33
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• 2014

Several studies have shown that curcumin, which is derived from the rhizomes of turmeric, possesses antimicrobial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The antitumor properties of curcumin have also now been demonstrated more recently in different cancers. This study was undertaken to investigate the modulation of cell cycle-related proteins and the mechanisms underlying apoptosis induction by curcumin in the SCC25 human tongue squamous cell carcinoma cell line. Curcumin treatment of the SCC25 cells resulted in a time- and dose-dependent reduction in cell viability and cell growth, and onset of apoptotic cell death. The curcumin-treated SCC25 cells showed several types of apoptotic manifestations, such as nuclear condensation, DNA fragmentation, reduced MMP and proteasome activity, and a decreased DNA content. In addition, the treated SCC25 cells showed a release of cytochrome c into the cytosol, translocation of AIF and DFF40/CAD into the nuclei, a significant shift in the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, and the activation of caspase-9, caspase-7, caspase-6, caspase-3, PARP, lamin A/C, and DFF45/ICAD. Furthermore, curcumin exposure resulted in a downregulation of G1 cell cycle-related proteins and upregulation of $p27^{KIP1}$. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that curcumin strongly inhibits cell proliferation by modulating the expression of G1 cell cycle-related proteins and inducing apoptosis via proteasomal, mitochondrial, and caspase cascades in SCC25 cells.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.15-28
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• 2005

To address the ability of Kung-Kyung-Ilho-Jeon(KK) to induce cell death, we investigated the effect of KK on cell viability. Forty-eight hours later, loss of viability occurred following KK exposure in a dose-dependent manner. The treatment of KK, a commonly used herb formulation in Korea and China, caused a decrease in cell viability. KK also resulted in apoptotic morphology a brightly blue-fluorescent condensed nuclei by Hoechst 33258-staining, and reduction of cell volume. Our results show that KK induces caspase-3 and -9 activation in a time-dependent manner. In addtion, the translocation of cytochrome c release into cytoplasm has been observed under the presence of $5mg/m{\ell}$ KK. The subsequent loss of mitochondria membrane potential is collapsed by the addition of KK. Our immunoblotting data show that PARP, a well known caspase-3 and -6 substrate, is cleaved by KK. We show that a pro-apoptotic protein, Bax is increased in the presence of KK but that the amount of Bcl-2 is not changed. We suggest that Bax, a critical protein which can regulate channel of mitochondria to release cytochrome c, is a key protein in KK-induced apoptosis of Hela human cervical carcinoma cells

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.701-709
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• 2006

The Rhus verniciflua Stokes (乾漆-RVS) has been used in traditional East Asia medicine for the therapy of gastritis, stomach cancer, although the mechanism for the biological activity is unclear. In the present study aims to investigate RVS extract contributes to growth inhibitory effect and it's the molecular mechanism on the human gastric cancer cells. AGS (gastric cancer cells) and RIEI (normal cells) were treated to different concentrations and periods of RVS extract $(10{\;}{\sim{{\;}100{\;}ug/mil)$. Growth inhibitory effect was analyzed by measuring FACS study and MTS assay. Cell cycle inhibition was confirmed by measuring CDK2 kinase activity by immunoprecipitation and kinase assay. And apoptosis was confirmed by surveying caspase cascades activation using a pan caspase inhibitor Exposure to RVS extract (50 ug/mll) resulted in a synergistic inhibitory effect on cell growth in AGS cells. Growth inhibition was related with the inhibition of proliferation and induction of apoptosis. The extract induces Gl -cell cycle arrest through the regulation of cyclins, the induction of p27kip1, and the decrease CDK2 kinase activity. And upregulated p27kip1 level is caused by protein stability increment by the reduction of S-phase kinase-associated protein 2 (Skp2), a key molecule related with p27kip1 ubiquitination and degradation, and do novo protein synthesis. Besides, 乾漆 extract induces apoptosis through the expression of Bax, poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) and activation of caspase-3. RVS extract induces Gl -cell cycle arrest via accumulation of p27kip1 and apoptosis in human gastric cancer cells but not in normal cells, therefore we suggest that the extract can be used as a novel class of anti-cancer drugs.

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.399-417
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• 1999

Viewers have always switched channels and they have selected by turning away from the TV and returning to the set when the content seemed more amusing. Also, people usually watch television with their family members and thus the experience of viewing is embedded uniquely in ongoing processes of family interaction. In other words, people develop patterns and habits through the act of viewing together. As viewing with family members is the most frequent mode of media exposure, the context of family viewing needs to be thoroughly examined if we are to understand the family's use of television. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the dynamic nature of television viewing behavior. With the people meter's second-by-second viewing information, first we analyze who, when, and why viewers change channels. The ensuing reduction of advertising impact due to zapping will be investigated as well. Then the focus will be shifted to the dynamic interaction of coviewing among family members. In order to further explore the in-depth nature of television viewing, actual viewing information should be cross-analyzed with respect to both demographic and psychographic variables. In this study we surveyed individual characteristics such as television watching patterns, program type preference, attitude toward commercials, channel control intensity, and personalities. We have demonstrated that the results of an meticulus analysis of survey data provide valuable insights into the dynamics of television viewing among family members.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2019

Mycotoxin contamination is a global phenomenon and causes a wide array of negative effects and other complications. This study focused on commonly found mycotoxins in Africa and the possible means of prevention or reduction of their contaminating effects. Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites of mold and fungi; they are generally toxic to living organisms. Hundreds of mycotoxins have been identified thus far, with some, such as aflatoxins, ochratoxins, trichothecenes, zearalenone, fumonisins, and patulin, considered agro-economically important. Several factors contribute to the presence of mycotoxins in food, such as climatic conditions, pest infestation, and poor harvest and storage practices. Exposure to mycotoxins, which occurs mostly by ingestion, leads to various diseases, such as mycotoxicoses and mycoses that may eventually result in death. In light of this, this review of relevant literature focuses on mycotoxin contamination, as well as various methods for the prevention and control of their prevalence, to avert its debilitating consequences on human health. Clear evidence of mycotoxin contamination is present in Africa, and it was therefore recommended that adequate prevention and control of these toxic substances in our food system should be encouraged and that appropriate measures must be taken to ensure food safety as well as the enhanced or long-lifespan of the African populace. Governments, research institutions, and non-governmental organizations should tailor the limited resources available to tackle mycotoxin prevalence, as these will offer the best prospects for successful development of a sustainable food system in Africa.