• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.129-143
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• 2024

Sulfur dioxide (SO₂), a novel endogenous gas signaling molecule, is involved in the regulation of cardiac function. Exerting a key role in progression of hyperthyroidism-induced cardiomyopathy (HTC), myocardial fibrosis is mainly caused by myocardial apoptosis, leading to poor treatment outcomes and prognoses. This study aimed to investigate the effect of SO₂ on the hyperthyroidism-induced myocardial fibrosis and the underlying regulatory mechanisms. Elisa, Masson staining, Western-Blot, transmission electron microscope, and immunofluorescence were employed to evaluate the myocardial interstitial collagen deposition, endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS), apoptosis, changes in endogenous SO₂, and Hippo pathways from in vitro and in vivo experiments. The study results indicated that the hyperthyroidism-induced myocardial fibrosis was accompanied by decreased cardiac function, and down-regulated ERS, apoptosis, and endogenous SO₂-producing enzyme aspartate aminotransferase (AAT)1/2 in cardiac myocytes. In contrast, exogenous SO₂ donors improved cardiac function, reduced myocardial interstitial collagen deposition, up-regulated AAT1/2, antagonized ERS and apoptosis, and inhibited excessive activation of Hippo pathway in hyperthyroid rats. In conclusion, the results herein suggested that SO₂ inhibited the overactivation of the Hippo pathway, antagonized ERS and apoptosis, and alleviated myocardial fibrosis in hyperthyroid rats. Therefore, this study was expected to identify intervention targets and new strategies for prevention and treatment of HTC.

• Particle and aerosol research
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2020

Nano-pulse plasma technology has great potential as the process simplicity, high efficiency and low energy consumption for SO₂ removal. The research on the gas-to-particle conversion is required to achieve higher efficiency of SO₂ gas removal. Thus, we studied the effect of the relative humidity, NH₃ concentration and applied voltage of the nano-pulse plasma system in the gas to particle conversion of SO₂. The particles from the conversions were increased from 10 to 100 nm in diameter as relative humidity, NH₃ concentration, applied voltage increases. With these results, nano-pulse plasma system can be used to more efficient removal of SO₂ gas by controlling above parameters.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.176-188
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• 2008

Anthropogenic emissions of nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide in Northeast Asia are of great concern because of their impact on air quality and atmospheric chemistry on regional and intercontinental scales. Satellite remote sensing based on DOAS (Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy) technique has been preferred to measure atmospheric trace species and to investigate their emission characteristics on regional and global scales. Absorption spectra obtained by the satellite-born instrument, SCIAMACHY (Scanning Imaging Absorption Spectrometer for Atmospheric Chartography) have been utilized to retrieve the information of $SO_2$ and $NO_2$ over Northeast Asia. $SO_2$ levels over Northeast Asia were in order of East China, Yellow Sea, South Sea and Korean Peninsula with mean vertical columns of $1.78({\pm}1.0){\times}10^{16}$, $1.11({\pm}0.67){\times}10^{16}$, $0.60({\pm}0.63){\times}10^{16}$, $0.71({\pm}0.65){\times}10^{16}\;molecules/cm^2$, respectively. $NO_2$ levels were in order of East China, Yellow Sea, Korean Peninsula, and South Sea with mean vertical columns of $1.2({\pm}0.56){\times}10^{16}$, $0.38({\pm}0.19){\times}10^{16}$, $0.48({\pm}0.28){\times}10^{16}$, $0.26({\pm}0.16){\times}10^{16}\;molecules/cm^2$, respectively. High levels of $SO_2$ and $NO_2$ were observed over East China, in particular in winter by the contribution of heating fuel combustion exhausts. The $SO_2$ and $NO_2$ levels over East China were the highest in January with 34% and 42% higher over the annual means. Low levels of $SO_2$ ranged over Korean peninsula, while $NO_2$ levels were relatively high, in particular in winter. The $SO_2$ and $NO_2$ levels over Yellow Sea were relatively higher compared to those over Korean peninsula and South Sea, which could be mainly attributed to their transport from East China.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.66-72
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• 2024

In this study, the applicability of CCMs (Carbondioxide conversion capture materials) manufactured by reacting carbon dioxide gas with DG (Desulfurization gypsum) as a cement substitute for secondary concrete products were evaluated and the basic physical properties of CCMs-mixed mortar and concrete specimens were measured to derive the optimal mixing ratio. The main chemical oxides of CCMs were CaO and SO₃, and the main crystalline phases were CaSO₄·2H₂O, Ca(OH)₂, CaCO₃, and CaSO₄. In addition, by the results of particle size analysis and heavy metal measurement, the applicability of CCMs as a cement substitute for secondary concrete products was confirmed. As a result of measuring the strength behavior using mortar and concrete specimens with CCMs, the compressive and flexural strength decreased as the mix ratio of CCMs increased, but requirements by the standards for interlocking blocks and retaining wall blocks, which are target products in this study, were satisfied up to the optimal mixing ratio of 10 wt.% substitution. Therefore, its applicability as a cement substitute for secondary concrete products was confirmed.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.21 no.11
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• pp.814-824
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• 2020

Recently, public interest in air pollutants has increased, and the Korean government and local governments have attempted to improve air quality. This study examined the secondary air pollutant contribution in Ulleung Island, Jeju Island, and Baengnyeong Island and compared the differences between them by analyzing the air pollution level and weather conditions in these regions. The weather conditions of the island regions, such as wind speed, precipitation, and sunshine duration, and the average concentration of air pollutants, such as SO₂, NO₂, CO, O₃, PM₁₀, PM_2.5, were examined. The correlation coefficient between air quality factors of each island region and weather conditions was calculated. Regression analysis was conducted by setting primary air pollutants, SO₂, NO₂, and CO as independent variables, and secondary air pollutants, O₃, PM₁₀, and PM_2.5 as dependent variables to identify the regional contribution and impact. Therefore, the government and local governments should establish air quality management for each island region.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.673-679
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• 2015

The culture conditions needed to maximize the production of laccase from Pholiota highlandensis mycelia were investigated. Among the tested media for laccase production, Coriolus versicolor medium (CVM; 2% dextrose, 0.4% peptone, 0.6% yeast extract, 0.046% KH₂PO₄, 0.1% K₂HPO₄, 0.05% MgSO₄·7H₂O) showed the highest activity for the enzyme. Then, to optimize culture conditions for laccase activity, the influences of various carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and inorganic salt sources in CVM were investigated. The optimum culture medium was 2% fructose, 0.4% peptone with 0.6% yeast extract, 0.05% NaH₂PO₄, and 0.05% MgSO₄·7H₂O as carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and inorganic salt sources, respectively. Several aromatic compounds in the medium enhanced laccase activity to varying degrees. Guaiacol induced maximum laccase production, yielding 114.1 U/ml laccase activity after cultivation for 11 days at 25℃. The optimum pH and temperature for laccase production were 8.0 and 35℃, respectively. Native polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis (PAGE) followed by laccase-activity staining with 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) as the substrate was performed to identify the presence of laccase under the optimum conditions studied. Zymogram analysis of the supernatant culture showed an enzymatic band with a molecular mass of about 90 kDa.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.549-560
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• 2019

The effects of the coal-fired power plant emissions, as the biggest point source of air pollutants, on spatiotemporal surface air pollution over the remote area are investigated in this study, based on a set of date selection and statistical technique to consider meteorological and geographical effects in the emission-concentration (source-receptor) relationship. We here proposed the sophisticated technique of data processing to separate and quantify the effects. The data technique comprises a set of data selection and statistical analysis procedure that include data selection criteria depending on meteorological conditions and statistical methods such as Kolmogorov-Zurbenko filter (K-Z filter) and empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analysis. The data selection procedure is important for filtering measurement data to consider the meteorological and geographical effects on the emission-concentration relationship. Together with meteorological data from the new high resolution ECMWF reanalysis 5 (ERA5) and the Korea Meteorological Administration automated surface observing system, air pollutant emission data from the telemonitoring system (TMS) of Dangjin and Taean power plants as well as spatio-temporal air pollutant concentrations from the air quality monitoring system are used for 4 years period of 2014-2017. Since all the data used in this study have the temporal resolution of 1 hour, the first EOF mode of spatio-temporal changes in air pollutant concentrations over the Seoul metropolitan area (SMA) due to power plant emission have been analyzed to explain over 97% of total variability under favorable meteorological conditions. It is concluded that SO₂, NO₂, and PM₁₀ concentrations over the SMA would be decreased by 0.468, 1.050 ppb, and 2.045 ㎍ m^-3 respectively if SO₂, NO₂, and TSP emissions from Dangjin power plant were reduced by 10%. In the same way, the 10% emission reduction in Taean power plant emissions would cause SO₂, NO₂, and PM₁₀ decreased by 0.284, 0.842 ppb, and 1.230 ㎍ m^-3 over the SMA respectively. Emissions from Dangjin power plant affect air pollution over the SMA in higher amount, but with lower R value, than those of Taean under the same meteorological condition.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.30 no.9
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• pp.727-739
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• 2021

Measurements on mass size distribution of roadside aerosols were obtained in downtown Jeju City from July 2018 to May 2020 using an 8-stage cascade impactor sampler and the compositions of aerosols were analyzed. The mass size distribution of total aerosols was bimodal with aerosols existing in both the fine and coarse modes. The mass size distributions of Na⁺, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, Cl^-, NH₄⁺ and SO₄^2- were unimodal, whereas that of K⁺ was bimodal. For NO₃^-, the size distribution in winter and spring was bimodal with the peaks in both fine and coarse modes, whereas for summer and autumn the distribution was unimodal with a peak in the coarse mode. NH₄⁺ was found to co-exist with SO₄^2- in the fine mode with an average molar ratio of [NH₄⁺]/[SO₄^2-] equal to 2.05. Good correlation was observed between NO₃^- and NH₄⁺ in the fine mode particles in spring and winter. Based on the value of the marine enrichment factor for Cl^-, Mg²⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺ and SO₄^2-, it may be inferred that a major part of the roadside aerosols in downtown Jeju City was largely contributed by terrigenous sources, although the influence of sea salt was normally present.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Building Construction Conference
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• 2021.05a
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• pp.129-130
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• 2021

In order to solve the problem of low early-age compressive strength of high volume fly ash concrete. This paper studies the effect of 2% sodium sulfate (Na₂SO₄) as a chemical activator on the paste with 40% fly ash content and a water-binder ratio of 0.30. The results indicate that the addition of Na₂SO₄ can effectively improve the early-age compressive strength of the fly ash-cement system, and the strength improvement rate on the first day reached nearly 70%. In addition, calorimetric analysis reveals that the incorporation of Na₂SO₄ promotes the early hydration of cement and fly ash, increases the cumulative hydration heat and delays the heat peak of the aluminum phase.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.503-513
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• 2022

This research investigated the effect of the eruption of Japan Sakurajima volcano on the concentration of ultrafine particle when the north Pacific high pressure exists in the Busan in summer. As a result of analyzing the forward trajectory using the HYSPLIT model, the air parcel from Sakurajima volcano passed through the sea in front of Busan at 1500 LST on July 17, 24 hours after the volcanic eruption. As a result of analyzing the PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 concentrations in the Busan for two days from July 16 to 17, 2018, the Sakurajima eruption in Japan, it can be seen that there was a high increase in PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 concentrations compared to the previous day. As a result of analyzing the backward trajectory, the air mass that reached Busan at 1300 LST on July 17, 2018 has moved near the Sakurajima volcano at 1,500 m, 2,000 m, and 3,000 m. The concentration of SO₄^2- in PM_2.5, the concentration of all three stations in Busan showed a sharp increase from 1000 LST on July 17th. Looking at the NH₄⁺ concentration in PM_2.5, it shows a very similar variation trend to SO₄^2-, and the correlation coefficient between the two components is 0.96 for Jangrimdong and Yeonsandong, and 0.85 for Busan New Port. Looking at the NO₃^- concentration in PM_2.5, the same high concentrations as SO₄² and NH₄⁺ were not observed in the afternoon of July 17th.