• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.22 no.3
• /
• pp.277-289
• /
• 2018

The exponential increase in the use of mobile communication has triggered public concerns about the potential adverse effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) emitted by mobile phones on the central nervous system (CNS). In this study, we explored the relationship between calcium channels and apoptosis or autophagy in the hippocampus of C57BL/6 mice after RF-EMF exposure with a specific absorption rate (SAR) of 4.0 W/kg for 4 weeks. Firstly, the expression level of voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCCs), a key regulator of the entry of calcium ions into the cell, was confirmed by immunoblots. We investigated and confirmed that pan-calcium channel expression in hippocampal neurons were significantly decreased after exposure to RF-EMF. With the observed accumulation of autolysosomes in hippocampal neurons via TEM, the expressions of autophagy-related genes and proteins (e.g., LC3B-II) had significantly increased. However, down-regulation of the apoptotic pathway may contribute to the decrease in calcium channel expression, and thus lower levels of calcium in hippocampal neurons. These results suggested that exposure of RF-EMF could alter intracellular calcium homeostasis by decreasing calcium channel expression in the hippocampus; presumably by activating the autophagy pathway, while inhibiting apoptotic regulation as an adaptation process for 835 MHz RF-EMF exposure.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
• /
• v.19 no.1
• /
• pp.54-62
• /
• 2014

To better understand dissimilatory iron and sulfate reduction (DIR and DSR) by subsurface microorganisms, we investigated the effects of sulfate and electron donors on the microbial goethite (${\alpha}$-FeOOH) reduction. Batch systems were created 1) with acetate or glucose (donor), 2) with goethite and sulfate (acceptor), and 3) with aquifer sediment (microbial source). With 0.2 mM sulfate, goethite reduction coupled with acetate oxidation was limited. However, with 10 mM sulfate, 8 mM goethite reduction occurred with complete sulfate reduction and x-ray absorption fine-structure analysis indicated the formation of iron sulfide. This suggests that goethite reduction was due to the sulfide species produced by DSR bacteria rather than direct microbial reaction by DIR bacteria. Both acetate and glucose promoted goethite reduction. The rate of goethite reduction was faster with glucose, while the extent of goethite reduction was higher with acetate. Sulfate reduction (10 mM) occurred only with acetate. The results suggest that glucose-fermenting bacteria rapidly stimulated goethite reduction, but acetate-oxidizing DSR bacteria reduced goethite indirectly by producing sulfides. This study suggests that the availability of specific electron donor and sulfate significantly influence microbial community activities as well as goethite transformation, which should be considered for the bioremediation of contaminated environments.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
• /
• v.26 no.4
• /
• pp.328-339
• /
• 2010

A tobamovirus, Ribgrass mosaic virus (RMV), was identified newly from chinese cabbage (Brassica campestris L. pekinensis) in Korea. Virus disease incidence of RMV on chinese cabbage was 37.9% in alpine area on August in 1993. RMV induced the symptoms of necrotic ring spots, necrotic streak on midrib and malformation. RMV, Ca1 and Ca3 isolate, could infect 35 species out of 45 plants including Chenopodium amaranticolor. Physical properties of RMV Ca1 isolate were very stable as 10.8 over for dilution end point, $95^{\circ}C$ for temperature inactivation point and 18 weeks for longevity in vitro. RMV had the soil transmission rate of 75.0% for the chinese cabbages, 'Chunhawang' and 'Seoul' cultivars. The purified virions of RMV had the typical ultraviolet absorption spectrum of maximum at 260 nm and minimum at 247 nm. RMV of Ca1 isolate was related serologically with antisera of Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV)-Cym, TMV-O and Pepper mottle virus, but not related with antiserum of Odontoglossum ring spot virus. coat protein gene of RMV-Ca1, sized 473 nucleotides, encoded 158 amino acid residues. Nucleotide identity of RMV-Ca1 CP gene was 96.4% with RMV-Shanghai (GenBank accession No. of AF185272) from China and 96.0% with RMV-Impatiens (GenBank accession No. of AM040974) from Germany. Identity of amino acids between RMV-Ca1 and the two RMV isolates was 96.8%. Specific three primers were selected for rapid and easy genetic detection of RMV using Virion Captured (VC)/RT-PCR method.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.23 no.3
• /
• pp.370-378
• /
• 2007

A superoxide dismutase was purified 62-fold in seven steps to homogeneity from Methylobacillus sp. strain SK1, an obligate methanol-oxidizing bacterium, with a yield of 9.6%. The final specific activity was 4,831 units per milligram protein as determined by an assay based on a 50% decrease in the rate of cytochrome c reduction. The molecular weight of the native enzyme was estimated to be 44,000. Sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis revealed two identical subunits of molecular weight 23,100. The isoelectric point of the purified enzyme was found to be 4.4. Maximum activity of the enzyme was measured at pH 8. The enzyme was stable at pH range from 6 to 8 and at high temperature. The enzyme showed an absorption peak at 280 nm with a shoulder at 292 nm. Hydrogen peroxide and sodium azide, but not sodium cyanide, was found to inhibit the purified enzyme. The enzyme activity in cell-free extracts prepared from cells grown in manganese-rich medium, however, was not inhibited by hydrogen peroxide but inhibited by sodium azide. The activity in cell extracts from cells grown in iron-rich medium was found to be highly sensitive to hydrogen peroxide and sodium azide. One mol of native enzyme was found to contain 1.1 g-atom of iron and 0.7 g-atom of manganese. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of the purified enzyme was Ala-Tyr-Thr-Leu-Pro-Pro-Leu-Asn-Tyr-Ala-Tyr. The superoxide dismutase of Methylobacillus sp. strain SK1 was found to have antigenic sites identical to those of Methylobacillus glycogenes enzyme. The enzyme, however, shared no antigenic sites with Mycobacterium sp. strain JC1, Methylovorus sp. strain SS1, Methylobacterium sp. strain SY1, and Methylosinus trichosproium enzymes.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.54 no.4
• /
• pp.411-417
• /
• 2021

By-products produced from medicinal plants (MP) were evaluated as feed additives on growth performance, blood chemistry, and immune responses of the juvenile red lip mullet Liza haematocheila. A commercial diet was used as the control. Four experimental diets were prepared by combining 0.5% of MPs such as Panax ginseng (PG), Schisandra chinensis (SC), Angelica gigas (AG), and Rehmannia glutinosa (RG), via water absorption, to the control diet. Triplicate groups of fish averaging 61.8 g were fed one of experimental diets to apparent satiation for 8 weeks. Dietary supplementation of MPs did not affect the growth performance, biological indices and whole body composition of fish compared to the control. The fish fed with AG diet had an increased weight gain, and specific growth rate compared to fish in SC group. Decreased level of plasma glucose was observed in fish fed diet containing MPs. Lysozyme activity was significantly increased in the fish fed AG diet compared to that of fish in PG group. These results indicate that dietary supplementation of Angelica gigas may enhance growth performance and immune responses in juvenile red lip mullet.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Building Construction
• /
• v.21 no.4
• /
• pp.281-291
• /
• 2021

To reduce the environmental load of the construction industry, there is a need to minimize construction and demolition by strengthening the eco-friendliness of building materials and extending the durable lifespan. Therefore, while many Hanok roof finishing methods have been proposed to address these problems, the current trend is to use the existing method due to issues such as economic feasibility, weight, and durability. The manufacturing method of clay roof tiles used as roofing materials for Hanok buildings is optimized by using a mixture of 64.5% Gyeongju clay, 15.0% kaolin, 15.0% FNS(Ferro Nickel Slag), and 5.5% MAS(Magnesia Aluminum Silicate) under optimal conditions. The results of the experiment involving firing at 1,125℃ showed that flexural strength of 12,102N, which is higher than the standard of KS F 3510, an absorption rate of 6.08%, a volume specific gravity of 2.15g/cm³, and the freeze-thaw properties were satisfied. A method for securing stable quality was studied.

• Journal of Conservation Science
• /
• v.38 no.4
• /
• pp.301-313
• /
• 2022

We made a Korean white porcelain or Joseon Baekja jar and based on the raw materials used and reproductions of each stage, we aimed to compare and analyze the physicochemical changes of the raw materials such as clay at each manufacturing stage, as well as identify the characteristics and correlations. Although the basic main components of clay and glaze material are similar, their texture becomes denser in the process of bisque firing pottery (Chobeol-pyeon) and glaze firing pottery (Jaebeol-pyeon), and we confirmed that in addition to the tendency of increasing vitrification, low-temperature minerals such as mica and illite gradually disappeared, while high-temperature minerals such as cristobalite were newly created. This phenomenon has also been verified by the rapid decrease in absorption rate while the change in specific gravity was small. In addition, the color was greatly affected by the firing atmosphere, and the yellow-red chromaticity of the raw materials was higher during bisque firing but showed a rapidly decreasing characteristic during glaze firing. The value of magnetic susceptibility, which is related to iron (Fe) component, showed a tendency to decrease in glaze firing pottery. CT images were confirmed as a method that can indirectly estimate the change in the material properties of the object step-by-step for the entire object. In conclusion, the study of manufacturing stages of reproduction can provide basic data for scientific research on the estimation of porcelain and pottery making technology and changes in raw materials.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Building Construction
• /
• v.23 no.6
• /
• pp.683-692
• /
• 2023

This research assesses the mechanical properties of concrete, utilizing both normal and lightweight aggregates, through measurements of compressive strength and ultrasonic pulse velocity. The study observed that concrete with normal aggregates exhibited higher compressive strength in its initial stages, whereas concrete with lightweight aggregates showed increased strength over time, likely attributed to the higher water absorption rate of lightweight aggregates. Ultrasonic pulse velocity generally registered higher in normal aggregate concrete, barring a specific duration, presumably due to variations in the internal pore structure of the aggregates. The correlation coefficient(R²) for the strength prediction equation, derived from the relationship between compressive strength and ultrasonic pulse velocity, exceeds 0.95. This high correlation suggests that the predictive equation based on these experimental findings is a reliable method for estimating concrete strength.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
• /
• v.32 no.2
• /
• pp.177-182
• /
• 2009

Purpose : This study presents the optimization of flip angle (FA) to obtain higher contrast to noise ratio (CNR) and lower specific absorption rate (SAR). Materials and Method : T1-weighted images of the cerebrum of brain were obtained from 50$^\circ$ to 130$^\circ$ FA with 10$^\circ$ interval. Signal to noise ratios (SNRs) were calculated for white matter (WM), gray matter (GM), and background noise. The proper FA was analyzed by T-test statistics and Kruskal-wallis analysis using R1 = 1- exp ($\frac{-TR}{T1}$) and Ernst angle cos $\theta$ = exp ($\frac{-TR}{T1}$). Results : The SNR of WM at 130$^\circ$ FA is approximately 1.6 times higher than the SNR of WM at 50$^\circ$. The SNR of GM at 130$^\circ$ FA is approximately 1.9 times higher than the SNR of GM at 50$^\circ$. Although the SNRs of WM and GM showed similar trends with the change of FA values, the slowdown point of decrease after linear fitting were different. While the SNR of WM started decreasing at 120$^\circ$ FA, the SNR of GM started decreasing at less than 110$^\circ$. The highest SNRs of WM and GM were obtained at 130$^\circ$ FA. The highest CNRs, however, were obtained at 80$^\circ$ FA. Conclusion : Although SNR increased with the change of FA values from 50$^\circ$ to 130$^\circ$ at 3T SE T1WI, CNR was higher at 80$^\circ$ FA than at the usually used 90$^\circ$ FA. In addition, the SAR was decreased by using smaller FA. The CNR can be increased by using this optimized FA at 3T MR SE T1WI.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
• /
• v.8 no.1
• /
• pp.7-15
• /
• 1990

The ultimate objective of our experiment is to obtain the precise distribution of temperature in malignant tumors occurring in cerebral parenchyme of human beings when we will carry out interstitial hyperthermia in the near future. To achieve this purpose, first of all, it is necessary to make an attempt at performing interstitial hyperthermia in vivo under the similar condition of human beings. Therefore, we chose cats as materials much alike tissue characteristics of human beings. Moreover, it is also necessary to get the basic data from dynamic phantom in order to standardize and compare results obtained from interstitial hyperthermia carried out in cats. By having performed these experiments we got the following results. 1) On doing interstitial hyperthermia with 915 MHz microwave, the possible treated volume was 2 cm by 2 cm by 6 cm according to $50\%$ specific absorption rate (SAR). 2) The distribution of temperature within non-circulated static phantom was much the same as power density in air, but we observed that the temperature, within $5\~10$ minutes, rose to more higher than $55^{\circ}C$ not measured with Ga-As fiberoptic thermistor which was not impeded by microwave after performing interstitial hyperthermia. 3) Within dynamic phantom in which normal saline was circulating, temperature reached steady state which was maintained for more than 45 minutes through transit period in 5 minutes after starting interstitial hyperthermia. 4) When we interrupted circulation in the dynamic phantom, we observed that temperature rose to the same level as in the static phantom. 5) We could carry out interstitial hyperthermia safely when we used the generating power below 5 watts. Abrupt interruption of circulation caused a rapid increase in temperature. Times taking to rise to maximum $55^{\circ}C$ were 15.2 minutes (SE 0.4),9.7 minutes (SE 0.3), and 6.3 min-utes (SE 0.4) respectively with generating powers of 5,10, and 15 watts.