• Korean Journal of Hazardous Materials
• /
• v.6 no.2
• /
• pp.7-12
• /
• 2018

Hydrochloric acid is a highly corrosive toxic substance and requires proper safety to minimize damage in case of leakage. Among the various risk-reduction facilities, the dike is a typical safety facility installed to protect the surrounding buildings and facilities by preventing the external spread of hazardous materials from the storage tank. In this study, the KORA program was used to assume leakage accident of hydrochloric acid storage tank. At this time, the extent of the damage effects of ERPG-2 were assessed for each of the three separation distance between the storage tank and the dike. The study found that the smaller the separation distance between the dike and the storage tank, the smaller the extent of damage caused by hydrochloric acid leakage, and the greater the impact of indoor conditions under the same conditions. Through this process, we are going to assist in selecting locations and installing facilities for new and existing businesses.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.29 no.4
• /
• pp.571-576
• /
• 2019

Microenvironmental stress, which is naturally observed in solid tumors, has been implicated in anticancer drug resistance. This tumor-specific stress causes the degradation of topoisomerase $II{\alpha}$, rendering cells resistant to topoisomerase $II{\alpha}$-targeted anticancer agents. In addition, microenvironmental stress can induce the overexpression of 78kDa glucose regulated protein (GRP78), which can subsequently block the activation of apoptosis induced by treatment with anticancer agents. Therefore, inhibition of topoisomerase $II{\alpha}$ degradation and reduction in GRP78 expression may be effective strategies for inhibiting anticancer drug resistance. In this study, we investigated the active compound arctigenin, which inhibited microenvironmental stress-induced etoposide resistance in HT-29 cells. Arctigenin was also highly toxic to etoposide-resistant HT-29 cells, with an $IC_{50}$ value of $10{\mu}M$ for colony formation. We further showed that arctigenin inhibited the degradation of topoisomerase $II{\alpha}$ and reduced the expression of GRP78. Thus, these results suggest that arctigenin is a novel therapeutic agent that inhibits resistance to etoposide associated with microenvironmental stress conditions.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
• /
• v.33 no.4
• /
• pp.311-319
• /
• 2019

The purpose of this study was to analyze water treatment characteristics, including the efficiency of removing algae from water purification plants, by installing a demonstration facility for decontamination of algae, including natural algae remover injection equipment, in the water purification plant. Jar-test showed that the optimum injection of natural decontaminant was 20 mg/L. Of the water contaminant treatment efficiency of the intake and water purification plants, Chl-a averaged 74.0% elimination efficiency from $5.0mg/m^3$ to $1.3mg/m^3$ and the maximum treatment efficiency was 91.5% removal efficiency when the inflow concentration of Chl-a was $11.8mg/m^3$. In addition, 51.2% and 47.1% of the taste and odor indicator items, geosmin and 2-MIB, resulted from the overgrowth and decaying of algae, respectively, to identify toxic substances and odor reduction effects. In addition, elimination efficiencies of SS and Turbidity materials were higher than 70.0%. In the injection of natural algae remover, no effects such as sudden changes in water quality due to secondary reactions were found, and appropriate levels were maintained under water treatment conditions.

• International journal of advanced smart convergence
• /
• v.10 no.3
• /
• pp.66-71
• /
• 2021

Recent healthcare environments have characteristics of expanding the scope of healthcare-impacting healthcare, complexity resulting from diversification of components, and accelerating the pace of change. Drugs are used for the prevention, mitigation, and treatment of diseases, so they can inevitably cause harm, while they have efficacy and effectiveness, which are key elements of health recovery. Therefore, many countries regulate permits for safe and effective medicines, and also designate essential drugs directly related to life as pay targets and guarantee health insurance. Especially Pharmacist relying on manpower for composition medicine is liable for mal-manufacture due to combination of toxic medical substances or other chemical usage. In this paper, we focus on using Kiosk and Optical Character Recognition (OCR) for automated pharmacy to level up medical service and create labor friendly environment for pharmacist themselves through maintenance of prescription data and automated manufacturing solution. Presentation of drug substances and precautions will lead to efficient drug prescription and prevent misuse of information while auto manufacturing system efficiently maintain labor force and raise patient satisfaction level by reduction of waiting time.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
• /
• v.37 no.6
• /
• pp.596-606
• /
• 2021

Soil-borne diseases are the major problems in mono cropping. A mixture (designated LTM-m) composed of agricultural wastes and a beneficial microorganism Streptomyces saraceticus SS31 was used as soil amendments to evaluate its efficacy for managing Rhizoctonia solani and root knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita). In vitro antagonistic assays revealed that SS31 spore suspensions and culture broths effectively suppressed the growth of R. solani, reduced nematode egg hatching, and increased juvenile mortality. Assays using two Petri dishes revealed that LTM-m produced volatile compounds to inhibit the growth of R. solani and cause mortality to the root knot nematode eggs and juveniles. Pot and greenhouse tests showed that application of 0.08% LTM-m could achieve a great reduction of both diseases and significantly increase plant fresh weight. Greenhouse trials revealed that application of LTM-m could change soil properties, including soil pH value, electric conductivity, and soil organic matter. Our results indicate that application of LTM-m bio-organic amendments could effectively manage soil-borne pathogens.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
• /
• v.19 no.1
• /
• pp.3.1-3.17
• /
• 2019

Aging is a complex process associated with dysregulation of the immune system and low levels of inflammation, often associated with the onset of many pathologies. The lacrimal gland (LG) plays a vital role in the maintenance of ocular physiology and changes related to aging directly affect eye diseases. The dysregulation of the immune system in aging leads to quantitative and qualitative changes in antibodies and cytokines. While there is a gradual decline of the immune system, there is an increase in autoimmunity, with a reciprocal pathway between low levels of inflammation and aging mechanisms. Elderly C57BL/6J mice spontaneously show LGs infiltration that is characterized by Th1 but not Th17 cells. The aging of the LG is related to functional alterations, reduced innervation and decreased secretory activities. Lymphocytic infiltration, destruction, and atrophy of glandular parenchyma, ductal dilatation, and secretion of inflammatory mediators modify the volume and composition of tears. Oxidative stress, the capacity to metabolize and eliminate toxic substances decreased in aging, is also associated with the reduction of LG functionality and the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. Although further studies are required for a better understanding of autoimmunity and aging of the LG, we described anatomic and immunology aspects that have been described so far.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
• /
• v.21 no.2
• /
• pp.161-175
• /
• 2008

The soil developed from volcanic ash in Jeju Island, Korea, were classified as typical Andisols. The soils had acidic pH, high water contents, high organic matters and clay-silty textures. The crystalline minerals of the samples were mainly composed of ferromagnesian minerals such as olivine and pyroxene, and iron oxides such as magnetite and hematite derived from basaltic materials. A large amount of gibbsite was found at the subsurface horizon as a secondary product from the migration of excessive aluminum. In addition, our study has shown that considerable amounts of poorly ordered minerals like allophane and ferrihydrite were present in Jeju soils. The contents of $SiO_2$ were lower than those of other soil orders, but $A1_2O_3$ and $Fe_2O_3$ contents were higher. These results are some of the important chemical properties of Andisols. The contents of heavy metals were in the range of $84{\sim}198$ for Zn, $56{\sim}414$ for Ni, $38{\sim}150$ for Co, $132{\sim}1164\;mg\;kg^{-1}$ for Cr, which are higher than the worldwide values in most of the soils. Some soil samples contained relatively high levels of Cr exceeding 1000 mg/kg. Mean reduction capacity of the Jeju soils was $6.53\;mg\;L^{-1}$ reduced Cr(VI), 5.1 times higher than that of the non-volcanic ash soils from inland of Korea. The soil reduction capacity of the inland soils had a good correlation with total carbon content (R = 0.90). However, in spite of 20 times higher total carbon contents in the Jeju soils, there was a week negative correlation between the reduction capacity and the carbon content (R = -0.469), suggesting that the reduction capacity of Jeju soils is not mainly controlled by the carbon content and affected by other soil properties. Correlations of the reduction capacity with major elements showed that Al and Fe were closely connected with the reduction capacity in Jeju soil (R = 0.793; R = 0.626 respectively). Moreover, the amounts of Ni, Co and Cr had considerable correlations with the reduction capacity (R = 0.538; R = 0.647; R = 0.468 respectively). In particular, in relation to the behavior of redox-sensitive Cr, the oxidation of the trivalent chromium to mobile and toxic hexavalent chromium can be restricted by the high reduction capacity in Jeju soil. The factors controlling the reduction capacity in Jeju soils may have a close relation with the andic soil properties explained by the presence of considerable allophane and ferrihydrite in the soils.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
• /
• v.49 no.1
• /
• pp.67-78
• /
• 2007

This study was carried out to monitor feed-nutritional components, toxic heavy metals (Cd, Pb and As) and pesticide residues through three cultivation stages (1st initial culture stage, 2nd mycelial growth stage, and 3rd fruit body-harvested stage) of king oyster mushroom (Pleurotus eryngii) produced by bottle type cultivation and oyster mushroom (Pleurotus osteratus) produced by vinyl bag type cultivation. For both cultivation types, compared with the initial culture, the weight reduction rate in spent mushroom substrates (SMS) after fruit body harvest was 29% for total wet mass, 21～25% for dry and organic matters and 19 ～22% for neutral detergent fiber. Two thirds to 3/4 of organic matter degraded and utilized by mycelia and fruit bodies was originated from fiber, of which the primary source (50～70%) was hemicellulose. The effect of mycelial growth stage on chemical compositional change in culture was little (P>0.05) for bottle type cultivation of king oyster mushroom but considerable (P<0.05) for vinyl type cultivation of oyster mushroom. Culture nutrients uptake by fruit bodies was very active for the bottle type cultivation. Compared with SMS, harvested fruit bodies (mushrooms) contained higher (P<0.05) crude protein, non-fibrous carbohydrate, and crude ash and lower (P<0.05) neutral detergent fiber. Regardless of stages, no culture samples were contaminated with toxic heavy metals and pesticide residues. In conclusion, the increase of fiber (neutral and acid detergent fibers) and indigestible protein contents and the decrease of true protein content in SMS indicated that the feed-nutritional value of SMS was significantly reduced compared with that of the initial culture and they were safe from toxic heavy metals and pesticide residues.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
• /
• v.13 no.2
• /
• pp.143-148
• /
• 1998

The purpose of this study was to determine the kinetics of paralytic shellfish poison (PSP) destruction at various temperature. The toxic digestive gland homogenate of blue mussel (Mytilus edulis), PSP crude toxin, gonyautoxin group and saxitoxin group were heated at temperature ranging from 90 to $120^{\circ}C$, and then the toxicities were measured in samples heated for various time intervals. The rate constant (k) of the toxic digestive gland homogenate, PSP crude toxin, gonyautoxin group and saxitoxin group were $3.28{\times}10^{-2},\;1.20{\times}10^{-2},\;5.88{\times}10^{-2}\;and\;2.58{\times}10^{-2}\;at\;120^{\circ}C$, respectively. The decimal reduction time (D-value) of the toxic digestive gland homogenate, PSP crude toxin, gonyautoxin group and saxitoxin group were 70, 192, 39 and 89 at $120^{\circ}C$, respectively. These results indicate that PSP crude toxin is most heat-stable of 4 types of PSP toxins and PSP toxin are more heat-stable than food poisoning bacteria and spores. The retorting condition to reduce PSP toxicity below quarantine limit ($80\;\mu\textrm{g}/100\;g$ in Korea and America, 4 MU/g in Japan) could be calculated by rate constant. For example, the digestive gland homogenate having a initial toxicity of $200\;\mu\textrm{g}/100\;g$ could have toxicity below quarantine limit when heated at $90^{\circ}C$ for 129 min., $100^{\circ}C$ for 82 min., $110^{\circ}C$ for 48 min. and $120^{\circ}C$ for 28 min. These results suggest that commercial retorting condition ($115^{\circ}C$ for 70 min) in Korea is enough to reduce toxicity below quarantine limit from initial toxicity of $200\;\mu\textrm{g}/100\;g$. From these results, the quarantine limit of PSP-infested shellfish for canning can be level up to raw score of $200\;\mu\textrm{g}/100\;g$.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
• /
• v.31 no.2
• /
• pp.57-65
• /
• 2013

Beta-lapachone (${\beta}$-Lap; 3,4-dihydro-2, 2-dimethyl-2H-naphthol[1, 2-b]pyran-5,6-dione) is a novel anti-cancer drug under phase I/II clinical trials. ${\beta}$-Lap has been demonstrated to cause apoptotic and necrotic death in a variety of human cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. The mechanisms underlying the ${\beta}$-Lap toxicity against cancer cells has been controversial. The most recent view is that ${\beta}$-Lap, which is a quinone compound, undergoes two-electron reduction to hydroquinone form utilizing NAD(P)H or NADH as electron source. This two-electron reduction of ${\beta}$-Lap is mediated by NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase (NQO1), which is known to mediate the reduction of many quinone compounds. The hydroquinone forms of ${\beta}$-Lap then spontaneously oxidizes back to the original oxidized ${\beta}$-Lap, creating futile cycling between the oxidized and reduced forms of ${\beta}$-Lap. It is proposed that the futile recycling between oxidized and reduced forms of ${\beta}$-Lap leads to two distinct cell death pathways. First one is that the two-electron reduced ${\beta}$-Lap is converted first to one-electron reduced ${\beta}$-Lap, i.e., semiquinone ${\beta}$-Lap $(SQ)^{{\cdot}-}$ causing production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which then causes apoptotic cell death. The second mechanism is that severe depletion of NAD(P)H and NADH as a result of futile cycling between the quinone and hydroquinone forms of ${\beta}$-Lap causes severe disturbance in cellular metabolism leading to apoptosis and necrosis. The relative importance of the aforementioned two mechanisms, i.e., generation of ROS or depletion of NAD(P)H/NADH, may vary depending on cell type and environment. Importantly, the NQO1 level in cancer cells has been found to be higher than that in normal cells indicating that ${\beta}$-Lap may be preferentially toxic to cancer cells relative to non-cancer cells. The cellular level of NQO1 has been found to be significantly increased by divergent physical and chemical stresses including ionizing radiation. Recent reports clearly demonstrated that ${\beta}$-Lap and ionizing radiation kill cancer cells in a synergistic manner. Indications are that irradiation of cancer cells causes long-lasting elevation of NQO1, thereby sensitizing the cells to ${\beta}$-Lap. In addition, ${\beta}$-Lap has been shown to inhibit the repair of sublethal radiation damage. Treating experimental tumors growing in the legs of mice with irradiation and intraperitoneal injection of ${\beta}$-Lap suppressed the growth of the tumors in a manner more than additive. Collectively, ${\beta}$-Lap is a potentially useful anti-cancer drug, particularly in combination with radiotherapy.