• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.57 no.4
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• pp.341-357
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• 2019

Acanthamoeba, one of free-living amoebae (FLA), remains a high risk of direct contact with this protozoan parasite which is ubiquitous in nature and man-made environment. This pathogenic FLA can cause sight-threatening amoebic keratitis (AK) and fatal granulomatous amoebic encephalitis (GAE) though these cases may not commonly be reported in our clinical settings. Acanthamoeba has been detected from different environmental sources namely; soil, water, hotspring, swimming pool, air-conditioner, or contact lens storage cases. The identification of Acanthamoeba is based on morphological appearance and molecular techniques using PCR and DNA sequencing for clinico-epidemiological purposes. Recent treatments have long been ineffective against Acanthamoeba cyst, novel anti-Acanthamoeba agents have therefore been extensively investigated. There are efforts to utilize synthetic chemicals, lead compounds from medicinal plant extracts, and animal products to combat Acanthamoeba infection. Applied nanotechnology, an advanced technology, has shown to enhance the anti-Acanthamoeba activity in the encapsulated nanoparticles leading to new therapeutic options. This review attempts to provide an overview of the available data and studies on the occurrence of pathogenic Acanthamoeba among the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) members with the aim of identifying some potential contributing factors such as distribution, demographic profile of the patients, possible source of the parasite, mode of transmission and treatment. Further, this review attempts to provide future direction for prevention and control of the Acanthamoeba infection.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.57 no.1
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• pp.78-84
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• 2019

Recently, bio-butanol is being promoted as environmentally friendly sustainable energy. However, some problems are still obstacle for commercialization of bio-butanol: the development of cheap biomass and enhancement of fermentation ratio and preparation of economical separation process for fermented products. In the conventional ABE biobutanol fermentation process, organic acids with acetone, butanol, and ethanol are produced. Therefore, it is necessary to study phase equilibrium data and mixture properties for the design and operation of separation process. However, there is lack of design data for organic acids except acetic acid contained system. In this study, therefore, binary solid-liquid equilibria (SLE) and mixture properties: the excess molar volumes ($V^E$), molar refraction deviation (${\Delta}R$) and deviation of viscosity (${\Delta}v$) at 298.15 for $C_3-C_6$ organic acid were reported. The experimental SLE data were correlated with the NRTL and UNIQUAC activity coefficient model with less than 0.5 K of root mean square deviation (RMSD). In addition, $V^E$, ${\Delta}R$ and ${\Delta}v$ for the same binary systems were satisfactorily fitted using the Redlich-Kister polynomial with less than ca. 0.004 standard deviation.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.113-125
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• 2019

Objectives: Although the risk assessments for nitrogen dioxide ($NO_2$) and ozone ($O_3$) have been extensively studied, most of the existing risk assessments were limited mainly to indoor environments such as workplaces, schools, and multi-use facilities. Therefore, integrated risk assessment is needed to consider exposure in all microenvironments, including outdoors. The purpose of this study was to assess the differences in risk among sub-population groups according to time-activity patterns and reported concentrations, as well as the lifetime risk of Koreans. Methods: In this study, we estimated time-weighted average exposure concentrations of $NO_2$ and $O_3$ for preschool children, students, housewives, workers, and seniors using residential time and indoor concentrations (house, school or workplace, other), outdoors, and transport by meta-analysis method. The risk for $NO_2$ and $O_3$ were assessed by hazard quotient using reference concentrations 30 and 60 ppb, respectively. The risk assessments were conducted through 1,000,000 Monte-Carlo simulations for probabilistic analysis. Results: Preschool children, students, housewives, workers, and seniors spent 91.9, 86.0, 79.8, 82.2, and 77.3% of their day in a house, school, or workplace, respectively. The risk assessment for the lifetime of a housewife and a worker showed that 33.8 and 28.4% of hazard quotients of $NO_2$ exceed 1, respectively, and more than 99% of hazard quotient of $O_3$ were less than 1. Conclusions: The risk of $NO_2$ and $O_3$ by sub-population group and for the lifetime of housewives and workers were assessed. The risk for $NO_2$ was higher than for $O_3$ and showed a different risk by sub-population group. Both $NO_2$ and $O_3$ showed a higher risk for housewives than for workers. This study can be used as a basis for lifetime exposure and risk assessment for $NO_2$ and $O_3$.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.12
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• pp.1455-1460
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• 2018

Due to a rapidly expanding aging population, the incidence of degenerative bone disease has increased, and efforts to handle the issue using regenerative medicine have become more important. In order to control various bone diseases such as osteoarthritis and osteoporosis, regenerative medicine utilizing adult stem cells has been extensively studied. And it is now clear that the mitochondrial energy metabolism, oxidative phosphorylation, is important for the process of stem cell differentiation. Interestingly, a recent study reported that salicylate promotes mitochondrial biogenesis by regulating the expression of $PGC-1{\alpha}$ in murine cells. However, the possible effects of salicylate on osteogenic differentiation through increased mitochondrial biogenesis in stem cells remain unknown. Thus, here we investigated whether salicylate could influence osteogenic differentiation and mitochondrial biogenesis of periosteum-derived mesenchymal stem cells (POMSCs). We found that salicylate treatments of POMSCs undergoing osteogenic differentiation increased the activity of alkaline phosphatase, a well-known early marker of bone cell differentiation. In addition, we observed that mitochondrial mass was increased by salicylate treatments in POMSCs. Together, these results indicate that salicylate can enhance osteogenic differentiation and mitochondrial biogenesis in POMSCs. Therefore, the findings in this study suggest that small molecules augmenting mitochondrial function such as salicylate can be a novel modulator for osteogenic differentiation and regenerative medicine.

• Journal of Korean Theatre Studies Association
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• no.40
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• pp.503-535
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• 2010

'Saiee', which could mean between, intra- and inter-, is a crucial topic in theatre as theatre has tension between actor and audience, reality and illusion, and everyday life and extraordinary life. Especially, it is interesting that the function of 'Saiee' is connected to extension and application of drama and theatre such as educational theatre, dramatherapy and applied drama/theatre. Such works are expected to educational or therapeutic effects, thus concern and support, demand and supply of these works is getting increased. However, it is true that researches on spirit, aesthetic and direction of these works are not sufficient, compared to quantitative increase and diversity. This study will explore Boal's Theatre of the Oppressed(TO from the below), which is key theory and technique of applied drama/theatre field with viewpoint of 'Saiee' theatre to look at spirit, aesthetic and direction of this field. Saiee's energy could observe the object with distance(distance), form the relationship with that object(inter) and create new circumstance through that relationship(intra). And Boal's TO tried to Saiee's theatre by using Saiee's dynamics variously. It bases on the phenomenon of metaxis. Boal's TO believes that drama/theatre is unique nature and ability of human being, that is to say, it is based on Homo Theatrum, human plays and does theatre. Therefore, the participant of Boal's TO is extended to everyone in everyday life. This activity is not only individual work to find his/her identity but also solidarity and possibility to change society which they belong to. It is the dynamics of 'Saiee' to make this possible. Boal's TO thinks that relationship and balance between individuality and sociality is important. The way of conversation in Boal's TO includes questioning, listening and communication. Unfamiliarity or distance of 'Saiee' makes interest in other people and question about them. Questioning through theatre and concern on other beings to search for the answer (this is listening), would be new relationship(and possibility) to extend him/herself. The communication and relationship leads to possibility and ability to create another world. This is the function of 'inter-' and 'intra-' in theatre of 'Saiee'. Lastly, it is various that Boal's TO as 'Saiee' theatre uses the dynamics of 'Saiee'. The diversity of technique comes from the application to humans in every moment and every time. To apply 'Saiee's aesthetic actively, concern and research on people 'now and here' should be proceed.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.177-187
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• 2019

Several volcanic activities have continued in Mt. Baekdu since the Millennium eruption, and these phenomena have increased the need for volcanic activity surveillance. Various geophysical approaches are needed to obtain the depth and size of magma chamber that lie several kilometers below the surface. We examined the applicability of direct-current resistivity survey in this study. In order to explore the deep magma chamber of Mt. Baekdu, which has a spatial limitation due to the borderline, a large-scale survey with a length of tens of kilometers should be conducted. This type of survey requires a distributed measurement system and optimized exploration designs. Therefore, we propose survey designs taking advantage of our developed distributed acquisition system and analyze the applicability using numerical simulation. We confirmed that our designs that use single survey line with offline transmitting points show comparable results to the conventional 3D survey. It is expected that our research result can contribute to the deep geophysical exploration in Mt. Baekdu.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.377-384
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• 2018

This study focused on the effects of feeding on postlarvae of shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei, during the identified acclimation time to low salinity. A total of 5 different salinity groups with or without feeding (32, 24, 16, 8, and 2 psu, 1 liter, triplicates) were prepared, and 30 shrimp were settled at PL21 (postlarvae) and placed in each group. After 24 hours of the experimentation process, the survival rate of the fed and starved groups was observed to be lower in the 2 psu group compared to other salinity groups, with the rate of 86.6% and 81.1%, respectively. The condition index of glucose and triglyceride, which are important factors for osmoregulation and as energy sources, was 4.2-7.6 times and 2.7-3.4 times higher in the fed groups than the starved groups at all the levels of salinities. The creatine level increased by 1.1-1.5 times in the starved groups as compared to the fed groups. Likewise, the activity of all the digestive enzymes like, lipase, ${\alpha}$-amylase, trypsin, and alkaline protease were clearly higher in the fed groups (ANOVA, p<0.05). Apparently, it was observed that feeding is effective for the postlarvae of shrimp, which shows a characteristic fast metabolism and larval development, during the acclimation period to low salinity.

• Journal of IKEEE
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.727-734
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• 2019

This paper confirms whether the movement or specific operation of the muscles in the process of transferring a person from the brain can find a signal showing an essential feature of a certain part of the brain. As a rule, the occurrence of EEG(Electroencephalogram) changes when a signal is received from a specific action or from an induced action. These signals are very vague and difficult to distinguish from the naked eye. Therefore, it is necessary to define a signal for analysis before classification. The EEG form can be divided into the alpha, beta, delta, theta and gamma regions in the frequency ranges. The specific size of these signals does not reflect the exact behavior or intention, since the band or energy difference of the activated frequencies varies depending on the EEG measurement domain. However, if different actions are performed in a specific method, it is possible to classify the movement based on EEG activity and to determine the EEG tendency affecting the movement. Therefore, in this article, we first study the EEG expression pattern based on the activation of the left and right biceps EMG, and then we determine whether there is a significant difference between the EEG due to the activation of the left and right muscles through EEG. If we can find the EEG classification criteria in accordance with the EMG activation, it can help to understand the form of the transmitted signal in the process of transmitting signals from the brain to each muscle. In addition, we can use a lot of unknown EEG information through more complex types of brain signal generation in the future.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.107-115
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• 2019

Recently, since earthquakes have happened frequently in Gyeongju and Pohang areas in Korea, the earthquake detection research gets lots of attention. Geophysical monitoring data have been changed during the earthquake activity because the huge amount of energy is accumulated. The change of telluric current can be predicted by both of piezoelectric and electrokinetic effects before or during the earthquake occurrence, and if the change value exceeds the conventional telluric current noise, we can measure changes in the electric field associated with earthquakes. In this study, we have self-developed and verified the system that can monitor the telluric current. In order to verify our telluric current monitoring system, we installed lines of 40 m (E-W direction) and 28 m (N-S direction) on the site in Pohang. The telluric currents were sampled at 1 kHz for about a month. We have compared and analyzed the data of earthquake signals and electrical noises based on the earthquakes that occurred during the monitoring period. We have monitored if there were significant signals related to the earthquake on measured time series data. Through this study, we will suggest the direction of continuous research in the future.

• Clean Technology
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.190-197
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• 2021

Kraft lignin is a by-product of the pulp and paper industry, obtained as a black liquor after the extraction of cellulose from wood through the Kraft pulping process. Right now, kraft lignin is utilized as a low-grade boiler fuel to provide heat and power but can be converted into high-calorific biofuels or high-value chemicals once the efficient catalytic depolymerization process is developed. In this work, the multi-functional catalyst of Ru-Mg-Al-oxide, which contains hydrogenation metals, acid, and base sites for the effective depolymerization of kraft lignin are prepared, and its lignin depolymerization efficiency is evaluated. In order to understand the role of different active sites in the lignin depolymerization, the three different catalysts of MgO, Mg-Al-oxide, and Ru-Mg-Al-oxide were synthesized, and their lignin depolymerization activity was compared in terms of the yield and the average molecular weight of bio-oil, as well as the yield of phenolic monomers contained in the bio-oil. Among the catalysts tested, the Ru-Mg-Al-oxide catalyst exhibited the highest yield of bio-oil and phenolic monomers due to the synergy between active sites. Furthermore, in order to maximize the extent of lignin depolymerization over the Ru-Mg-Al-oxide, the effects of reaction conditions (i.e., temperature, time, and catalyst loading amount) on the lignin depolymerization were investigated. Overall, the highest bio-oil yield of 72% and the 3.5 times higher yield of phenolic monomers than that without a catalyst were successfully achieved at 350 ℃ and 10% catalyst loading after 4 h reaction time.