• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 2004.09a
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• pp.129-132
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• 2004

A hybrid permeable reactive barriers(hybrid PRBs) composed of Fe(II) PRB, biological PRB and sorptive PRB was investigated to treat groundwater with multiple contaminations. We performed batch, column and pilot tests to determine removal rates and design parameters of each PRB media, and operated two hybrid PRB systems with pilot-scale barriers in series. The pilot test of the hybrid PRB system with the combination of Fe(II), biological media and black shale showed multiple contaminations could be removed in ground water. Nitrate could be treated below 20 mg/L and Cr(VI) was treated down to 0.05 mg/L. TCE was degraded below 0.001 mg/L in system. The hybrid PRB system with a proper combination of PRBs could remediate ground water with multiple contaminations.

• Biomaterials and Biomechanics in Bioengineering
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.1-13
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• 2015

Despite recent progresses in nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems, there are still many unsolved limitations. Most of all, a major obstacle in current nanoparticle-based drug carrier is the lack of sufficient drug delivery into target cells due to various biological barriers, such as: extracellular matrix, endolysosomal barrier, and drug-resistance associated proteins. To circumvent these limitations, several research groups have utilized photochemical internalization (PCI), an extension of photodynamic therapy (PDT), in design of innovative and efficient nano-carriers drug delivery. This review presents an overview of a recent research on utilization of PCI in various fields including: anti-cancer therapy, protein delivery, and tissue engineering.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.193-202
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• 2012

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore socio-demographic, clinical and psychological factors associated with medication adherence among patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). Methods: In a cross-sectional survey, 133 patients with CHF who had visited a clinic located in Seoul participated. Medication adherence (MA) was measured using a single item visual analogue rating scale (VAS). Barriers and attitudes toward adherence, and depression were measured using a structured questionnaire. Medical records were reviewed to identify their clinical characteristics. Multivariate logistic regression was performed identify factors affecting medication adherence. Results: About one third of participants (31.1%) reported their MA as 100%. Overall attitudes on MA were highly positive and 49 (36.8%) of participants were depressive. MA was associated with significantly barriers (p<.001), attitudes (p<.001), age (p<.001), and duration of disease (p<.001). The high adherent group had significantly less barriers than other groups (OR=.389, p=0.02). Conclusion: This study indicates that barriers and attitudes toward MA were the most important factors affecting their adherence to HF medication. To improve MA for patient with CHF, the nursing strategies which can lead poor adherent patients to their optimal level should be developed.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.125-136
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• 2019

Vitis vinifera is very susceptible to downy mildew (Plasmopara viticola). A number of authors have suggested different genetic populations of this fungus exist in Europe, each showing a different degree of virulence. Work performed to date indicates this diversity to be the result of different factors. In areas where gene flow is greater and recombination more frequent, the diversity of P. viticola appears to be wider. In vineyards isolated by geographic barriers, a race may become dominant and produce clonal epidemics driven by asexual reproduction. The aim of the present work was to identify the conditions that influence the genetic diversity of P. viticola populations in the vineyards of northwestern Spain, where the climatic conditions for the growth of this fungus are very good. Vineyards situated in a closed, narrow valley of the interior, in more open valleys, and on the coast were sampled and the populations of P. viticola detected were differentiated at the molecular level through the examination of microsatellite markers. The populations of P. viticola represented in primary and secondary infections were investigated in the same way. The concentration of airborne sporangia in the vegetative cycle was also examined, as was the virulence of the different P. viticola populations detected. The epidemiological characteristics of the fungus differed depending on the degree of isolation of the vineyard, the airborne spore concentration, and on whether the attack was primary or secondary. Strong isolation was associated with the appearance of dominant fungal races and, therefore, reduced populational diversity.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.167-174
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• 2011

Black-billed magpies (Pica pica) are a highly sedentary species due to their short and round wings, which are not adequate for long distance flights. We investigated geographic variation in the vocal signals of magpies residing in South Korea and Japan (subspecies sericea). Based on the magpie's limited dispersal ability, we predicted that the variation in vocal signals of black-billed magpies could be explained by geographic barriers such as mountain ranges and straits. We analyzed four-syllable chatter calls of magpies from five localities in South Korea, which are separated by mountain ranges (Seoul, Daejeon, Daegu, Gwangju, and Busan), and two island localities separated from the mainland by straits (Jeju in Korea and Saga in Japan). We found significant differences in the characteristics of magpie chatter calls recorded in the seven localities, and the variation pattern was independent among the variables. Mainland-island differentiation and north-south differentiation were observed. In general, magpies on Saga were the most distinctive. North-south differentiation was observed among the Korean mainland localities. However, the pattern was not related to the presence of putative geographic barriers. We hypothesize that the patterns of geographic variation in the structure of magpie chatter calls residing in South Korea might have been shaped by a sudden expansion of magpies followed by low level of local isolation, which may have led to vocal differentiation. Along with elucidating the vocal environment of Korean magpie populations, more extensive sampling is needed to clarify the functional aspects of geographic variation in the vocal signals of Korean magpies.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.20-29
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• 2018

Purpose: This study aimed to determine the relationships between particulate matter risk perception, knowledge, and perceived barriers and health-promoting behaviors among college students. Methods: Data for this cross-sectional study were collected from September 1 to 30, 2017. The study sample consisted of 85 students from a university, Seoul. Students not living in the Seoul metropolitan area during the spring 2017 semester were excluded from participation. Pearson's correlation coefficient was used to identify relationships among study variables. Results: A significant positive correlation existed between particulate matter risk perception and health-promoting behaviors related to particulate matter (r= .51, p< .001). Among the risk perception subdomains, attention (r= .47, p< .001) and health effect (r= .55, p< .001) showed strong positive relationships with health-promoting behaviors. No significant relationships were found between knowledge (r= .12, p= .288) or perceived barriers (r= -.12, p= .264) and health-promoting behaviors related to particulate matter. Conclusion: Based on the study results, strategies for enhancing particulate matter risk perception are needed to increase the level of health-promoting behaviors related to particulate matter among college students.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.6.1-6.19
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• 2022

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells, which express a synthetic receptor engineered to target specific antigens, have demonstrated remarkable potential to treat haematological malignancies. However, their transition beyond haematological malignancy has so far been unsatisfactory. Here, we discuss recent challenges and improvements for CAR T cell therapy against solid tumors: Antigen heterogeneity which provides an effective escape mechanism against conventional mono-antigen-specific CAR T cells; and the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment which provides physical and molecular barriers that respectively prevent T cell infiltration and drive T cell dysfunction and hypoproliferation. Further, we discuss the application of CAR T cells in infectious disease and autoimmunity.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• v.8 no.6
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• pp.354-359
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• 2003

$CO_2$fixation by microalgae has emerged as a promising option for $CO_2$mitigation. In-tensive research work has been carried out to develop a feasible system for removing $CO_2$from industrial exhaust gases. However, there are still several challenging points to overcome in order to make the process more practical. In this paper, recent research activities on three key technologies of biological $CO_2$fixation, an identification of a suitable algal strain, development of high efficient photobioreactor and utilization of algal cells produced, are described. Finally the barriers, progress, and prospects of commercially developing a biological $CO_2$fixation process are summarized.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.32-48
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• 2024

Background: Longitudinal connectivity in river systems strongly affects biological components related to ecosystem functioning, thereby playing an important role in shaping local biodiversity and ecosystem health. Environmental DNA (eDNA)-based metabarcoding has an advantage of enabling to sensitively diagnose the presence/absence of species, becoming an efficient/effective approach for studying the community structure of ecosystems. However, little attention has been paid to eDNA-based biomonitoring for river systems, particularly for assessing the river longitudinal connectivity. In this study, by using eDNA we analyzed and compared species diversity and composition among artificial barriers to assess the longitudinal connectivity of the fish community along down-, mid- and upstream in the Hotancheon from the Geum River basin. Moreover, we investigated temporal variation in eDNA fish community structure and species diversity according to season. Results: The results of species detected between eDNA and conventional surveys revealed higher sensitivity for eDNA and 61% of species (23/38) detected in both methods. The results showed that eDNA-based fish community structure differs from down-, mid- and upstream, and species diversity decreased from down to upstream regardless of season. We found that there was generally higher species diversity at the study sites in spring (a total number of species across the sites [n] = 29) than in autumn (n = 27). Nonmetric multidimensional scaling and heatmap analyses further suggest that there was a tendency for community clusters to form in the down-, mid- and upstream, and seasonal variation in the community structure also existed for the sites. Dominant species in the Hotancheon was Rhynchocypris oxycephalus (26.07%) regardless of season, and subdominant species was Nipponocypris koreanus (16.50%) in spring and Odontobutis platycephala (15.73%) in autumn. Artificial barriers appeared to negatively affect the connectivity of some fish species of high mobility. Conclusions: This study attempts to establish a biological monitoring system by highlighting the versatility and power of eDNA metabarcoding in monitoring native fish community and further evaluating the longitudinal connectivity of river ecosystems. The results of this study suggest that eDNA can be applied to identify fish community structure and species diversity in river systems, although some shortcomings remain still need to be resolved.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2011.02a
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• pp.12-12
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• 2011

Interfacing functional materials with electrical or biological systems is of prime importance in terms of expanding applicative fields and obtaining high performances of devices. Herein, I report the functionalization of graphenes through supramolecular assembly and their electrochemical applications into fuel cells, supercapacitors, and biosensor devices. The solution processable nanohybridization of graphenes by functional materials such as ionic liquids, polyelectrolytes, block copolymers, and biomaterials, described herein would pave the way to obtain high performances of flexible energy and biosensor devices as well as to overcome the existing technology barriers.