• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.41 no.spc
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• pp.50-60
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• 2008

We performed the experiment to evaluate the effect of different DO concentrations (0.5, 4.5 and 9.0 $mgO_2L^{-1}$) and water depths (20, 50 and 80 cm) on the filtering rate, mortality, and pseudifeces production of Unio douglasiae against the cyanobacterial bloom (mainly Microcystis aeruginosa). A solitary-living bivalve U. douglasiae was collected in the upstream region of the North Han River (Korea). The harvested mussels were carefully transferred to the laboratory artificial management system, which was controlled temperature $(18{\pm}2^{\circ}C)$, flow rate (10L $h^{-1}$), food $(Chlorella^{TM})$, sediment (pebble and clay), light intensity (ca. $20{\mu}mol$ photons), and photocycle (12 L : 12 D). In the field observation, the mussel mortality was significantly correlated with water temperature, pH and DO concentration (P<0.05). The mortality was decreased with water depth; 65, 90, 80% of mortality at 20, 50, 80 cm water-depth, respectively. Filtering rate (FR) showed the highest value at 50 cm water depth, and thereby the concentration of chlorophyll-${\alpha}$ decreased continuously by 94% of the control at the end of the experiment. In contrast, FR decreased by 34% of the initial concentration at 20 cm water depth. Over the given water-depth range, the mussel FR ranged from $0.15{\sim}0.20L\;gAFDW^{-1}hr^{-1}$ during the 18hrs of experiment, and thereafter, they appeared to be approximately 0.11, 0.26 and 0.30 L $gAFDW^{-1}hr^{-1}$ at 20, 50 and 80cm water depth, respectively. FR was highest with the value of 0.46L $gAFDW^{-1}hr^{-1}\;at\;0.5mgO_2 L^{-1}$ at the early stage of the experiment, while it increased with DO concentration. Maximum pseudofaeces production was 11.2 mg $gAFDW^{-1}hr^{-1}\;at\;9.0mgO_2L^{-1}$. Our results conclude that U. douglasiae has a potential to enhance water quality in eutrophic lake by removing dominant cyanobacteria, but their effects vary with environmental parameters and the water depth at which they are located.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.217-226
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• 2015

To investigate the distributions of BVOCs (Biogenic Volatile Organic Compounds) from mountain near mega city and their role in forest atmospheric, BVOCs and their oxidized species were measured at a 41 m tower in Mt. Taehwa during May, June and August 2013. A proton transfer reaction-mass spectrometer (PTR-MS) was used to quantify isoprene and monoterpenes. In conjunction with BVOCs, $O_3$, meteorological parameters, PAR (Photosynthetically Active Radiation) and LAI (Leaf Area Index) were measured. The average concentrations of isoprene and monoterpenes were 0.71 ppbv and 0.17 ppbv, respectively. BVOCs showed higher concentrations in the early summer (June) compared to the late summer (August). Isoprene started increasing at 2 PM and reached the maximum concentration around 5 PM. In contrast, monoterpenes concentrations began to increase 4 PM and stayed high at night. The $O_3$ maximum was generally found at 3 PM and remained high until 5 PM or later, which was concurrent with the enhancement of $O_3$. The concentrations of BVOCs were higher below canopy (18 m) than above canopy, which indicated these species were produced by trees. At night, monoterpenes concentrations were negatively correlated with these of $O_3$ below canopy. Using MEGAN (Model of Emissions of Gases and Aerosols from Nature), the emissions of isoprene and monoterpenes were estimated at 1.1 ton/year and 0.9 ton/year, respectively at Mt. Taehwa.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.319-337
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• 2010

Major objective of this study was to determine interannual and seasonal water quality along with characteristics of longitudinal gradients along the reservoir axis of the riverine zone (Rz)-to-lacustrine zone (Lz). Water quality dataset of five years during 2003~2007 used here were obtained from Ministry of Environment, Korea and ten physical, chemical and biological parameters were analyzed in the study. Similarity analysis, based on moropho-hydrological variables of reservoir surface area, watershed area, total inflow, and outflow, showed that the reservoirs were categorized as three groups of large-dam reservoirs (Chungju Reservoir, Daecheong Reservoir and Soyang Reservoir), mid-size reservoirs (Andong Reservoir, Yongdam Reservoir, Juam Reservoir and Hapcheon Reservoir), and small-size reservoirs (Hoengseong Reservoir and Buan Reservoir). According to the data comparison of high-flow year (2003) vs. lowflow year (2005), dissolved oxygen (DO), pH, biological oxygen demand (BOD), suspended solids (SS), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), chlorophyll-a (CHL) and electrical conductivity (EC) declined along the longitudinal axis of Rz to Lz and water transparency, based on Secchi depth (SD), increased along the axis. These results indicate that transparency was a function of Values of pH, DO, SS, SD, and EC at each site were greater in the low-flow year (2005) than the high-flow year (2003), whereas values of BOD, COD, TN, TP and CHL were greater in the high-flow year (2003). When values of TN, TP, CHL and SD in nine reservoirs were compared in the three zones of Rz, Tz, and Lz, values of TN, TP and CHL declined along longitudinal gradients and SD showed the opposite due to the sedimentation processes from the water column. Values of TN were not statistically correlated with TP values. The empirical linear models of TP-CHL and CHL-SD showed significant (p<0.05, $R^2$>0.04). In the mid-size reservoirs, the variation of CHL was explained ($R^2$=0.2401, p<0.0001, n=239) by the variation of TP. The affinities in the correlation analysis of mid-size reservoirs were greater in the CHL-SD model than any other empirical models, and the CHL-SD model had an inverse relations. In the meantime, water quality variations was evidently greater in Daecheong Reservoir than two reservoirs of Andong Reservoir and Hoengseong Reservoir as a result of large differences of water quality by long distance among Rz, Tz and Lz.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.31-42
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• 2004

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a kind of acute lung injury characterized by inflammatory disruption of alveolar-capillary barrier and notorious for its high mortality. Neutrophils cause cell damage through the production of free radicals, inflammatory mediators, and proteases in ARDS. $PLA_2$ might serve a primary regulatory role in the activation of neutrophils. This present study was performed to elucidate the effect of rutin known as $PLA_2$ inhibitor on ARDS induced by endotoxin. Endotoxin had increased lung myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, BAL (bronchoalveolar lavage) protein content, numbers of neutrophils in BALF (bronchoalveolar lavage fluid) compared with those of control rat (p<0.001). In addition, histological evidence of lung injury was correlated with neutrophil influx into alveolar space and cerrous perhydroxide granules were found in lining of endothelial cell, alveolar type I, II cells. In contrast, pretreated group of rutin had significantly decreased all of the parameters (p<0.001). These data suggest that inhibition of $PLA_2$ is one step approach that block the process of ARDS. Accordingly, we conclude that rutin can be used as the prophylactic agent for ARDS on the bases of these experimental results.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.437-443
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• 2010

This study was designed to examine the aerobic capacity and ventilatory response during an incremental exercise in elite high school cyclists. Twelve boys ($17{\pm}1\;yr$, $175{\pm}5\;cm$, $70{\pm}9\;kg$) participated in anthropometric measurements, incremental exercise testing, and pulmonary function tests. During incremental exercise testing using a cycle ergometer, their maximal oxygen uptake ($VO_2max$), maximal power output, ventilation, ventilatory equivalents for oxygen ($V_E/VO_2$) and carbon dioxide ($V_E/VCO_2$), respiratory rate, and tidal volume were measured. Time variables such as inspiratory time (Ti), expiratory time (Te), breathing time (Tb), and inspiratory duty cycle (Ti/Tb), as well as inspiratory flow rate ($V_T$/Ti) were assessed. Pulmonary function of vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second ($FEV_1$), $FEV_1$/FVC, and peak expiratory flow were evaluated. Their $VO_2max$, maximal heart rate, and Wmax were $57.5{\pm}3.9\;ml{\cdot}kg^{-1}{\cdot}min^{-1}$, $194.1{\pm}8.6\;beat{\cdot}min^{-1}$, and 452 W, respectively. $VO_2max$ was not related to any anthropometric parameters. Most ventilatory variables progressively increased with exercise intensity. As intensity increased, Ti, Tb, Tb decreased while Ti/Tb was maintained. Below an intensity of 250 W, height, weight, body mass index, and body surface were highly correlated with $V_T$/Ti and Ti/Tb (p<0.05). Collectively, $VO_2max$ appeared to be lower than adult cyclists, suggesting a different pattern of ventilatory control as age advances. Morphological characteristics were not related to $VO_2max$ in the population. Time variables of ventilatory response seemed to be related only at an exercise intensity level of less than 250 W. $V_T$/Ti may be related to exercise endurance capacity, but Ti/Tb was similar to adult cyclists.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Hazard Mitigation
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.71-80
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• 2009

Although desire for living without hazardous damages grows these days, threats from natural disasters which we are currently exposed to are quiet different from what we have experienced. To cope with this changing situation, it is necessary to assess the characteristics of the natural disasters. Therefore, the main purpose of this research is to suggest a methodology to estimate the potential property loss and assess the flood risk using a regional regression analysis. Since the flood damage mainly consists of loss of lives and property damages, it is reasonable to express the results of a flood risk assessment with the loss of lives and the property damages that are vulnerable to flood. The regional regression analysis has been commonly used to find relationships between regional characteristics of a watershed and parameters of rainfall-runoff models or probability distribution models. In our research, however, this model is applied to estimate the potential flood damage as follows; 1) a nonlinear model between the flood damage and the hourly rainfall is found in gauged regions which have sufficient damage and rainfall data, and 2) a regression model is developed from the relationship between the coefficients of the nonlinear models and socio-economic indicators in the gauged regions. This method enables us to quantitatively analyze the impact of the regional indicators on the flood damage and to estimate the damage through the application of the regional regression model to ungauged regions which do not have sufficient data. Moreover the flood risk map is developed by Flood Vulnerability Index (FVI) which is equal to the ratio of the estimated flood damage to the total regional property. Comparing the results of this research with Potential Flood Damage (PFD) reported in the Long-term Korea National Water Resources Plan, the exports' mistaken opinions could affect the weighting procedure of PFD, but the proposed approach based on the regional regression would overcome the drawback of PFD. It was found that FVI is highly correlated with the past damage, while PFD does not reflect the regional vulnerabilities.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.855-864
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• 1996

The purpose of this study is to evaluate nutritional status of tube feeding patients, and to investigate the effects of giving enteral nutritional support to them. 83 in-patients have been examined for their nutritional status. The mean caloric density was 0.77kca1/m1. 36.1% to 75.9% of them were malnourished in terms of biochemical assessment. The energy intake showed the significant and positive correlation in all biochemical parameters. And the protein intake showed the significant and positive correlation in total protein, serum albumin, serum iron, hemoglobin, hematocrit and TLC. But age was correlated negatively to serum albumin and transferrin. The amount of energy and protein intake has been significantly increased as the tube feeding duration became longer. Also the effect of enteral nutritional support for 6 weeks has been investigated. Case group(n=8) was administered 250kca1 of polymeric formula in addition to their usual diet, while control group(n=8) kept the amount of their original intake. When comparing the biochemical changes of the case group and those of control group at week 0 and week 6 respectively, it showed significant differences in total protein, serum transferrin and TLC. This study suggests that the malnourished status of tube feeding patients can be improved and even prevented if nutritional support is properly administered.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.81-87
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• 2009

Purpose : We sought to evaluate enhancement of plaque with gadolinium-based contrast agent by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in comparison with histopathology, namely lipid-rich and macrophage-rich components that were two representative characteristics of plaque vulnerability using atherosclerotic rabbit aorta in order to determine which histopathologic component is relevant to the enhancement. Materials and Methods : New Zealand white rabbit (n=4, weight 3.0 to 3.5 kg, all male) was used for animal model of atherosclerosis. Atherosclerotic aortic lesions were induced by high-cholesterol diet and double balloon injury. T1-weight axial images were acquired before and after gadolinium-based contrast agent using a 3-T MRI. MR images and the matched histopathological sections (n=35) were divided into 4 quadrants or 3 (n=130). Enhancement ratio (ER, ER=SIpost/SIpre) on MRI was calculated for each quadrant and compared with histopathology in regard to lipid-rich and macrophage-rich areas. Results : Lipid-rich quadrants were 72 and fibrous quadrants were 58. The number of quadrants which had macrophage-rich areas was 105 and that of quadrants which did not have macrophage-rich areas was 25. ER was significantly higher in lipid-rich quadrants than in fibrous quadrants (mean ER 2.25c$\pm$0.41 vs. 2.72$\pm$0.65, p=0.013). ER poorly correlated with macrophage-rich areas when lipid-component was controlled (correlation coefficient -0.203, p=0.236). Conclusion : Lipid-rich plaques showed stronger enhancement than fibrous plaques using a standard gadolinium-based extracellular contrast agent. Macrophage infiltration did not correlate with degree of enhancement. Further study is warranted that account for optimal time of imaging after contrast injection using various plaque models from early to advanced stages and all possible parameters associated with contrast enhancement.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.22-31
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• 2010

Purpose : This study was performed to evaluate the relationship between glomerular basement membrane (GBM) alterations to epithelial cell (EpC) structure and renal function in Alport Syndrome (AS) patients. Methods : Fifteen patients diagnosed with AS (4-26yrs) were examined. The GBM in AS was categorized as : C1) normal, C2) minor alterations (widening of lamina rara interna or externa without lamina densa change), C3) nonspecific splitting of lamina densa, C4) basket-weaving pattern of lamina densa splitting. The length of each GBM portion along the epithelial side was measured on the systematically obtained electron microscopic photographs. Furthermore to obtain an objective assessment of the degree of glomerular EpC foot process change, the number of slit pores along $10\;{\mu}m$ of peripheral GBM in each category was obtained. Results : The percentage of normal GBM portion (C1) correlated inversely with daily protein excretion (g/day/$m^2$, P<0.05) and sum of the percentage of abnormal GBM portion (C2+C3+C4) had direct correlation with daily protein excretion (g/day/$m^2$, P<0.05). There were no significant relationships between the percentages of other categories of GBM alterations and creatinine clearance or protein excretion. There were no significant relationships between of creatinine clearance in relation to normal GBM(C1) portion as well as that in relation to sum of the percentage of abnormal GBM portion (C2+C3+C4). GBM abnormality did not correlate with age at biopsy. Conclusion : The extent of GBM structural abnormality is related to proteinuria in AS but the epithelial response is uniform even though the GBM ultrastructural lesions are not.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.11
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• pp.1397-1403
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• 2013

Fructus Sophorae, the dried ripe fruit of Styphnolobium japonicum (L.), is an herbal ingredient used in traditional Oriental medicine. This study was carried out to investigate the effects of Fructus Sophorae extracts (FSE) on immune modulation in a murine RAW 264.7 macrophage model. As immune response parameters, the production of prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$) and tumor necrotic $factor-{\alpha}$ ($TNF-{\alpha}$) were evaluated. Our data revealed that FSE increased the macrophage activation and the production of $PGE_2$ and $TNF-{\alpha}$, which was consistently correlated with upregulation of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and $TNF-{\alpha}$ expression at both transcriptional and translational levels. On comparative cytokine protein array, FSE significantly increased several cytokines, which was associated with phosphorylation of mitogen- activated protein kinases (MAPKs), including extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), p38 MAPK and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and Akt in RAW 264.7 cells. However, each inhibitor of these molecules attenuated the FSE-induced $PGE_2$ production. These results indicate that FSE activated macrophages through the activation of MAPKs and phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt signaling pathways in RAW 264.7 macrophages. These findings suggest that FSE may provide a promising source of an immunoenhancing agent.