• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.31 no.11
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• pp.947-956
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• 2009

Residual petroleum hydrocarbons after an oil spill may accumulate in the marine benthic ecosystem due to their high hydrophobicity. A lot of monitoring data are required for the estimation of ecosystem exposure to residual petrochemicals in an ecological risk assessment in the affected region. To save time and cost, the environmental exposure to them in the affected ecosystem can also be assessed using a simple food-web bioaccumulation model. In this study, we evaluated residual concentrations of four selected polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (phenanthrene, anthracene, pyrene, and benzo[a]pyrene) in a hypothetic benthic ecosystem composed of six species under two exposure scenarios. Body-residue concentration ranged 5~250 mg/kg body depending on trophic positions in an extreme scenario in which the aqueous concentrations of PAHs were assumed to be one-tenth of their aqueous solubility. In addition, bioconcentration factors (BCFs) and bioaccumulation factors (BAFs) were evaluated for model species. The logarithm of bioconcentration factor (log BCF) linearly increased with increasing the logarithm of 1-octanol-water partition coefficient (log $K_{OW}$) until log $K_{OW}$ of 7.0, followed by a gradual decrease with further increase in log $K_{OW}$ without metabolic degradation. Biomagnification became significant when log $K_{OW}$ of a pollutant exceeded 5.0 in the model ecosystem, indicating that investigation of food-web structure should be critical to predict biomagnifications in the affected ecosystem because log $K_{OW}$ values of many petrochemicals are higher than 5.0. Although further research is required for better site-specific evaluation of exposure, the model simulation can be used to estimate the level of the ecosystem exposure to residual oil contaminants at the screening level.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.242-248
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• 2007

To find a feasibility of utilization of food waste slurry (FWS) generated during composting, FWS was combined with pig manure slurry (PMS) in various ratios and the change of nutrient contents and offensive odor of the combined slurries before and after fermentation were studied. The initial pH was 7.67 for PMS and 8.45 for FWS. However, during the fermentation, pH increased in the combined slurries with the higher FWS rate among the treatments while decreased in thosewith higher PMS rate. EC of each slurry sample showed that the difference among combined slurry samples has been reduced during fermentation and became stabilized in $21{\sim}23dS\;m^{-1}$ after 180 days. After 180 days fermentation, total nitrogen (T-N) decreased. T-N of mixture with a half and more FWS decreased up to 0.1%, less than the critical level (0.3%). The contents of O.M., T-N, phosphorus, calcium and magnesium decreased with fermentation while those of potash and salinity increased. From initial fermentation until 30 days, a lot of $NH_3$, as an offensive odor, was produced. However, it decreased steadily, except in higher PMS rate. In terms of producing $50{\mu}g\;ml^{-1}$ of $NH_3$, the top layer took 30 days after fertilization with FWS only, 45 days for utilized treatment with F75 (25 % of PMS), 75 days for utilized with F50 (50%) and F25 (75%) and 90 days for PMS only, respectively. $RNH_2$ also had similar trend with $NH_3$ but it was produced continuously as long fermentation proceeded. In terms of $RNH_2$, the decrease in concentration up to $50{\mu}g\;ml^{-1}$ were; 45 days for FWS only(F100), 105 days for F75 utilization, 120 daysfor F50, 165 days for F25, respectively. ethyl mercaptan was produced in PMS until 180 days after fertilization but it was not produced in FWS. Sensory tests as an integrated test of offensive odor were also done. FWS showed lower than 1 after 30 days from initial fermentation, while PMS had still offensive odor even up to 180 days from initial fermentation. It is probably affected by the continuous production of ethyl mercaptan and amines. However, considering in decrease T-N content caused by volatilization while offensive odor intensity according to official standard of fertilizer is lower than 2. Further study on controlling offensive odor needs to be done.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.60 no.2
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• pp.171-179
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• 2006

Background : Despite the emerging danger of MDR-TB to human beings, there have only been a limited number of drugs developed to treat MDR-TB since 1970. This study investigated the cross-resistance rate between rifampicin (RFP) and rifabutin (RBU) in order to determine the efficacy of rifabutin in treating MDR-TB. In addition, the results of rifabutin were correlated with the rpoB mutations, which are believed to be markers for MDR-TB and RFP resistance. Methods : The MICs of RBU were tested against 126 clinical isolates of MDR-TB submitted to the clinical laboratory of National Masan TB Hospital in 2004. Five different concentrations ($10-160{\mu}g/ml$) were used for the MICs. The detection of the rpoB mutations was performed using a RFP resistance detection kit with a line probe assay(LiPA), which contains the oligonucleotide probes for 5 wide type and 3 specific mutations (513CCA, 516GTC, and 531TTG) The rpoB mutation was determined by direct sequencing. Results : The rate of cross-resistance between RFP and RBU was 70.5%(74/105) at $20{\mu}g/ml$ RBU(ed note: How much RFP?) Most mutations (86.3%) occurred in the 524~534 codons. The His526Gln, His526Leu, Leu533Pro, Gln513Glu, and Leu511Pro mutations(Ed note: Is this correct?) were associated with the susceptibilty to RBU. Conclusion : Based on the cross-resistance rate between RFP and RBU, RBU may be used effectively in some MDR-TB patients. Therefore, a conventional drug susceptibility test for RBU and a determination of the critical concentration are needed. However, rpoB gene mutation test may be have limited clinical applications in detecting RBU resistance.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.388-401
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• 2011

Asian dust was observed a total of 66 times in the springtime during the period from 2002 to 2010, with 26 cases in March, 23 cases in April and 17 cases in May. This study investigates a Asian dust episode that occurred during the period from 22 to 25 May 2010, based on synoptic weather patterns, wind vector at 850 hPa, relative humidity at 1000 hPa, Jet streams and wind vector at 300 hPa, PM10 concentration in Korea and satellite imagery. In this case, Asian dust originated on 22 May along the rear of a developing low pressure system in Mongolia. The Asian dust was then transported southeastward and bypassed the Korea peninsula from 23 to 24 May, before reaching Japan on 25 May. Jet streams on 24 May bypassed the Korean peninsula and induced the development of a surface low pressure centered over the peninsula. The resulting air flow was critical to the trajectory of the Asian dust, which likewise bypassed the Korean peninsula. 72-hour backward trajectory data reveal that the Shandong Peninsula and the East China Sea were the points of origin for the air flows that swept through the Japanese sites where Asian dust was observable to the naked eay. The Asian dust pathway is ascertained by horizontal distribution of the Asian dust of RGB imagery from MODIS satellites which captured the Asian dust moving over the Shandong Peninsula, the East China Sea, and northwest of the Kyushu region in Japan. Since the synoptic pattern and the transport way of the Asian dust case are far from typical ones, which Asian dust forecasting technique has long been based on, this study can be good example of exceptional Asian dust pattern and it will be used for more accurate Asian dust forecasting.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.587-602
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• 1995

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of citric acid and tetracycline HCI application to the root surfaces of periodontally diseased teeth on the proliferation and spreading of human periodontal ligament cells. The roots were prepared so that the comparison could be made among root planed, citric acid treated and tetracycline HCI treated surfaces. In the cell proliferation experiment, human periodontal ligament cells at a concentration of $1{\times}10^5$ cells/ml were seeded in each culture well with specimens and incubated for 6 hours. Then, the specimens were transferred to a fresh culture well and incubated for 24, 48, 72 hours respectively. The cell counting was done after trypsinization. In the cell spreading experiment, $1{\times}10^4$ cells/ml were seeded in each culture well and incubated for 30min, 6 hours and 24 hours at 37.5$^{\circ}C$ in a $CO_2$ incubator. Then, all specimens were fixed with phosphate buffered glutaraldehydes, postfixed with phosphate buffered osmium tetraoxide, stained with phosphate buffered tannic acid, dehydrated in ethanol, dried at a critical point, coated with gold and examined under a scanning electron microscope. The results were as follows:In the cell proliferation experiments, the number of attached cells increased more in the tetracycline treated group than in the other groups. In the initial attachment, the appearance of the tetracycline treated the groups was slightly more spread out than in the other groups. After 6 hours of incubation, it was observed in most of the cells that cell morphologic alteration went from ovoid shapes sto spindle shapes. After 24 hours of incubation, the cells of all groups had a fusiform appearance and were connected to each other by numerous cytoplasmic processes. The tetracycline and citric acid treated groups had a similar spreading appearance of periodontal ligament cells, but the tetracycline treated group was more effective in the cell proliferation than the citric acid group.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.271-280
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• 2007

Tonicity-responsive enhancer binding protein(TonEBP) is a transcriptional factor essential in the function and development of the renal medulla. TonEBP plays a critical role in protecting renal medullary cells from the deleterious effect of hypertonicity. TonEBP is a key regulator of urinary concentration via stimulation of transcription of urea transporter(UT) in a manner independent of vasopressin. UT in the renal inner medulla is important for the conservation of body water due to its role in the urine concentrating mechanism. Mongolian gerbil(Meriones unguiculatus) has been as an model animal for studying the neurological disease such as stroke and epilepsy because of the congenital incomplete in Willis circle, as well as the investigation of water metabolism because of the long time-survival in the condition of water-deprived desert condition, compared with other species animal. In this study, we divide 3 groups of which each group include the 5 animals. In the study of 7 or 14 days water restricted condition, we investigated the TonEBP and UT-A by using a immunohistochemistry in the kidney. In the normal kidney, the distribution of TonEBP is generally localized on nuclei of inner medullary cells. Nuclear distribution of TonEBP is generally increased throughout the medulla in 7 and 14 days dehydrated group compared with control group. Increased nuclear localization was particularly dramatic in thin limbs. In control groups, UT-A was expressed in inner stripe of outer medulla(ISOM) and inner medulla(IM). UT-A was present in the terminal part of the short-loop of descending thin limbs (DTL) in ISOM and also present in the inner medullary collecting duct(IMCD), where the intensity of it gradually increased toward the papillary tip. In the dehydrated kidney, UT-A immunoreactivity was increased in the short-loop of DTL in ISOM and in the long-loop of DTL in the initial part of IM, where was expressed moderate positive reaction in the normal kidney. Also it was up regulated in the IMCD in initial & middle part of IM. However UT-A down regulated in the IMCD, where the intensity of it gradually decreased toward the papillary tip. These findings suggest that increased levels of TonEBP in medulla and UT-A in shot-loop of DTL and IMCD play a important role for maintain fluid balance in the water-deprived mongolian gerbil kidney.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.37-43
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• 1981

This pot experiment was conducted to find out the optimal fertilization ratio of the cations(K: Ca: Mg) in various soil conditions. Soil samples were collected from uncultivated mountains and hills where development for grass lands is under consideration. The optimum ratios were computed by the Homes systematic variation technique. The results were summarized as follows : 1. The optimum fertilization ratios of the cations (K : Ca : Mg) for the high yields of grass-clover mixed sward at various areas were obtained (Table 4) 2. The relatively high optimum fertilization ratios of K in Daegu and Taegwalryong, Ca in Unbong, and Mg in Cheju district gave the high yields of clover in mixed sward. They were positively related to the low contents of the above cations in the soils or the relatively low content ratio comparing with other cations. 3. The yields of clover in mixed sward were seriously affected by the changes in both the fertilization ratio and total concentration of cations comparing to those of the grass yields. As a consequence, total yields, quality, and botanical composition of the mixed sward were also affected. 4. The antagonis among the cations K, Ca, and Mg was known from the point of mineral contents of grass and clover. 5. The equivalent ratio K/(Ca+Mg) or grass was greatly increased by the range of 2.4 and 3.3 in the K-group treatment, which was higher than the critical level 2.2 of grass tetany, otherwise that. of clover by the range of 0.9 and 1.2. Therfore, it may be concluded that if the botanical composition of grass/legume sward is optimum, the incidence of grass tetany can be eliminated.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.10-15
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• 2010

Most pesticides are poorly soluble in water and must be dissolved in a solvent carrier before being added to the test medium on aquatic toxicity test. The concentration of solvent is critical to the success of a test. This study were conducted to recommend possible organic solvents which have good solubility for pesticides and low toxicity to Korean native water flea to establish new standard toxicity test methods using Korean native water flea for ecological risk assessment of pesticide. Four Korean freshwater cladocerans, Daphnia obtusa, Daphnia sp., Moina macrocopa and Simocephalus vetulus were exposed to 10 different organic solvents during 48 hours to evaluate their toxic response to solvents. Ethyl acetate was the most toxic to cladocerans tested. Although ethyl ether was the least toxic to cladocerans tested, it may not adequate as possible solvent in aquatic toxicity test due to high volatility and low water solubility. In conclusion, acetone, methanol, ethanol and acetonitrile which has low toxicity as well as good water solubility are recommended as optimal organic solvent to use in aquatic toxicity tests with Korean native cladocerans tested.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.25-33
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• 2008

Background: A critical shortage of donor organs has necessitated an investigation of new strategies to increase the availability of additional organs available for human transplantation. We investigated the amount of apoptosis and expression of GADD45 ${\beta}$ in two groups, a GADD45 ${\beta}$-transfected group and untransfected group. Material and Method: The experimental groups consist of a control group (normal H9C2 cell line) and GADD45 ${\beta}$-transfected group. After injury of the each group, we evaluated the expression of GADD45 ${\beta}$ and the level of apoptosis in each group. Result: There was a significant increase in the expression of GADD45 ${\beta}$ in the GADD45 ${\beta}$-transfected group at 1 hour, 2 hours, and 3 hours after stimuli as compared with the control group. The amount of cardiac myoblast cell line apoptosis was significantly lower in the GADD45 ${\beta}$-transfected group as compared with the control group. The concentration of annex in in the GADD45 ${\beta}$-transfected group was significantly lower than that of the control. group after cell. injury. Conclusion: Transfection of a rat myoblast cell line with the GADD45 ${\beta}$ gene results in. decreased susceptibility to cell injury of human serum.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.109-116
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• 2002

The objective of this study was to know the qualities of soil and shallow groundwater in plastic film house fields around Central Part of Korea. The study was conducted at 11 sites in Suweon, Hwasung, Pyungtaek, Yongin and Chuncheon through May to August in 1999. Soil textures of plastic films house were mainly sandy loam or loam. Electric conductivity and organic matter content of surface soils mostly exceeded the critical levels for crop production. Average concentration of $NO_3-N$ in the sha]low groundwater was 19.1 mg/L, and it reached almost the limiting level of agricultural groundwater quality (20 mg/L). Moreover about 36% of survey sites exceeded the limiting level of agricultural groundwater quality. Sulfate concentrations also at some sites exceeded agricultural groundwater quality limit level (50 mg/L). Nitrate-N, one of the most important factors in the groundwater quality, had positive correlations with other ions in foundwater.