• Title/Summary/Keyword: environmental alteration

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Overview of Epithermal Gold-Silver Mineralization, Korea:

  • Park, Seon-Gyu;Ryu, In-Chang;So, Chil-Sup;Wee, Soo-Meen;Kim, Chang-Seong;Park, Sang-Joon;Kim, Sahng-Yup
    • Proceedings of the KSEEG Conference
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    • 2003.04a
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    • pp.7-14
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    • 2003
  • The precious-meta] mineralization of epithermal type in the Korean Peninsula, which is spread over a broader range of ca. 110 to 60 Ma with a major population between 90 and 70 Ma, mainly occurred along the NE-trending major strike-slip fault systems (i.e., the Gongju and Gwangju ones) that commonly include volcano-tectonic depressions and calderas. The occurrence of epithermal mineralization during Late Cretaceous clearly indicates that the geologic setting of the Korean Peninsula changed to the favorable depth of ore formation with very shallow-crustal environments (〈1.0 kb) accompanied with gold-silver (-base-meta]) mineralization. Epithermal gold-silver deposits in Korea are primarily distinguished as sediment-dominant and volcanic-dominant basins by using criteria of varying alteration, ore and gangue mineralogy deposited by the interaction of different ore-forming fluids with host rocks and meteoric waters. These differences between the central and southern portions are causally linked to the tectonic evolution of the Peninsula during the Cretaceous time. In the Early Cretaceous, the sinistral strike-slip movements due to the oblique subduction of the Izanagi Plate resulted in the Gongju and Gwangju fault systems in the central portion of the Korean Peninsula, which was accompanied with a number of sediment-dominant basins formed along these faults. During the Late Cretaceous, the mode of convergence of the Izanagi Plate changed to northwesteward so that orthogonal convergence occurred with a calc-alkaline volcanism. As results, volcanic-dominant basins were developed in the southern portion of the Peninsula, accompanied with volcano-tectonic depressions and caldera-related fractures. The magmatism and related fractures during Late Cretaceous may play an important role in the formation of geothermal systems. Thus, such fault zones may be favorable environments for veining emplacement that is closely related to the precious-metal mineralization of epithermal type in the Korean Peninsula.

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A SYSTEMS ASSESSMENT FOR THE KOREAN ADVANCED NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE CONCEPT FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF RADIOLOGICAL IMPACT

  • Yoon, Ji-Hae;Ahn, Joon-Hong
    • Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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    • v.42 no.1
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    • pp.17-36
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    • 2010
  • In this study, we compare the mass release rates of radionuclides(1) from waste forms arising from the KIEP-21 pyroprocessing system with (2) those from the directly-disposed pressurized-water reactor spent fuel, to investigate the potential radiological and environmental impacts. In both cases, most actinides and their daughters have been observed to remain in the vicinity of waste packages as precipitates because of their low solubility. The effects of the waste-form alteration rate on the release of radionuclides from the engineered-barrier boundary have been found to be significant, especially for congruently released radionuclides. the total mass release rate of radionuclides from direct disposal concept is similar to those from the pyroprocessing disposal concept. While the mass release rates for most radionuclides would decrease to negligible levels due to radioactive decay while in the engineered barriers and the surrounding host rock in both cases even without assuming any dilution or dispersal mechanisms during their transport, significant mass release rates for three fission-product radionuclides, $^{129}I$, $^{79}Se$, and $^{36}Cl$, are observed at the 1,000-m location in the host rock. For these three radionuclides, we need to account for dilution/dispersal in the geosphere and the biosphere to confirm finally that the repository would achieve sufficient level of radiological safety. This can be done only after we have known where the repository site would by sited. the footprint of repository for the KIEP-21 system is about one tenth of those for the direct disposal.

Influence of Lead on Repetitive Behavior and Dopamine Metabolism in a Mouse Model of Iron Overload

  • Chang, JuOae;Kueon, Chojin;Kim, Jonghan
    • Toxicological Research
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    • v.30 no.4
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    • pp.267-276
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    • 2014
  • Exposures to lead (Pb) are associated with neurological problems including psychiatric disorders and impaired learning and memory. Pb can be absorbed by iron transporters, which are up-regulated in hereditary hemochromatosis, an iron overload disorder in which increased iron deposition in various parenchymal organs promote metal-induced oxidative damage. While dysfunction in HFE (High Fe) gene is the major cause of hemochromatosis, the transport and toxicity of Pb in Hfe-related hemochromatosis are largely unknown. To elucidate the relationship between HFE gene dysfunction and Pb absorption, H67D knock-in Hfe-mutant and wild-type mice were given drinking water containing Pb 1.6 mg/ml ad libitum for 6 weeks and examined for behavioral phenotypes using the nestlet-shredding and marble-burying tests. Latency to nestlet-shredding in Pb-treated wild-type mice was prolonged compared with non-exposed wild-types (p < 0.001), whereas Pb exposure did not alter shredding latency in Hfe-mutant mice. In the marble-burying test, Hfe-mutant mice showed an increased number of marbles buried compared with wild-type mice (p = 0.002), indicating more repetitive behavior upon Hfe mutation. Importantly, Pb-exposed wild-type mice buried more marbles than non-exposed wild-types, whereas the number of marbles buried by Hfe-mutant mice did not change whether or not exposed to Pb. These results suggest that Hfe mutation could normalize Pb-induced behavioral alteration. To explore the mechanism of repetitive behavior caused by Pb, western blot analysis was conducted for proteins involved in brain dopamine metabolism. The levels of tyrosine hydroxylase and dopamine transporter increased upon Pb exposure in both genotypes, whereas Hfe-mutant mice displayed down-regulation of the dopamine transporter and dopamine D1 receptor with D2 receptor elevated. Taken together, our data support the idea that both Pb exposure and Hfe mutation increase repetitive behavior in mice and further suggest that these behavioral changes could be associated with altered dopaminergic neurotransmission, providing a therapeutic basis for psychiatric disorders caused by Pb toxicity.

Hypermethylation Status of E-Cadherin Gene in Gastric Cancer Patients in a High Incidence Area

  • Rashid, Haroon;Alam, Khursheed;Afroze, Dil;Yousuf, Adfar;Banday, Manzoor;Kawoosa, Fizalah
    • Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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    • v.17 no.6
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    • pp.2757-2760
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    • 2016
  • Gastric cancer (GC) is the fourth most prevalant cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. As in other cancers gastric carcinogenesis is multifactorial involving environmental, genetic and epigenetic components. Epigenetic silencing due to hypermethylation of tumour suppressor genes is one of the key events in gastric carcinogenesis. This study was aimed to analyse the hypermethylation status of the E-Cadherin (CDH1) gene promoter in GCs in the ethnic Kashmiri population. In this study a total of 80 GC patients were recruited. Hypermethylation in tumour tissue was detected by methylation specific PCR (MS-PCR). Hypermethylation of CDH1 promoter was observed in 52 (65%) of gastric carcinoma cases which was significantly much higher than adjacent normal tissue [$p{\leq}0.0001$]. Further the frequency of CDH1 promoter methylation was significantly different with intestinal and diffuse types of gastric cancer [55.7% vs 82.1%; p<0.05]. Moreover females and cases with lymph node invasion had higher frequencies of CDH1 hypermethylation [$P{\leq}0.05$]. Thus the current data indicate a vital role of epigenetic alteration of CDH1 in the causation and development of gastric cancer, particularly of diffuse type, in our population.

Analysis of effect on physical habitat in the Mankyung River by climate chang (기후변화에 따른 만경강 어류서식처 영향 분석)

  • Hong, Il;Jeon, Ho Seong;Kim, Ji sung;Kim, Kyu Ho
    • Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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    • 2017.05a
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    • pp.521-521
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    • 2017
  • 본 연구는 기후변화가 만경강에 서식하는 어류 서식처에 미치는 영향을 분석하고자 하였다. 기후변화 영향에 따른 수문자료는 RCP 8.5 기후변화시나리오 결과에 기반하여 SLURP 분포형 모델을 이용하여 일 유출량을 도출하였다. 기후변화 전후의 일 유출량 자료는 수문변화지표(indicator of Hydrologic Alteration, IHA) 통계분석모형을 이용하여 유출량의 규모, 빈도, 시기, 기간, 변화율 등 유황특성을 반영한 5가지의 환경흐름요소(Environmental Flow Components, EFC)로 나타냈다. 환경흐름요소는 수문기간 동안의 유황을 극히 낮은 흐름(Extreme low flow), 낮은 흐름(Low flow), 높은 흐름 펄스(High flow pulse), 작은 홍수(Small floods), 커다란 홍수(Large floods) 등 5가지의 스펙트럼 형태로 나타낼 수 있다. 어류의 물리서식처 모의를 위한 대상어종은 환경부 멸종위기 야생동식물 1급으로 지정 및 보호되고 있고 과거 만경강 봉동 일대에서 출현하였던 감돌고기를 선정하였다. 감돌고기의 서식처 적합도(HSI)는 과거 모니터링 결과 및 문헌자료 근거로 생애주기별(산란기, 성장기, 성어기)로 구분하여 나타내었고, River2D 모형에 적용하였다. 분석결과 생애주기별로는 기후변화 영향 후 산란기의 감돌고기의 서식처가중가용면적은 24.1% 증가, 성장기와 성어기의 가중가용면적은 각각 3.3%, 7.3%로 감소하는 것으로 예측되었다. 극한조건에서 서식처가중가용면적의 크기는 높은 흐름 펄스, 작은 홍수, 커다란 홍수, 극히 낮은 흐름 순으로 나타났다. 기후변화 영향으로 인한 가중가용면적의 변화는 작은 홍수를 제외하고 미래에는 감소하는 것으로 나타났으며, 특히 극히 낮은 흐름, 커다란 홍수의 경우 빈도와 기간을 고려할 때 실질적인 가중가용면적은 더욱 악화될 것으로 예측되었다. 이러한 결과를 바탕으로 기후변화 영향으로 인한 만경강 유역의 미래서식처 요건은 악화될 것으로 예상되며 멸종위기종인 감돌고기의 서식처 확보방안의 제시가 필요할 것으로 판단된다.

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Thermodynamic Modeling of Long-Term Phase Development of Slag Cement in Seawater (해수에 노출된 슬래그 시멘트의 장기 상변이 열역학 모델링)

  • Park, Solmoi;Suh, Yongcheol;Nam, Kwang Hee;Won, Younsang
    • KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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    • v.41 no.4
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    • pp.341-345
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    • 2021
  • Known to improve resistance to chloride ingress, blast furnace slag is a widely used supplementary cementitious material. However, a detailed characterization of cements blended with slag exposed to seawater remains unavailable. This study employs thermodynamic modeling as a toolkit for assessing the long-term phase evolution of slag cement in seawater. The modeling result shows that slag incorporation leads to the formation of phases that are less prone to structural alteration in seawater. Formation of more ettringite is expected to induce expansion in both plain and blended cements, while brucite is unstable in the blended systems. Despite this, the porosity is expected to increase in the blended cements, and aluminate hydrates with a higher chloride binding capacity are more abundant in the blended cements. The results suggest that the use of slag in concrete improves the durability performance of concrete in marine environments.

Alteration of the gut microbiota in post-weaned calves following recovery from bovine coronavirus-mediated diarrhea

  • Kwon, Min-Sung;Jo, Hee Eun;Lee, Jieun;Choi, Kyoung-Seong;Yu, Dohyeon;Oh, Yeon-su;Park, Jinho;Choi, Hak-Jong
    • Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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    • v.63 no.1
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    • pp.125-136
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    • 2021
  • Bovine coronavirus (BCoV) is associated with severe diarrhea, dehydration, and depression, which result in significant economic damages in the dairy and beef cattle industries worldwide. However, differences in the gut microbiota structure and their correlations with differing physiological parameters between BCoV-infected calves with diarrhea and recovered calves are not well understood. In this study, fecal specimens were collected from 10 post-weaned calves, before and after 2 months of fluid therapy, and the samples were used for microbiota analysis. Following recovery, the alpha-diversity profiles (observed operational taxonomic units [OTUs], and Chao1, Shannon, and Simpson indices) changed significantly when compared with those of calves with diarrhea. Beta-diversity analysis exhibited significant differences in gut microbiota compositions between calves with diarrhea and those in the recovered state. The abundances of eight phyla and thirteen genera in feces changed markedly after restoration of BCoV diarrhea. In addition, our correlation study clearly revealed that increased abundances of the genera Caproiciproducens, Pseudoflavonifractor, and Oscillibacter negatively correlated with serum glucose, and phosphorus levels, but positively correlated with serum chloride in calves with diarrhea, whereas increased abundances of the genera Peptostreptococcaceae;Clostridium (Clostridium cluster XI), Intestinibacter, Cellulosilyticum, Ruminococcus, Romboutsia, Paeniclostridium, Clostridiaceae;Clostridium and Turicibacter in recovered calves showed the opposite pattern. These results suggest that structural changes of the gut microbiota after recovery from BCoV infection correlate with changes in physiological parameters. In conclusion, our data provide evidence of gut microbiota-composition changes and their correlations with the physical profiles of post-weaned calves, before and after fluid therapy for BCoV-related diarrhea.

Alteration of cellular events in tooth development by chemical chaperon, Tauroursodeoxycholic acid treatment

  • Lee, Eui-Seon;Aryal, Yam Prasad;Kim, Tae-Young;Pokharel, Elina;Kim, Harim;Sung, Shijin;Sohn, Wern-Joo;Lee, Youngkyun;An, Chang-Hyeon;Kim, Jae-Young
    • International Journal of Oral Biology
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    • v.45 no.4
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    • pp.190-196
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    • 2020
  • Several factors, including genetic and environmental insults, impede protein folding and secretion in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Accumulation of unfolded or mis-folded protein in the ER manifests as ER stress. To cope with this morbid condition of the ER, recent data has suggested that the intracellular event of an unfolded protein response plays a critical role in managing the secretory load and maintaining proteostasis in the ER. Tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA) is a chemical chaperone and hydrophilic bile acid that is known to inhibit apoptosis by attenuating ER stress. Numerous studies have revealed that TUDCA affects hepatic diseases, obesity, and inflammatory illnesses. Recently, molecular regulation of ER stress in tooth development, especially during the secretory stage, has been studied. Therefore, in this study, we examined the developmental role of ER stress regulation in tooth morphogenesis using in vitro organ cultivation methods with a chemical chaperone treatment, TUDCA. Altered cellular events including proliferation, apoptosis, and dentinogenesis were examined using immunostaining and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling assay. In addition, altered localization patterns of the formation of hard tissue matrices related to molecules, including amelogenin and nestin, were examined to assess their morphological changes. Based on our findings, modulating the role of the chemical chaperone TUDCA in tooth morphogenesis, especially through the modulation of cellular proliferation and apoptosis, could be applied as a supporting data for tooth regeneration for future studies.

Microstructural Features and K-Ar Ages of Fault Gouges from Quaternary Faults along the Northern Yangsan Fault, SE Korea

  • Chang Oh Choo;Tae Woo Chang;Kounghoon Nam;Jong-Tae Kim;Chang-Ju Lee;Gyo-Cheol Jeong
    • The Journal of Engineering Geology
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    • v.33 no.1
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    • pp.121-136
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    • 2023
  • Microstructural characterization, identification of mineral assemblages, and K-Ar age dating of fault gouges from five Quaternary fault sites segmented along the northern Yangsan Fault, SE Korea were performed to understand formation condition and multiple activity of faults. The mean and median sizes of particles of bulk gouges vary among the studied faults: 1.75 ㎛ and 1.43 ㎛ for the Danguri Fault, 1.94 ㎛ and 1.79 ㎛ for the Yukjae Fault, 5.57 ㎛ and 4.16 ㎛ for the Yugye Fault, and 5.55 ㎛ and 2.31 ㎛ for the Bogyeongsa Fault. Fault gouges contain abundant secondary minerals, including smectite, chlorite, illite, kaolinite, laumontite, and mordenite, which are found in association with quartz and feldspar. K-Ar dating of the fault gouges (both bulk samples and separate size fractions) yields ages ranging from 59.1 to 18.8 Ma, with bulk ages of 47.6 Ma for the Yukjae Fault, 59.1 Ma for the Ansim Fault, 39.4 Ma for the Yugye Fault, and 22.6 Ma for the Bogyeongsa Fault. The finer fractions generally have younger K-Ar ages compared with the coarser fractions, and the finest fraction (<0.2 ㎛) is the youngest for each fault. Hydrothermal alteration of the gouges is considered to have occurred under low-temperature (100~200℃) conditions during faulting. Microstructural features and clay mineral assemblages of fault gouges and brecciated rocks should be considered when interpreting fault events and reactivation, in addition to age dating of faulting.

Recovery of Valuable Lithium Hydroxide by Ion Exchange Process: A Review (이온 교환 공정에 의한 귀중한 수산화 리튬의 회수: 리뷰)

  • Sarsenbek, Assel;Rajkumar, Patel
    • Membrane Journal
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    • v.32 no.6
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    • pp.401-410
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    • 2022
  • Demand for lithium hydroxide (LiOH) is annually increasing due to its efficiency and safety for the environment in comparison to its current alternatives. Lithium can be found in different salty and brine lakes which later synthesized to produce LiOH for various applications. Different methods are used to separate and recover lithium ions, the most common of which is electrodialysis (ED). ED is a membrane-based separation technique which works on potential difference of its layers as a driving force to push ions from one side to another. The ion exchange membrane (IEM) in ED makes the process efficient because of the perm selectivity of different ions vary depending on their hydrodynamic volume. In this review, the different alteration strategies of both ED and IEM, to enhance the recovery of lithium ions are discussed.